Leavitt Theatre in downtown Ogunquit is celebrating its centennial next year. Photo by Julie K Gray Photography

While summer in Maine is often marked by sand, sea, lakes and of course, lobster, small-town indie cinemas offer an alternative or addition to the standard summer Maine fare.

For residents and visitors alike, these theaters hold a special place in the community, with glimpses of nostalgia and innovative creativity, and so are often supported by fundraising and membership, rather than just ticket sales. One other thing they have in common: real butter on the popcorn.

If you’re planning on visiting the 3.5 miles of sandy beaches in Ogunquit this summer, be sure to check out the mix of live and screen events scheduled at the Leavitt Theatre downtown.

The owners of the Leavitt were gearing up to celebrate the venue’s centennial last year until they discovered the year 1925 carved on an exposed beam alongside initials. Further digging confirmed the theater was indeed built in 1925, and so the owners changed plans and the centennial will be celebrated next year.

The mix of historical reverence and creative flexibility is a hallmark of Max and Emily Clayton, owners of the Leavitt since 2017 – as is having to change plans.

“Our mission is to offer a multi-faceted experience grounded in our roots,” said events director Nell Henderson-Brown. “I think the owners have created an accessible, yet singular experience.”

The theater, built as a single-screen silent film theater by Frank and Annie Leavitt, now boasts an innovative menu of cocktails and food, along with Silent Film Series, an in-house jazz band, private events and free family movie nights throughout the summer. Book early to see live events – like a Taylor Swift-inspired drag show (July 6) or a tribute to disco legend Donna Summer (July 13) – from the historic balcony, complete with original top-hat hooks, cocktail menus and fancy grilled cheese.

Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St., Oqunquit. leavittheatre.com

Head up the coast to Brunswick, the area called Pejepscot by Native people, and you’ll find the Eveningstar, named after a 17th century Pejepscot woman, according to a cinema history written by the founder. Since it opened its doors in 1979, the cinema has stayed true to its roots as a first-run independent cinema.

Despite financial struggles and changes in ownership, the cinema still offers an art-house experience from its downtown location. You won’t find hip cocktails, but you can get a beer with your buttered popcorn and view a mix of documentaries, like “Indigo Girls: It’s Only Life After All”; independent dramas (June release), such as “The Bikeriders” starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy; or catch unique programming in conjunction with Bowdon College, like last summer’s Latin American Film Festival.

Eveningstar Cinema, 149 Maine St., Brunswick. eveningstarcinema.com

Farther up the midcoast, but away from the congestion of Route 1, the Harbor Theater has been showing summer blockbusters, art and independent releases, festival winners and nostalgic cult classics from the “small mall” in Boothbay Harbor since 1985.

A summer-only theater until 2002, the Harbor Theater is now owned and managed by a nonprofit organization. Like many independent theaters, it survives through membership fees, donations and private event rentals, as well as community events in the winter months and tourists in the summer months, which it attracts with new releases and unique programming. On June 30, the Harbor will host filmmakers Matt Cascella and Jen Cordery for a viewing of their 2023 film “Hangdog” filmed in Portland, as well as a screening of sailing videos of local sailor Cole Brauer, the first American woman sailor to complete the Global Solo Challenge.

Harbor Theater, 185 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor. boothbaycinema.com

If you head up to Acadia National Park and want a break from hiking or weather doesn’t cooperate, stop at The Alamo Theatre, built in 1916, in Bucksport or the 1932 Criterion Theatre, built by George McKay. Moviegoers in Bar Harbor can also watch new releases and independent movies at Reel Pizza Cinerama while enjoying a casual dinner.

The Alamo Theatre, 85 Main St., Bucksport. oldfilm.org
Criterion Theatre, 35 Cottage St., Bar Harbor. criteriontheatre.org
Reel Pizza Cinerama, 33 Kennebec Place, Bar Harbor. reelpizza.net