Case Study: Lewiston, Maine
Developing a Busking Festival to Reinvigorate Downtown
Context
​
In summer 2025, the City of Lewiston, Maine, engaged Community Busk to explore how a busking festival could help reanimate its downtown area. The new City Manager Bryan Kaenrath sought to dispel a negative perception of the downtown area and encourage residents and visitors to come spend time downtown. The initial goal was to produce a one-day pilot event in fall 2025, aligned with Bates College’s annual Back to Bates weekend, with potential for expansion in 2026.
By way of background, Lewiston faces the same challenges as many small cities across the U.S.: post-pandemic declines in downtown activity, empty storefronts, periodic crime leading to lingering perceptions of public safety. City leaders wanted to test whether the performing arts could help reshape community perceptions and strengthen local engagement.
Approach
​
Community Busk’s consulting engagement began with an in-depth site visit that included:
-
14 stakeholder meetings with city officials, business owners, civic leaders, and arts organization representatives
-
On-site assessments of downtown corridors, pedestrian flow, and potential performance locations
-
Discussions of logistics, permitting, and operational readiness with city staff
The purpose of these meetings was not only to assess feasibility but also to understand community priorities and identify any perceived barriers to success.
Findings
​
The Community Busk team came away with a strong recommendation to proceed, based on these key insights:
-
Strong Local Arts Assets: Lewiston benefits from a concentration of local musicians and performing artists, and by its proximity to Bates College.
-
Civic Enthusiasm: Business owners and arts leaders expressed broad support for a new downtown event aimed at community revitalization.
-
Perception and Participation Challenges: Despite the enthusiasm above, there were lingering public safety perceptions and skepticism from prior unfulfilled initiatives by the City leadership. This meant the project would need early, visible success to gain long-term trust.
Recommendations and Deliverables
Within a few weeks of the site visit, Community Busk delivered a comprehensive 30 page Festival Feasibility Report that included:
-
A feasibility assessment covering infrastructure, logistics, municipal support, performer recruitment potential, and marketing opportunities
-
A proposed operating budget based on available resources and volunteer capacity
-
A map of recommended performance zones throughout the downtown corridor
-
A sample marketing and outreach plan for performer recruitment and public promotion
-
Introductions to professional performers experienced in outdoor festivals, including a featured act to elevate visibility for the pilot event
These recommendations gave city leaders a clear framework to move from concept to execution in under 90 days.
Implementation
With Community Busk’s framework in place, Lewiston proceeded to launch its first event—Lewiston Live!—on October 4, 2025. The city coordinated logistics through its public works and police departments, while Bates College provided volunteers and student engagement.
​
-
13 performers participated, including local musicians, cultural artists, and family-friendly acts.
-
The featured performer that was recommended by Community Busk – Her Majesty’s Secret Circus—a professional duo featuring a Bates alumnus—served as the headline attraction.
-
The event ran for three hours and attracted 200–300 attendees according to city estimates.
Outcomes
The pilot event met its primary goals:
​
-
Demonstrated that a busking festival can be safely and successfully implemented downtown
-
Generated positive local press and strong community feedback. ​
​
-
Encouraged renewed collaboration between city government, Bates College, and the downtown business community
Following the success of Lewiston Live!, city officials are planning a multi-week spring festival for 2026, positioning the event as a recurring downtown tradition.
