Lewiston Live Festival

Spearheaded by the City of Lewiston in collaboration with Community Busk, Lewiston Live will debut on Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 4:00 -7:00 p.m. as a one-day event that transforms Lisbon Street into an open-air stage filled with music, dance, spoken word, and visual art. Our goal is to highlight incredible local artists and talent from around Lewiston while welcoming others with strong regional ties, creating a shared public experience that reflects the energy, diversity, and interests of our community.

Our Vision and Mission

• Elevate local talent: Showcase the voices, rhythms, and stories already here while embracing emerging performers from across the region.
• Reimagine public space: Turn sidewalks into stages and storefronts into audiences, bringing creativity into the heart of the city.
• Make downtown welcoming and accessible: Encourage foot traffic, support local businesses, and build momentum through free, accessible public art.

Why Lewiston?

Downtown Lewiston, anchored by historic Lisbon Street, is writing a new chapter. As recently highlighted in the Lewiston Sun Journal, city leaders see the busking festival as a creative way to boost foot traffic and business engagement in the downtown core. This first-year launch is part of a larger effort to activate public spaces through the arts and make downtown feel more welcoming, cultural, and connected, with the aim of establishing and running a multi-week busking festival next spring.

How We Make It Happen

Organized in partnership with a professional arts agency, Lewiston Live is powered by community support. We’ve engaged with nonprofits like L/A Arts and the Lewiston Auburn Metro Chamber of Commerce, along with local performers, sponsors, volunteers, and city leaders, to help bring the vision to life.

Each performance spot has been selected to balance quality and accessibility all within walking distance along Lisbon Street. Artists bring their own gear and equipment, including battery-powered amplification, to deliver authentic, live public performances for audiences of all ages.

We’re Just Getting Started

Lewiston Live is just the beginning. Our hope is to build on this first event and explore the possibility of expanding into a seasonal series or multi-day festival in future years.