• FOR KIDS

Science of the Plagues. Free. Levey Day School, 400 Deering Ave., Portland. 9-11 a.m. Friday.

Build a Bird’s Nest, create and decorate your very own bird’s nest. $8 members, $9 visitor (plus admission). Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine, 142 Free St., Portland. kitetails.org. 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Planetarium Show: Origins of Life, tour the far reaches of the universe and our Earth as the evolution of life is examined in this fully immersive space experience. Ages 9 and up. $3, free UM students w/MaineCard. Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium, University of Maine, 5781 Wingate Hall, Orono. www.GalaxyMaine.com. 7 p.m. Friday.

Circus Ol?! And Feast of Fools, trapeze artists, contact jugglers, hoop dancers, Vaudeville dance and clowning, giant puppets, stilt walkers and more. Tickets available at the Maine Bookhouse, Main Street. $10 adults, $5 children 12 and younger. Community Forum, Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, South Paris. www.circus-ole.com. 7-9 p.m. Saturday.

Planetarium Show: Earth’s Wild Ride, a show set 200 years in the future, a tour of the season’s night sky after show. For ages 8 and up. $3, free UM students with MaineCard. Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium, University of Maine, 5781 Wingate Hall, Orono. www.GalaxyMaine.com. 2 p.m. Sunday.

Spring Spaghetti Sling and Rich Charette and the Bubble Gum Band, friends of Lithgow Library’s capital campaign to expand and renovate Augusta’s historic public library at this fun, all ages event. $10 adults, $5 children, $20 family. Augusta Armory, 179 Western Ave., Augusta 3 p.m. Sunday.

Preschool Discoveries at Broadturn Farm, mornings outside learning about the plant and animal life in the gardens and woods. Runs April 29 to June 5. $140-$300. The Long Barn Educational Initiative at Broadturn Farm, 388 Broadturn Road. Scarborough. www.longbarnmaine.org. 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Homeschool Farm Explorers, a 6-week hands-on, outdoor science and nature program at Broadturn Farm for homeschoolers ages 6-12 years. Runs April 30 to June 4. $150-$160. The Long Barn Educational Initiative at Broadturn Farm, 388 Broadturn Road. Scarborough. www.longbarnmaine.org. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Wednesdays.

• DANCE

Salsa Dancing with DJ Baulio, Latin, merengue, salsa, reggaeton, bachata and Latin hits. Dance lessons included. $5, 21-plus. Pearl Lounge, 444 Fore St., Portland. www.pearloldport.com. 8 p.m. Thursday and May 1.

Portland Ovations Presents Dance Company Pilobolus, twisting bodies, sheer athleticism and a delightful sense of play combine with one-of-kind sets, sound, and costumes for a glorious display of what the human body and mind can do. $38-$50. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland. www.porttix.com. 8 p.m. Friday.

Ballroom dance set for Waterville, Sponsored by the Ballroom Dance Society of central Maine. 6:30 p.m. free lesson. $5 members, $7.50 non-members. Blue Wave Dance Studio, 33 East Concourse, Waterville. 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

• OUTDOORS

Patagonia Freeport Presents Simple Fly Fishing, learn the elements of traditional fly fishing. Reservations required. Free. Patagonia Outlet Freeport, 9 Bow St., Freeport. noon and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Evening Vernal Pool Exploration, with Colby College’s Cathy Bevier, a leading expert on amphibians will lead the investigation. Free. Event held in Unity , 93 Main St., Unity. 5-6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Shiitake Mushrooms in Logs, learn how to grow Shiitake mushrooms in small-diameter hardwood logs outdoors. $60. Whatley Farm, Cathance Road, Topsham. longbranchschool.com. 9 a.m. Saturday.

Storm Drain Stenciling, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust invites the public to the Bath Community Storm Drain Stenciling Blitz. Free. Bath City Hal Parking Lot, 55 Front St., Bath. www.kennebecestuary.org. 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

• COMMUNITY

Central Maine Square Dance Club workshop, teaching Mainstream and Plus calls Fairfield Community Center, 61 Water St., Fairfield. www.fairfieldme.com/town/pages/community-center. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

• SPECIAL EVENTS

EPICMaine. Free. Eastern Maine Community College, 354 Hogan Road, Bangor. www.epicmaine.net. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday.

Take Back The Night march and rally, join us in Monument Square to rally, march, and speak out. Sponsored by SARSSM and the Portland PD. Monument Square, Portland. 6-8 p.m. Friday.

Calico Quilt Show, Maine made quilts & embroidery on display. Quilts, purses, bags, decorator items, craft supplies, fabric, tools, books etc. on sale. $5. Rowe School, 52 School St., Yarmouth. www.mainequilts.org/upcoming_events. 10 a.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. Sunday.

The Mystical Mayo Street Medicine Show, featuring Mind Reader Rory Raven. Juggling, belly dancing, vintage cartoons, and more. $10, $7 in circus or sideshow costume. Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland. mayostreetarts.org. 8 p.m. Saturday.

Psychic Sunday, Tarot, runes, crystals, aura photography and jewelry. Individual fees for readings, products & services. $2. Freside Inn & Suites, 81 Riverside St., Portland. www.facebook.com. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Andrea Gibson, slam poet from Boudler Colorado. With Jesse Thomas. $15 in advance, $18 day of show, all ages. Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland. www.portcitymusichall.com. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Port Veritas, Portland’s longest running spoken word series hosts a weekly open mic of local artists and their National Poetry Slam Team Finals. $3. Bull Feeney’s, 375 Fore St., Portland. www.portveritas.com/april.html. 7:45 p.m. Tuesday.

• FOOD AND DRINK

Maine Craft Distilling Tasting, Spirits and cheese tasting with Maine Craft Distilling. Free, 21-plus. Maine Beer and Beverage in the Publc Market House, 28 Monument Square, Portland. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Meet the Brewers,Joel Mahaffey and John Bonney of Foundation Brewing Company host a Q and A. Free. Elements: Books Coffee Beer, 265 Main St., Biddeford. www.facebook.com. 7:30-9 p.m. Friday.

MOFGA-El Salvador Sistering Committee Empty Bowl Supper, buy a Maine-made bowl and support the MOFGA-El Salvador Sistering Committee’s work. $15, $35 max for families. Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller St., Belfast. mofga.org. 6 p.m. Saturday.

Canning Class: Pickled Spring Veggies, canning class with UMaine Cooperative Extension staff & Master Food Preserver volunteers. $10. Whole Foods Market, 2 Somerset St., Portland. www.wholefoodsmarket.com. 6-8 p.m. Monday.

From Farm…To Flask!, from Cold River to New England Distillers and onto Maine Craft, discover the different spirits being produced in our backyards. $29 to $34. Bow Street Market, 79 Bow St., Freeport. www.bowstreetmarket.com. 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday.

Cooking Class with Chef Ana Sortun, cooking class with James Beard Best Chef Ana Sortun, author of Spice, owner of Oleana, in Cambridge, Mass. $35 includes autographed cookbook. Whole Foods Market, 2 Somerset St., Portland. www.wholefoodsmarket.com. 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Roberts Maine Grill & Maine Beer Company, four-course Beer Pairing Dinner. $50. Roberts Maine Grill, 326 US Route 1, Blue Star Memorial Highway Kittery. www.robertsmainegrill.com. 1 p.m. May 1.

Tea Tasting, sample five different teas. Free. Jacqueline’s Tea Room, 201 Main St., Freeport. www.jacquelinestearoom.com. 6 p.m. May 1.

• BENEFITS

Blue Wrap Project Runway, recycled medical material is transformed into wearable designs by creative Maine artisans, also includes wine, and Port Ballet performance. $50. Hannaford

Hall, USM, 88 Bedford Street. www.partners forworldhealth.org. 6-9 p.m. Thursday.

Help a Horse Day Open House, open house, tour, clinics, kids games and light snacks. Free. Ever After Mustang Rescue, 463 West St., Biddeford. www.mustangrescue.org. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday.

Friends of Lithgow Library Cabin Fever Reliever: Spring Spaghetti Sling with Rick Charette. $10, $5 for 12 and under, $20 families. Augusta Armory, Western Avenue, Augusta. lithgowfriends.org. 3-6 p.m. Sunday.

OTTO Fundraiser for Port Resources, OTTO, 225 Congress St., Portland. ottoportland.com. 5-9 p.m. Tuesday.

• FILM

12th Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival, “A Life Without Words,” directed by Adam Isenberg. $10, Free for USM students with ID. Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney, USM, 95 Bedford St., Portland. mainedeaffilmfest.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

12th Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival, “Silent Music,” (documentary) by director/producer Melissa A. Gomez. $10, Free for USM students with ID. Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney, USM, 95 Bedford St., Portland. mainedeaffilmfest.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday.

12th Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival, afternoon sessions are family-friendly selections, evening films are PG-13 or R. $8 Half Day Admission, $5 seniors, children & students, Free for USM students with ID; Full Day Admission $14. Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney, USM, 95 Bedford St., Portland. mainedeaffilmfest.com. 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

• FAIRS/FESTIVALS

Into the Mud Challenge, a family-fun footrace full of obstacles and of course, our signature mud pits. $30 early registration, $40 day of (if space available). Gorham Middle School, 106 Weeks Road, Gorham. www.intothemudchallenge.com. 8 a.m. Sunday.

Portland’s Community Supported Agriculture Fair, local farmers, fishermen and other food producers gather to talk to Portland’s CSA community about their products for the upcoming season. Local Sprouts, 649 Congress St., Portland. localsprouts.coop. 4-6 p.m. Sunday.

• PETS

Rabies Clinic at Aubuchon Hardware. $10. Aubuchon Hardware, 761 Main St, Sanford. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Adoptable Dogs in Biddeford, Animal Welfare Society Mobile Adoption Team will visit PetSmart in Biddeford Crossing with adoptable dogs. Free. PetSmart at Biddeford Crossing, 208 Mariner Way in Biddeford Crossing. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

• BOOKS & AUTHORS

Deep Seas Ecosystem Challenges Explored, learn how Climate Change, fishing and oil exploration have affected deep-sea marine ecosystems from a risk-taking National Geographic Explorer. Free. Skidompha Public Library, 184 Main St., Damariscotta. skidompha.org. 10 a.m. Thursday.

Poet Laureate Wesley McNair, celebrate Poetry Month with Maine Poet Laurete Wesley McNair who will read from his works and answer questions. Free. Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road. www.falmouth.lib.me.us. 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Stu Kestenbaum Book Launch: “Only Now”, the Haystack director reads from his new book of my poems. Free. Stonington Opera House, 1 School St., Stonington. www.operahousearts.org. 7 p.m. Thursday.

Simply Books, book group for book lovers with no set topic, just bring whatever you’re reading and share. Everyone welcome. Free. Camden Public Library, 55 Main St, Camden. cplreaderscorner.wordpress.com. 2-4 p.m. Saturday.

Letterpress Books Author Signing, Elaine Morse will be reading & signing her new book, “WhiteDog Fell From the Sky.” Free. Letterpress Books, Northgate Plaza, 91 Auburn St, Portland. www.Letterpress-Books.com. 3 p.m. Saturday.

From Science to Society: How the Germ Theory Helped Create Sherlock Holmes, Thomas Goetz, former executive editor of Wired Magazine, talks about his new book. A booksigning follows. Free. Muskie Archives, Bates College, 70 Campus Ave, Lewiston. 7:30-9 p.m. Monday.

Gardening in Tune with Nature, Reeser Manley and Marjorie Peronto will talk about their new book, “The New England Gardener’s Year” York Public Library, 15 Long Sands Road, York. . 1 -2 p.m. Wednesday.

Paleo in Maine: Book Discussion & Cooking Demo, a discussion on eating Paleo includes history, benefits, local resources and recipes. Free. Healthsource of Portland-West, 949 Brighton Ave., Portland. www.facebook.com. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Steve Pinkham will talk about the stories he has collected in “Old Tales of the Maine Woods” and will answer your questions., Free. Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road, Falmouth. www.falmouth.lib.me.us. 6:30 -1 p.m. May 1.

• HEALTH AND FITNESS

World T’ai Chi & Qigong Day Celebration, a global event with 80 countries participating, celebrate ancient arts and raise awareness of their potential for improving health and quality of life. Free. Bowdoin College Museum of Art Quad, 9400 College Station, Brunswick. mainecoasttaichi.com. 10-11 a.m. Saturday.

• AGRICULTURE

Soil, Seeds and Sprouts, open to ages 3 and up to learn how to start your own garden covering topics of soil, composting, and companion planting. $5. Pineland Farms Education Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester. www.PinelandFarms.org. 10 a.m. Thursday and Tuesday.

Beginner Sheep Shearing Workshop, a beginner sheep shearing workshop includes a shearing manual and lunch. $40, spectators welcome. Wolfe’s Neck Farm, 184 Burnett Road, Freeport. www.wolfesneckfarm.org. 9 a.m. Saturday.

Tractor Safety Certification Course, five-session farm tractor safety course by UMaine Cooperative Extension to help reduce risks to farm workers. Open to 13 years and older. Runs April 29 to May 27. $20. Maine Forest Service Building, 356 Shaker Road (Route 26), Gray. umaine.edu/cumberland/programs/farm-tractor-safety-course. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Open House for National Help a Horse Day, learn about America’s Wild Horse & how you can help them. Free. Ever After Mustang Rescue, 463 West St., Biddeford. www.mustangrescue.org. 12-4 p.m. Saturday.

Oak Hill Ace Hardware Garden Party, experts on-hand include beekeeping with Margo Roy, gardening with Highland Avenue Greenhouse, chicken rearing with Dan Kelleher and more. Free. Oak Hill Ace Hardware, 29 Gorham Road, Scarborough. www.scarboroughacehardware.com. 5-8 p.m. Thursday.

Southern Maine Daylily and Hosta Society, presentation by Craig Cote and Rex Beisel from Barred Owl Daylilies. Free. Southern Maine Community College Horticulture Building, 2 Fort Road, South Portland. www.smdhs.info/events. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

Grow Your Garden, gather tips and techniques for preparing your flower and vegetable gardens. $14. Massabesic Center for Adult Learning, 84 West Road Waterboro. 6-8:30 p.m. Monday.

Well Pump and Filtration Education. $5. Massabesic Center for Adult Learning, 84 West Road, Waterboro. massabesic.maineadulted.org. 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday. State.me.us/ms/.

• LECTURES

Genealogy Event to Focus on Mayflower Ancestry, Maine State Library Genealogy Club will host Maine genealogist Scott Sampson for a discussion on tracing Mayflower ancestry. Free. Maine State Library, State House Complex, Augusta. 2-4 p.m. Thursday.

Educational Passsages, with Dick Baldwin, a program which launches student-built model sailboats tracked by GPS around the world. Camden Public Library, 55 Main St. www.librarycamden.org. 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday.

“Spring Flowers: Andy Warhol and James Rosenquist,” Thursday Night Salon lecture. Bowdoin College Museum of Art, 245 Maine St., Brunswick. www.bowdoin.edu/art-museum. 7-9 p.m. Thursday.

Lecture: The Death of the Book has been Somewhat Exaggerated, Presented by Scott McCarney, artist, designer and educator based in Rochester, New York. Free. Glickman Library, USM, 314 Forest Ave., Portland. usm.maine.edu/bookarts/death-book-has-been-somewhat-exaggerated. 4 p.m. Friday.

“Quantified Self-City-Nation: Digital Systems for Attentional Control,” Matthew W. Wilson lecture. Moulton Union, Bowdoin College, 6 South Campus Dr, Brunswick. 7-8:30 p.m. Monday. bowdoin.edu.

Exploring Green Funerals and Burials, discussion about green funerals and burials, how to go about planning and arranging for them. $5-10. Freeport High School, 30 Hobrook St. 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday. 865-6171.

Classic Yacht Models with Robert Eddy, master ship modeler Robert Eddy of Camden will unveil his latest creation and talk about his lifelong passion for ship model making. Camden Public Library, 55 Main St. www.librarycamden.org. 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“Labor Migration and Human Trafficking in Rural Vietnam: Results from a Pilot Project.” Bates College Commons Room 221-222, 136 Central Ave., Lewiston. Noon Wednesday.

Veterans-Facts About Your VA Burial Benefits, program educates veterans and their spouses on the burial benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. $5, $10. Freeport High School, 30 Hobrook St. 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday. 865-6171.

BDA Speaker Event “The Mills of the Androscoggin River.” $20. Fort Andross Mill Complex-Gallery, 14 Maine St., Brunswick. brunswickdowntown.org/events/speaker. 7:30 a.m. May 1.

GROW IT! The New Food Economy 2014, food tours, case studies and networking about growing food economy. $50-$70. Hannaford Hall, Abromson Center, USM, 88 Bedford St., Portland. www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-slow-money-maine-regional-gathering-tickets-4522382568. 1:30-7 p.m. May 1.

• WORKSHOPS

Writing Workshop, write individually on a common theme, you may read your writing out loud or not, then we will go on to the next theme. York Public Library, 15 Long Sands Road. www.york.lib.me.us. 5-6:45 p.m. Thursday.

Book arts round robin, Scott McCarney will lead a tournament with circulating sheets of paper – each participant will use a variety of mark-making techniques. $125. Wishcamper Center, USM, 34 Bedford St., Portland. usm.maine.edu/bookarts/workshop-series. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

The Art of Icon Painting, Russian icon maker, teacher and lecturer Marina Forbes will offer “The Art of Icon Painting” hands-on studio workshop. St. George’s Episcopal Church, York Harbor. MarinaForbes.com. 1 p.m. Tuesday