SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – The City of South Portland and the Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth, Maine will host a free community celebration in honor of the 150th anniversary of Portland Breakwater Lighthouse, known as Bug Light, on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 11 AM to 3 PM at Bug Light Park. Visit www.buglight150.org for event details.
The celebration begins at 11 AM with a performance by the Ideal Maine Band. At 1 PM, a brief ceremony will highlight the significant role the Rotary Club has played in the restoration and maintenance of the lighthouse. Festivities throughout the event will include:
- Crafts for kids led by the South Portland Public Library and City of South Portland park rangers
- Bug Light photography display contributed by local camera clubs
- Sale of books, mugs and solargraph prints
- Actors costumed as lighthouse keepers
- Local historians and groups that care for Maine lighthouses
- Poetry and information about coastal resilience
- Food trucks
Visit the Rotary Club’s table to learn about Bug Light and maintenance of the lighthouse. Commemorative mugs and limited edition signed solargraph prints by Christian Fielder are available for sale. Proceeds support lighthouse upkeep.
Bug Light, whose iconic image is featured on the City of South Portland seal and logo, opened in June 1875. The unique structure stands 24 feet high and is constructed of brick with a cast iron exterior. The design is based on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, outside of Athens, Greece, which is dedicated to choral music.
The City took ownership of Bug Light in 1985. The South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club joined as a funding partner with the City to complete a rehabilitation project in 1991. Since then, the Rotary Club has managed the repair, upkeep, and maintenance of the lighthouse—both financially and with hands-on work. The City oversees and maintains the park.
Lighthouse tours will not be offered during this anniversary event. However, the Rotary Club invites the community to join for tours on Maine Lighthouse Day on September 13 and the Bug Light Car Show on September 3. Small groups and schools can also the contact Rotary to schedule a tour on another date.
Parking for the 150th anniversary event will be available both on site and at the Southern Maine Community College parking lot on Broadway, with vans providing transportation to the park for those who need accessibility accommodations.