• BENEFITS

TODAY

Cooking for a Cure, sample food from 31 local restaurants; benefits pediatric brain tumor research and treatment; Holiday Inn By the Bay, Portland. $40. thenoyesbraintumorfoundation.com. 6 to 10 p.m. 

FRIDAY

Annual Chili and Chowda Fest, with live and silent auctions; benefits Maine Children’s Cancer Program, Elks Lodge, Sanford. $5. 749-9723. 5 to 10 p.m. 

SATURDAY

Horsemen’s Day, harness racing and more; benefits Cornish Fairgrounds park restoration; Cornish Trotting Park. $3. 625-3281. Noon.

Harbor Cruise for HART (Homeless Animal Rescue Team) Cats, music, door prizes and cash bar aboard the Bay Mist boat, Casco Bay Lines, Portland. $25. 829-4116. 7 to 10 p.m.

Sandsations Sand Sculpting Contest, benefit for Birth Roots Perinatal Resource Center, Pine Point Beach, Scarborough. sandsations.org. Noon to 3 p.m.

Annual Walk to Defeat ALS, for research and patient services for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Payson Park, Portland. alsanne.org. Registration 9 to 10:30 a.m., walk at 10:30 a.m.

Annual Benefit Yard Sale, St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland. Free to browse. stlawrencearts.org. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Homes of Wayne Tour: Classic Camps & Village Homes, benefit for Cary Memorial Library and Wayne Community Church; starts at Cary Memorial Library, Wayne, $20, $24. 685-3612. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Portland Symphony Orchestra Show House Tour, benefits the PSO, 149 Western Promenade, Portland. $23 if purchased by Sept. 8; $25 at door after. porttix.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 15. Through Oct. 2.

• FAIRS/FESTIVALS

Capriccio, townwide festival of art, music, poetry, ballet, live theater, concerts, Festival of Kites and more, various locations. Ogunquit. Various prices. Today to Sept. 17; schedule at visitogunquit.org.

Lewiston/Auburn Greek Festival, Greek folk music and dancing, a wide variety of Greek foods, a bazaar, a book store and games for children, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Lewiston. Free admission. 783-6795. 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Clinton Lions Fair, with a midway, animal-pulling events, mechanical pulls, exhibits and stage entertainment, Clinton Fairgrounds. clintonlionsfair.com. Today to Sunday.

Eastport Pirate Festival, with a ball, a parade, a lobster boat race, a pirate invasion, a bed race, music and more; various locations, Eastport. Most activities are free. Friday to Sunday; schedule at eastportpiratefestival.com.

Celebrate Bowdoinham Festival, with live music, a parade, waterfront rides, children’s activities, exhibits, contests, food and more, Mailly Waterfront Park, Bowdoinham. celebratebowdoinham.com. Friday to Sunday.

Hill ‘n the ‘Ville Music Festival, with Matt Costa, Paranoid Social Club, The Brew and The Cheshire Massacre, plus family and kids’ activities, Head of Falls, Waterville. Free. watervillemainstreet.org. Noon to 7 p.m. Saturday.

Psychic and Crystal Fair: 10-Year Anniversary Celebration, with psychics, mediums, Mayan astrology readings, jewelry and more, Leapin Lizards, Freeport. 865-0900. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

United Maine Craftsmen’s Fall Festival of Arts and Crafts, handcrafted products made by more than 100 Maine artisans, Smiling Hill Farm, Westbrook. $2 admission. 621-2818. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Community Fair, with face painting, food, games, a fire truck and more, People’s United Methodist Church, South Portland. Free. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Craft Fair, crafters and vendors including Avon and Pampered Chef, Northfield Green, Portland. 797-2509. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Laudholm Annual Nature Crafts Festival, with 100 New England craftspeople, Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm, Wells. $7. 646-4521. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

23rd Annual Summer Solstice Craft Show, wares of more than 70 Maine and New England artists, Wells Elementary School. Free. summersolsticecraftshows.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Oxford County Fair, with live music, a midway, agriculture exhibits and events, and more, Oxford Fairgrounds. $1 to $10. Schedule at oxfordcountyfair.com. Sunday to Sept. 17. 

• SPECIAL EVENTS

TODAY

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.

Ohio Valley Refinery and Roadshow, sell your antiques and collectibles or get your items evaluated by experts, Clarion Hotel, Portland. ohiovalleygoldandsilver.com. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Friday. 

FRIDAY

Full Dome Double Feature: “Two Small Pieces of Glass” and “IBEX,” University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $5, $6. 780-4249. 7 and 8:30 p.m. Through Sept. 30.

M.A.C.: Music, Art Cocktails, Maine artists and live jazz, Brunswick Inn on Park Row. Free. 653-9334. 6 to 9 p.m. 

SATURDAY

“Champagne on the Sheepscot,” live music and hors d’oeuvres along the banks of the Sheepscot River in Edgecomb, Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, Newcastle. $40. 586-5616. 5 to 7 p.m.

“Wheels on the Waterfront,” fourth annual Bangor Car Show, Bangor Waterfront. Free. bangorcarshow.com. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Block Party, venues along Congress Street offer a variety of activities, downtown Portland. Free. space538.org. 5 to 8 p.m.

R and R Spinners Spinning Demo, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, New Gloucester. Free. 926-4597. 10 a.m.

250th Pownalborough Courthouse Celebration, with living historians, children’s games, live music and more, Pownalborough Courthouse Museum, Dresden. lincolnhistory.org. 9 a.m. to dusk.

Second Annual Harvest Hootenanny, with five bands, food, children’s entertainment and chairlift rides, Camden Snow Bowl. $10; free for children under age 12. fivetownctc.org/hoot. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Art at Home,” self-guided tour of the gallery and seven private residences, Harlow Gallery. $25, $30. 622-3813. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Art Show and Sale, annual summer show of paintings and photographs, Freeport Cafe at Best Western Inn, Freeport. 233-0304. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Autumnal Arts and Craft Show, Lucid Stage, Portland. 899-3993. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

SUNDAY

Maine Wienerfest 2011, with a costume contest, a dog parade, derby races, fun competitions and more, Steamboat Landing Park, Belfast. $1; free for children under age 10. friendsofbelfastparks.org. Noon to 4 p.m.

Antique Paper Show, with postcards, calendars and other paper collectibles, Holiday Inn West, Portland. $4. 828-8065. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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

History Tour, tour the park and WWII-era bunkers with historian Herb Adams; bring flashlights; Two Lights State Park, Cape Elizabeth. $3, $4.50; $1.50 for seniors older than 65; $1 for children. friendsofmainestateparks.org. 1:30 p.m.

Summer’s End Tea, with tea, tea sandwiches, sweets and scones, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. $27; $20 for members. 633-4333, Ext. 101. 4 p.m.

Open House, Hiram Historical Society. Free. 625-4762. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Seventh Annual Soil to Supper, with live music, farm tours and a sustainable supper, Rippling Waters Farm, Standish. $10/donation. 642-5161. 4 to 7 p.m. 

WEDNESDAY

Storytelling/Spoken Word for Grownups, monthly storytelling swap with Nicolette Heavey, Portland Public Library Rines Auditorium. $5/donation. 879-1886. 7 p.m.

Bug Maine-ia, children’s program with entomologists, environmental educators, foresters, an artist and others, Maine State Museum, Augusta. Free. 287-2301. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

• FILMS

“Page One: Inside the New York Times” (2011), documentary, Space, Portland. $7. space538.org. 7 p.m. today.

Buddhist Movie Night: “The Dhamma Brothers” (2008), documentary, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Guild Hall), Portland. Free. 671-7714. 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Summer Film Series: “The Kids Are All Right” (2010), York Public Library. Free. 363-2818. 7 p.m. Sunday.

“Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow” (2010), film of the work of artist Anselm Kiefer, Space, Portland. $7. space538.org. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“The Face of the Other,” three-part film and discussion series, Rockland Public Library. Free. 594-0310. “For My Father,” 6 p.m. Sept. 15. 

• BOOKS/AUTHORS

TODAY

Kate Braestrup, author of “Loving our Enemies,” Rockland Library. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m.

“Port City Black and White,” book launch party with author Gerry Boyle, Longfellow Books, Portland. 772-4045. 7 p.m. 

FRIDAY

Book Reading, by the four editors of “Somalis in Maine: Crossing Cultural Currents,” Aarhus Gallery, Belfast. Free. 338-0001. 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Poetry Reading, by Ruth Bookey, Bob MacLauchlin and Alice Persons, Harlow Gallery, Hallowell. $3. 685-3636. 7 p.m.

Brian Daniels, author of “Luke’s Dream,” Gulf of Maine Books, Brunswick. 729-5083. 5:30 p.m. 

SATURDAY

Fall Author Series of Maine Writers, with Robert G. Fuller, author of “Unnatural Deaths,” Wiscasset Public Library. Free. 882-7161. 1 p.m.

Elizabeth Miles, author of “Fury,” Bull Moose Music, Scarborough. bullmoose.com. 2 to 4 p.m.

Lincoln Arts Festival Poetry Workshop, YMCA Camp Knickerbocker, Boothbay. $60. 633-6202. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Jim Witherell, author of “L. L. Bean: The Man and His Company,” Barnes and Noble, Augusta. 621-0038. 1 p.m. 

MONDAY

“Let’s Talk About It,” monthly book and discussion group, Meeting Room 5, Portland Public Library. Free. 871-1700, Ext. 728. “Civil War Fiction,” 5 to 6:30 p.m. 

WEDNESDAY

Brown Bag Lecture, with Liza Bakewell, author of “Madre,” bring your own lunch, Portland Public Library. Free. 871-1710. Noon to 1 p.m. 

• PARTICIPANT DANCE

North Yarmouth Contradance, Wescustogo Hall, North Yarmouth. $7, $10. 233-4325. 6 p.m. (dance), 7 p.m. (potluck), 7:30 p.m. (beginners), 8 to 11:30 p.m. (dance) Saturday.

G.I. Dame’s USO-Style Show, with tribute to veterans and 9/11 victims; buffet dinner followed by music and dancing; Mousam View Place, Sanford. Free. 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

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