The After Dark Dispatch July 2026

Hey there Hikers,

July is coming to a close, and what a month it’s been. We’ve had some fun experiences, met some great people, and spread fear to new corners of this world. All in all, I’d say it’s been a good summer so far…

First up, we celebrated the 250th birthday of the good ol’ USA, which feels overshadowed by the increasingly dystopian state of the country at this current juncture. Despite that, I ventured into Bar Harbor to catch the fireworks for the first time in years. Taking advantage of the free parking I get as a perk of the new job, I walked down West Street—and let me tell you folks, I haven’t seen numbers on how many supposedly attended the events, but there were more people gathered on that waterfront than I have ever seen in my entire life living here.

Navigating the town with this many people is nightmarish. It’s not even just about the cars—it’s the god‑damned pedestrians. Let me say this: if you’re from away and come to visit, here are two things you need to learn first. One, use a blinker. And two, use a crosswalk. I really don’t want to end up seeing some poor flatlander become the newest spirit resident of this rock just because they didn’t look both ways before darting across traffic.

On July 11th, the International Cryptozoology Museum held its grand opening celebration at its new location in Bangor—aka Derry. It was also the 79th birthday of the museum’s founder, Loren Coleman. There was a great turnout for both the daytime festivities and the Founders Club VIP party that evening. I got to see some old friends, as well as meet a few whom I’ve only had the opportunity to correspond with online. A fantastic time was had by all, and I look forward to more events like that in the near future. Thanks so much to Loren Coleman, Chris Packard, and the rest of the team who made it all possible. It was an unforgettable evening.

This month has also been huge for the Fogcast. I was lucky enough to welcome several first‑time guests and make some new friends along the way. First up, we had the Boo Fighters Paranormal out of southern Maine. They’re a relatively new group of investigators, but they’re incredibly passionate, and they bring a fresh perspective to investigating that I find inspiring. Next, I had the incomparable Nomar Slevik back for his fourth appearance on the show. It’s always such a joy to catch up with him, and his newest book is so incredible that I couldn’t wait to talk with him about it. Finally, we had Adam the Historian Ghost Hunter—a fixture in the local horror community who has possibly the most infectious personality of anyone I’ve ever met. I’ll be a guest on his show, the Historically Haunted Vodcast, in September, so stay tuned for that.

This also marked my first month in the new job at the Bar Harbor Historical Society. So far, I feel like I’m getting a good feel for the role as well as the building, and I’ve even had a few encounters with the resident entities already. I was able to attend a meeting of the writers’ guild and meet some local creatives while also learning about the history of this place in a detail I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to. In short, it’s amazing. In the coming days and weeks, I’ll begin to share my experiences in the historic La Rochelle manor, and I’ll even be conducting investigations in the place after everyone else has gone home. Some of this will find its way to the main feed, but if you want a more intimate look into the goings‑on here at Acadia After Dark, your best chance is to head over to Patreon and become a Lantern Holder tonight. Lighting your lantern guarantees early access to ad‑free episodes, exclusive extras like unedited EVP session recordings and the Lantern Logbook, as well as digital postcards, backgrounds, and much more.

Last but not least, a few exciting announcements regarding the Fogcast and Acadia After Dark as a whole. In the interest of hearing more directly from you Hikers, I’ll begin doing one live episode of the Fogcast on the last Sunday of every month. It will be streamed on YouTube and Twitch at 8:00 p.m. EST. This will be your opportunity to ask questions about the park and Maine, or share your stories with me in the chat. I hope you’ll join me for the first broadcast on August 30.

This next part has me really excited, Hikers. We are expanding the Acadia After Dark family. That’s right—I’ve partnered with someone I very much respect and admire to share his stories of the strange, uncanny, and sometimes terrifying things that happen in our neck of the woods, with a brand‑new podcast produced by yours truly. We’re not quite ready to let the cat out of the bag on this one just yet, though, so you’ll have to keep an eye on the socials for an announcement soon.

Well, that’s about it for this month’s Dispatch. I’ve got a long day of driving tomorrow for the second weekend in a row to visit the Maine Renaissance Faire in Acton. But before I go, here’s a little local lore to keep until next we speak:

“Observe on what day in August the first heavy fog occurs, and expect a hard frost on the exact same day in October…”

The New Moon arrives on August 12, and the Full Sturgeon Moon rises on the 28th. Now, if y’all need me, I’ll be in the vicinity of the mead hall. Until next time, keep those lanterns lit, and stay safe out there, Hikers.

© 2024–2026 Acadia After Dark L.L.C. • All rights reserved. Born in the pines and fog of coastal Maine.