• BENEFITS

Flower Power Fashion Show, with cocktails and a silent auction; 100 percent of the funds raised go to the Maine Cancer Foundation; Colony Hotel, Kennebunkport. $40; must buy ticket in advance. 967-0857. visitthekennebunks.com. 5 to 8 p.m. today.

Curtis Friends Book Sale, benefits Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick Junior High School. 725-5242. Members only preview, 5 to 8 p.m. today; public book sale, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Food/Hunger, seven boxed portfolios from local artists will be auctioned off, benefits Cultivating Community, June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland. 772-1961. Opening reception, 4 to 7 p.m. Friday; call for hours Saturday and Sunday.

Antique Tractor Festival, benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Farmington Fairgrounds. $2 to $5; free for ages 10 and under. 938-3258. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Rave On, chemical-free concert and dance for all ages and families, benefits St. John’s community outreach, Watts Hall, Thomaston. Free/donation. 354-7250. 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday.

A Day in the Life: A Beatles Experience, multi-media celebration of The Beatles, benefits Northport Music Theater, Camden Opera House. $14 to $18. 338-8383. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

LobsterFest, annual festival with a lobster-eating contest, a gourmet lobster tasting bar, lobster dinners, a beer garden and live entertainment; benefits the Maine Children’s Cancer Program; Maine State Pier, Portland. Free admission; fees for food. portlandlobsterfest.com. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

Giant Car Show, with raffles, contests, food, live music, muscle cars, street rods and more; benefits the youth P.A.L. program; Portland Motor Club. Free to attend; $15 to enter a car in a contest. portlandmotorclub.com. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. (Rain date is Sunday.)

“Inspired Voices,” music, poetry, dance and art; benefits Tri-County Mental Health Services; Franco-American Heritage Center, Lewiston. $15 to $25. 783-4663, Ext. 104. 6 p.m. Saturday.

Wiscasset Old Jail Antiques Show and Sale, supports the Lincoln County Historical Association’s efforts to maintain and restore the historic building, Lincoln County Museum and Old Jail, Wiscasset. Free admission. 882-9628. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Memorial 5K Run and 2.5-Mile Walk, benefits the Capt. Christopher Scott Cash Scholarship Fund, Old Orchard Beach Ballpark. runforcash.org. First race starts at 7:45 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

ESPN Sportscaster Kenny Mayne, with music by Time Pilots, Ronald McDonald House fundraiser, 21-plus; Big Easy, Portland. $25. 780-6282. 6:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday.

Suzuki Concert, more than 200 violin, viola, guitar and piano students ages 4 to 16 perform classical music and folk; benefits victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami; St. Joseph’s College (Harold Alfond Center), Standish. Donation. 621-4166. 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Top-Hatz, music from the ’20s to the ’60s, benefits the Kennebunkport Historical Society, Colony Hotel, Kennebunkport. $5. 985-8759. 5 p.m. Sunday.

Strawberry Festival, benefit for the First Parish Church of Brunswick Music Program, Downtown Brunswick Mall/Gazebo area on Maine Street, Brunswick. 725-2588. 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

• FAIRS/FESTIVALS

TODAY

Greek Food Festival, variety of Greek food, music, art, clothing, church tours and more; Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Portland. Free admission; fees for food. 774-0281. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today to Saturday.

New Gloucester Strawberry Festival, berries with homemade biscuits and Hodgman’s Frozen Custard; music by The Berry Berry Good Band, bake sale and history table selling memorabilia; Congo Church, New Gloucester. Free. 926-3188. 6 to 8 p.m.

Standish Summer Spectacular, with live music, hot air balloon rides, fireworks and more, Schoolhouse Arts Center, Standish. 642-2875. Events are free, barbecue costs $3 and $5. Various times today to Saturday; schedule at standish.org. 

FRIDAY

Cape Farm Alliance Strawberry Festival, with desserts, a lobster bake and pig roast, a silent auction and live bluegrass music, Shady Oak Farm, Cape Elizabeth. $25. capefarmalliance.org. 6 to 9 p.m.

Spirit in America Hot Air Balloon Festival, with tethered balloon rides, barbecue festival, lobster bake, live music and fireworks, Town Square, Old Orchard Beach. Free admission; $20 for lobster bake Friday; $20 for balloon rides. oob365.com. 4 to 7 p.m. Friday; sunrise to sunset Saturday and Sunday. 

SATURDAY

Sidewalk Arts Festival, more than 100 exhibitors, rain or shine, various locations, Saco. Free. 590-3440. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

South Berwick Strawberry Festival, with food, crafts, entertainment, a road race and old-fashioned trolleys, Central School, South Berwick. Free admission; fees for food. southberwickstrawberryfestival.com. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Seventh Annual Vegetarian Food Festival, with lectures, food, exhibitors and music, East End Community School, Portland. Free. 767-7268. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Granite State “Mini-Zoo Exhibit,” with refreshments and food for purchase, benefits Steep Falls Village Improvement Society, Steep Falls Park, Standish. Free/donation. 807-5666. Noon to 2 p.m.

Strawberry Festival, historical talk, dessert and social, Nathaniel Hawthorne House, Raymond. $3, $5; free for ages 8 and under; reservations requested. 655-7660. 6:30 p.m. for historical talk; 7 to 9 p.m. for dessert and social.

Strawberry Festival, with fiddler Olivia DeLisle, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Wiscasset. Free. 882-7184. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Old Fort Western: Whatever Family Festival Day in Capitol Park 2011, family-friendly festival with historical interpreters and games, Capital Park, Augusta. (Rain location is Augusta Civic Center). Free. 626-2385. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cape Farm Alliance Strawberry Festival, with live local music, a craft market, tractor rides for children and strawberry treats, Maxwell’s Farm, Cape Elizabeth. Free admission. capefarmalliance.org. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Poland Community Church Strawberry Festival, with local strawberries and live music, Poland Spring Resort. $8 for all you can eat, or purchase treats individually. 998-5710. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

• SPECIAL EVENTS

TODAY

“Light on the Point,” event honoring leadership, entrepreneurship and partnership in support of higher education, with music by jazz trio Floydz Boyz, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, Southern Maine Community College, South Portland. $30. 741-5500. kwaindle@smccme.edu. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

FRIDAY

LIT, poetry and literary happening, Mayo Street Arts, Portland. $5, $10. mayostreetarts.org. 7 p.m.

Solar Show: “Mars Quest,” an exploration of the red planet narrated by Patrick Stewart, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $5, $6. 780-4249. 7 p.m.

Allagash Victoria Ale Premiere, event celebrating the release of Allagash Brewing’s 2011 Victoria Ale, with music by The Pete Kilpatrick Band, Victoria Mansion, Portland. $15 to $25. 772-4841. 5 to 8 p.m. 

SATURDAY

Lighthouse Tour, one of only 40 caisson-style lighthouses in the U.S. and the only one open to visitors; must be more than 55 inches tall; canceled in case of rain or fog; Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, South Portland. $5; free for children under age 14. 699-2676. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Magic for Non-Believers,” with magician Peter Boie, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. $15 in advance; $20 day of show. 633-5159. 8 p.m. (doors at 7:30 p.m.)

Archaeology Discovery Workshop, historical activities for youths and adults, Colonial Pemaquid Historic Site, New Harbor. Free/donation. 677-2423. 1 to 5 p.m.

Solar Show: “Rusty Rocket’s Last Blast,” kid-friendly journey through the solar system, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $4, $5. 780-4249. 3 p.m.

TWO, high-energy juggling duo, Maine Wildlife Park, Gray. $5, $7; free for ages 3 and under. 657-4977. 11 a.m.

Quilters’ Market, 35-plus vendors with hand-crafted creations for sale, First Parish Church, Freeport. Free. 865-3628. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

International Bakery Open House, by the Bread Bakers Guild of America, Standard Baking Co., Portland. Free. 773-2112. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

SUNDAY

Antique Paper Show, more than 40 exhibitors show and sell postcards, calendars and other paper collectibles, Holiday Inn West, Portland. $4. 828-8065. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dedication Ceremony, for new garden and courtyard, with light refreshments and unveiling of new art exhibit “Eye of the Collector,” Maine Jewish Museum, Portland. Free. 329-9854. 3 p.m. 

WEDNESDAY

Yarmouth Summer Arts Series, songs, games and music, Royal River Park, Yarmouth. (Rain location is Harrison Middle School.) Free. 846-2406. 11 a.m. 

• FILMS

“13 Assassins,” cult director Takeshi Miike’s new action film set at the end of Japan’s feudal era, Space, Portland. $5 members; $7 non-members. space538.org. 7:30 p.m. today.

“Bicycle Dreams” (2009), award-winning documentary about the Race Across America; Frontier Cafe, Cinema & Gallery, Brunswick. $10, $12. 725-5222. 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Teens Through Time, film series with teen-cenric viewpoint, Portland Public Library. Free. 871-1700. 2000s: “Bring It On” (2000), 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. 

• BOOKS/AUTHORS

TODAY

Maureen Stanton, author of “Killer Stuff and Tons of Money: Seeking History and Hidden Gems in Flea-Market America,” Longfellow Books, Portland. 772-4045. 7 p.m. 

FRIDAY

Pondtown Poets Reading, Harlow Gallery, Hallowell. Free. 377-8300. 7 p.m.

Michael Connolly, author of “Seated by the Sea: The Maritime History of Portland, Maine, and Its Irish Longshoremen,” Maine Irish Heritage Center, Portland. 232-2001. 7 p.m.

J. Courtney Sullivan, author of “Maine,” Maine Coast Book Shop and Cafe, Damariscotta. 563-3207. 6 p.m.

Michael Sims, author of “The Story of Charlotte’s Web,” Longfellow Books, Portland. 772-4045. 7 p.m. 

TUESDAY

Nancy Prince, author of “Libby’s Loons,” Maine Coast Book Shop and Cafe, Damariscotta. 563-3207. 11 a.m. 

WEDNESDAY

Jim Wetherell, author of “L.L. Bean: The Man and His Company,” Freeport Community Library. 582-1899. 6:30 p.m.

Poetry and Music Series, with poet Dave Morrison and musicians Dave and Anna Patterson, Lithgow Public Library, Augusta. Free. lithgow.lib.me.us. 6:30 p.m.

Linda and Martha Greenlaw, authors of “The Maine Summers Cookbook,” Nonesuch Books, South Portland. 799-2659. 7 p.m. 

• PRO SPORTS

Portland Sea Dogs, Minor League baseball, Hadlock Field, Portland. $7 to $9. portlandseadogs.com. Vs. Trenton, 6 p.m. today; Vs. New Britain, 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

• PARTICIPANT DANCE

SoundwavZ Solstice Dance Party, reggae, jazz and Latin salsa, Woodfords Club, Portland. $10, $12. 553-9070. 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Spindleworks Contra Dance, with caller Chrissy Fowler and fiddler Hope Hoffman, Knights of Columbus Hall, Brunswick. Free. 725-8820. 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday.

 

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