• BENEFITS

“Dance by the River,” Straight Lace concert; benefits River Tree Arts scholarships and special programs; Kennebunk River Club, Kennebunkport. $50; $75 per couple; free for under age 18. 967-9120. 6:30 to 10 p.m. today.

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. 882-9628. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Thomas Mark Fallon Concert, ancient Irish hymn melodies; benefits New Hope for Women; St. Patrick’s Church, Newcastle. $15 to $20. 594-2128. 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Great Train Robbery, mock train robbers will ask for donations for restoration projects, Boothbay Railway Village. Free. 633-4727. 6 p.m. Saturday.

Maine Meets Maui: A Luau at the Gardens, food, romantic music, silent and live auctions, raffles and more; benefits the gardens; Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. $75; $60 for members; $25 for children. 633-4333. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. 

• FAIRS/FESTIVALS

Union Fair, harness racing, old-fashioned pig scramble, wild blueberry pie baking and eating contests, fireworks, 4-H exhibits, carnival, live entertainment and more; Union Fairgrounds. $8; $4 ages 12 to 14; free for ages 11 and under. Today to Saturday; schedule at unionfair.org.

Acton Fair, exhibits, 4-H exhibits, flower show, animal pulling events and midway, Acton Fairgrounds. $5, $6; free for children under 12. actonfair.net. Today to Sunday.

Piscataquis Valley Fair, features a milking parlor with homemade ice cream, agricultural exhibits, crafts, a midway and animal-pulling events, Dover-Foxcroft. $6; $2 ages 5 to 10; free for children under age 5. piscataquisvalleyfair.com. Today to Sunday.

End of Summer Hoorah, Texas Hold Em tournament, battle of the bands, food vendors, motorcycle burnout, car show and more, Maple Avenue and High Street, Farmington. 778-4215. Friday to Sunday.

Great State of Maine Air Show and Business Aviation Expo, Blue Angels, military aircraft, vintage planes, aerial stunts and more, Brunswick Landing (formerly Brunswick Naval Air Station). Three-day pass: $20 to $35; Friday: $10 to $15; Saturday or Sunday: $15 to $20; Chairman’s Chalet Pass, Saturday or Sunday: $85 children, $99 adults; parking $5. greatstateofmaineairshow.us. 4 to 9 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Chili Fest, presented by Wells Chamber of Commerce, Wells Junior High School. Free admission. wellschilifest.com. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Sidewalk Art Festival, annual WCSH-6 art show and sale featuring 300 artists from around the country, Congress Street, downtown Portland. wcsh6.com. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Central Maine Mountain Bike Festival, bike rides, geocaching, climbing wall, kids’ obstacle course, music and more, Quarry Road Recreation Area, Waterville. Schedule at cemenemba.org. 9 a.m. to late night Saturday; 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.

Third Annual Maine Native American Summer Market and Demonstrations, with 20 featured Penobscot, Maliseet, Micmac and Passamaquoddy artisans, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, New Gloucester. Free. 926-4597. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Windsor Fair, agricultural exhibits, crafts, art exhibits, midway, animal pulling events, harness racing, live entertainment and more, 100 Ridge Road, Windsor. $7, $9; free for children under 16. Schedule at windsorfair.com. Sunday to Sept. 5. 

• SPECIAL EVENTS

TODAY

Annual Lawn Party, yard sale, games, raffles, baked goods, novelties and more, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, East Millinocket. Free; fee for 6 p.m. spaghetti supper. 746-5359. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tate House Museum Architecture Tours, 90-minute tours of historic home, Tate House Museum, Portland. $6, $8; $3 for children. 774-6177. 10 and 11:30 a.m.; 1 and 2:30 p.m. Through Oct. 6.

Living History Tours, actors portray local citizens from the 1800s, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore. $10; $25 for family. 897-4366. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Tuesday.

Maine Farm Days at Misty Meadows Farm, kids learning center, craft tent, farmers market, educational speakers, agribusiness exhibits and more, Misty Meadows Farm, Clinton. Free. 426-8586. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

FRIDAY

Wood Island Lighthouse Tours, guided tours, Wood Island Lighthouse, Biddeford. $10; reservations required. 286-3229. 10 and 11 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Wednesday.

Solar Show: “Black Holes,” University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $4, $6. 780-4249. 8:30 p.m.

Historic Walking Tour, historian Earle G. Shettleworth Jr. leads a tour beginning at Castle Tucker and ending in the solarium and garden of the Nickels-Sortwell House; Castle Tucker, Wiscasset. $30; registration required. 882-7169. 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Maine’s “Red Hat Hoot” Weekend, assorted Events for Red Hatters and Pink Hatters, Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland. $100. 671-1373. Friday to Sunday.

Hunting Expo, vendors, demonstrations, hands-on activities and more, L.L. Bean Retail Store, Freeport. Free. llbean.com. Friday to Sunday. 

SATURDAY

Russian Arts and Culture/Nested Doll Painting Workshop, with Russian artist Marina Forbes, for adults and families with children ages 6 and older, St. George’s Episcopal Church, York Harbor. Call for prices: (603) 332-2255. 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Juried Craft Show, sponsored by Society of Southern Maine Craftsmen, Village Green, Kennebunkport. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (rain date is Sunday).

Lighthouse Tours, 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 14. 699-2676. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“Interactions with 17th-Century Pirates,” children are invited to join a pirate crew, learn about pirate lore and make their own pirate gear (treasure hunt included), Colonial Pemaquid Historic Site, New Harbor. Donation. 677-2423. 1 and 3 p.m.

Maine Wood Carvers and Wildlife Art, annual show and competition, Augusta Armory. $4; free for those under age 18. mainewoodcarvers.org. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

North Yarmouth Fun Day, diaper derby, bucket brickade, air-guitar contest, Yo-Yo People, live music, parade, juggling and more, Village Green, Route 115, North Yarmouth. Free. 595-2997. Parade starts at 9 a.m. 

SUNDAY

Midcoast Auto Show, annual event with several classes, Tainter/Kelley Field, Bath. $3 to view; $10 to exhibit a car. 443-8360. 8 to 10 a.m. registration; 10 a.m. show.

Down East Country Music Association 31st Annual Awards Show, presentation of awards and entertainment, Silver Spur, Mechanic Falls. $7; $2 for ages 12 and under. 674-3104. Noon.

Spirits Alive Tours of the Eastern Cemetery, learn about historical figures via historical reenactments on grave sites, Eastern Cemetery (Congress Street gate), Portland. $7; free for children under age 12. spiritsalive.org. 1:15 p.m. Through Sept. 25.

Breakfast by the Sea, pancakes, eggs, ham, baked beans, juice and coffee, Fifth Maine Regiment Museum, Peaks Island. $7; $4 for children under age 10. 766-3330. 8 to 11 a.m. 

WEDNESDAY

“Alive for $5,” with The Don Roy Quartet (Franco-American music); one-hour family program includes “Talk Back” with the performer; Stonington Opera House. $5. 367-2788. 7 p.m.

Maine-ly Harmony Women’s Chorus A Cappella Singing Classes, girls and women of all ages are welcome to learn the barbershop style of four-part harmony, Kennebec Valley YMCA, Augusta. Free. 582-5523. 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. 

SEPT. 1

155th Birthday Celebration, for Louise Helen Coburn, founder of History House, Skowhegan History House. Free. 474-6632. 1 to 2 p.m. 

• FILMS

“Innocent Interlude: Scenes of Life in Portland, Maine, 1940-41,” 60-minute film narrated by historian Joel Eastman, Maine Historical Society, Portland. $7, $8; $2 for ages 6 to 17. 774-1822. Noon today, Friday and Monday to Wednesday.

“The Far North,” screening and discussion with members of Arctic Museum staff, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. Free/donation. 633-6855. 7:30 p.m. today.

Space Gallery Weekend at the Saco Drive-In, “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) and “Aliens” (1986), Saco Drive-In Theater. $15 per carload. 284-1016. Gates open at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Summer Film Series: “Barney’s Version” (2010), York Public Library. Free. 363-2818. 7 p.m. Sunday.

“I’m With You,” Red Hot Chili Peppers live concert screening, Brunswick 10. $20. 798-3996. 8 p.m. Tuesday; rebroadcast at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Art Videos at the Gallery: “Painters and Painting: A History of the New York Art Scene,” Barn Gallery, Ogunquit. Free. 646-7055. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. 

• BOOKS/AUTHORS

TODAY

Shonna Milliken Humphrey, author of “Show Me Good Land,” Maine Coast Book Shop and Cafe, Damariscotta. 563-3207. 5 p.m.

Joseph Dane, author of “Dogfish Memory,” Longfellow Books, Portland. 772-4045. 7 p.m. 

FRIDAY

Jim Witherell, author of “L.L. Bean: The Man and His Company,” Maine Coast Book Shop and Cafe, Damariscotta. 563-3207. 5 p.m. 

SATURDAY

Angus King, former Maine governor and author of “Governor’s Travels: How I Left Politics, Learned to Back up a Bus and Found America,” Georgetown Historical Society. 371-9200. 10 a.m. to noon.

Hannah Holmes, author of “Quirk,” Maine Coast Book Shop and Cafe, Damariscotta. 563-3207. Noon.

Patty de Llosa, author of “Taming Your Inner Tyrant,” Apple Valley Books, Winthrop. 377-3967. 2 p.m. 

MONDAY

Bess the Book Bus, mobile literacy unit, Bangor Public Library. 947-8336, ext. 111. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

WEDNESDAY

Louise Penny, author of “A Trick of the Light,” Kennebooks, Kennebunk. 967-6136. 6:30 p.m.

Andrew Vietze, author of “Becoming Teddy Roosevelt,” Maine Maritime Museum, Bath. mainemaritimemuseum.org. Noon.

K. Stephens, author of “Between Fact and Fiction: The Subculture of Maine Lobstermen,” Jackson Memorial Library, Tenants Harbor. 372-8961. 7 p.m.

Brown Bag Lecture, with Paul Doiron, author of “Trespasser,” Portland Public Library. Free; bring own lunch. 871-1710. Noon to 1 p.m.