• BENEFITS

Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale, to benefit Portland’s combined high schools girls and boys hockey teams, Deering High School. 874-8260. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

• BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Lincoln Paine, Maine Historical Society, Portland, admission by donation. mainehistory.org. Author of “The Sea and Civilization: A Maritime History of the World,” 7 p.m. Thursday.

Norbert Nathanson, Camden Public Library. 236-3440. Author of “A Secretly Disabled Man: a Memoir,” 7 p.m. Thursday.

Kelly Braffet and Owen King, Falmouth Memorial Library. www.falmouth.lib.me.us. Authors of “Save Yourself” and “Double Feature,” 4 to 6 p.m. Friday.

Advertisement

Scott Nash, Nonesuch Books, South Portland. nonesuchbooks.com. Author of young adult book “The High Skies Adventures of Blue Jay the Pirate,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Paul Doiron, Maine Coast Book Shop and Cafe, Damariscotta. mainecoastbookshop.com. Author of “Massacre Pond,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Jane Harvey Meade, Bookstacks, Bucksport. 469-8992. Author of “The Season in Between,” 1 p.m. Saturday.

Catherine Gentile, Bonobo’s Wood Fire Pizza, Portland. 347-8267. Author of “The Quiet Roar of a Hummingbird,” 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

• PARTICIPANT DANCE

Salsa Dancing with DJ Baulio, The Pearl, Portland, $5, 21-plus. 523-9600. Latin, merengue, salsa, reggaeton, bachata and Latin hits. Dance lessons included, 8 p.m. Thursday.

Advertisement

Folk Dance Brunswick, world music and dance from the Balkans, Israel, northern Europe and around the globe; many dances taught, no partner needed. People Plus, Brunswick, $8, $5 students and seniors. 200-7577. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Freeport Contradance, Merriconeag Waldorf School, Freeport, $10, $7 students and seniors. 233-4325. Music by Adam Broome & Jaide Trudel, caller George Marshall. Family dance at 6 p.m.; finger food potluck at 7 p.m.; beginner session at 7:30 p.m.; 8 p.m. Saturday.

Wednesday Night Stomp Swing Dance, Acoustic Artisans, Portland, $5-$10 suggested donation. portlandswingproject.com. Lesson at 7 p.m., dance at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

• FAIRS/FESTIVALS

Gingerbread House Festival, York Public Library. www.york.lib.me.us. Through Dec. 19.

“Sunsplash” Craft Fair, Bowdoin College, David Saul Smith Union, Brunswick. 725-3902. More than 60 vendors, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.

Advertisement

Christkindlsmarkt: Traditional European Village Market, St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, Scarborough. 756-9723. Live music, unique crafts, kids gift shop, German food, visit with Santa, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Annual Christmas by the Sea Arts and Crafts Fair, Ogunquit Fire Station. 646-4947. Art, birdhouses, jewelry, ornaments and more, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Big Chill Craft Fair, Mayo Street Arts, Portland. mayostreetarts.org. Local art, crafts and vintage items, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

United Maine Craftsmen’s Christmas Magic Arts & Crafts Show, Westbrook Middle School. 621-2818. Locally handmade gifts from Maine artisans, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Designing Women Fine Art and Crafts Show, Ocean Avenue School, Portland. designingwomen.org. More than 20 female artists and craftswomen, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Georgetown Art Sale, Georgetown Historical Society. 371-9200. Paintings and prints, holiday cards, Shaker boxes, jewelry and pottery. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Advertisement

Giant Fundraising Sale, benefit for the educational outreach program of the Maine Farms Project, Shady Nook Farm, West Newfield. 793-2759. New and used books, unique art rubber stamps, framed photographs, second-hand items, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Through Dec. 22.

Christmas Market at the Gardens, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. mainegardens.org. 24 vendors with a variety of New England-made items, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Holiday Fair and Open House, Thrifty Kitty Thrift Store, Portland. 797-3014. Crafts, books, cat-themed and holiday merchandise, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Picnic Holiday Sale, Portland Company Complex, Portland. picnicportland.com. Juried indie craft fair. Photos with Yeti, DJs, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

• FILMS

Holiday Movie Extravaganza: “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” State Theatre, Portland, $5. statetheatreportland.com. 4 p.m. Sunday.

Advertisement

“Hark! Cinema Angels” holiday film series, Patten Free Library, Bath. patten.lib.me.us. “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness Film Series, Rockland Public Library, free. 594-0310. “Nietzsche on Hardship,” 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19.

Maine-Made Film Series: “How to Make Movies at Home,” Space, Portland, $7. space538.org. Shot in Biddeford and surrounding areas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19.

• FOR CHILDREN

North Pole Express, Boothbay Railway Village, $10, reservations suggested. railwayvillage.org. Entertaining train ride includes storytelling and visit from Santa, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (every 30 minutes) Thursday and Saturday.

“The Velveteen Rabbit,” Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, Portland, $8-$9. kitetails.org. Performed by actors ages 8 to 13. 4 p.m. Friday; 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Through Dec. 23.

Advertisement

Polar Express, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum, Portland, $25-$40. porttix.com. Holiday train travels to the “North Pole,” with hot cocoa and cookies, stories and Santa, trains at 4, 5:15 and 6:30 p.m. Friday; 2:45, 4, 5:15 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tea with Mrs. Claus, afternoon tea, a craft and story, children must be accompanied by an adult, Dyer Library, Saco, free, reservations required. 283-3861 ext. 102. Seatings at noon and 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Reading of “The Polar Express,” Amtrak conductor Jim Nawrocki will read the classic holiday book, hot chocolate will be served after the reading, Samuel L. Cohen Children’s Library, Portland, free. portlandlibrary.com. 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

“Polar Express,” family event and film showing, Schoolhouse Arts Center, Standish. schoolhousearts.org. $10 donation. Cocoa and cookies, pictures with Santa, kids invited to wear pajamas and bring a banana box to decorate as a train car to watch movie from, 5:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.

Visits with Santa Claus, Saco Museum, Saco, free. sacomuseum.org. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

• SPECIAL EVENTS

Advertisement

Merry Madness, downtown Portland, portland maine.com. Horse and wagon rides, participating stores open until 10 p.m. 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday.

“Joy to the World” Christmas at Victoria Mansion, Portland, victoriamansion.org. $15, $13.50 seniors, $7 college students, $5 for children ages 6 to 17, free for under 6. 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Dec. 19.

13th annual Festival of Trees, Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, Westbrook. westbrookfestivaloftrees.com. 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.

The Dough Ball Party, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, proceeds benefit the opera house, $20 advance, $30 door. boothbayoperahouse.com. Music, dancing, hors d’oeuvres, Gingerbread Spectacular winners announced, 7 p.m. Friday.

Christmas Prelude, rides on heated streetcars with stories read aloud, afternoon Christmas karaoke on Saturday and Sunday, Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport, $6. trolleymuseum.org. Noon to 4 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Holiday Open House, Foss Mansion, decorated for the season, Auburn, $8, $5 students, under 12 free. Presented by the Women’s Literary Union of Androscoggin, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday; 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Advertisement

The Original Peacox Productions “A Magical Christmas 2013,” Hallowell City Hall Auditorium, $10. peacoxproductions.org. Professional touring theater troupe known for artful male and female impersonations, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

“Christmas Variety Show,” The Freeport Theater of Awesome, magic from Norman NG, live Christmas music by Peter Mezoian, juggling, physical comedy and more, $17, $12 seniors and children, $12 for all 2 p.m. shows. awesometheater.com. 7 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday. Through Dec. 21.

Piano Sing Along, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland Center, free. 829-2215. Favorite standards, 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

The 7th annual Great Gingerbread Spectacular, with music and performances, bake sale, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, free. boothbayoperahouse.com. Exhibit of dozens of gingerbread houses and castles, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Dickens: An Evening with the Master, join Victoria Mansion trustee Carlene Magno and Andrew Harris of Deertrees Theater in the stair hall for an exciting night of history and entertainment, Victoria Mansion, Portland, $25. victoriamansion.org. Reception follows performance, 6 p.m. Saturday.

Metropolitan Opera Live in HD: Verdi’s “Falstaff,” Strand Theatre, Rockland, $27, $15 students. rocklandstrand.com. 1 p.m. Saturday.

Advertisement

Metropolitan Opera Live in HD: “Falstaff,” Fryeburg Academy, Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center, $26, $23 seniors, $18 students. fryeburgacademy.org/tickets. 1 p.m. Saturday.

Christmas at Swan Hall, proceeds benefit the Lyric Theater and Portland Players, Swan Hall, Portland, $5, suggested donation. 400-6085. 1886 house decorated with 16 Christmas trees, 1 to 6 Saturday and Sunday.

29th annual Christmas Parade, Wells. southernmaineparade.com. This year’s theme is “A Storybook Christmas,” 2 p.m. Sunday.

“Live from Stratford-upon-Avon,” Lincoln Theater, Damariscotta, $15, $5 for 18 and under. atthelincoln.org. Live cinema broadcast from the stage of the Royal Shakespeare Company, 2 p.m. Sunday.

Seanachie Nights: Spoken Word and Music, Bull Feeney’s, Portland, $9, suggested donation. 253-0288. “Solstice Revels” with Vernon Cox and Megan Tripaldi, 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.

National Theatre of London presents Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” in HD, Strand Theatre, Rockland, $23, $15 students. rocklandstrand.com. With Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston, 2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Poetry Evening facilitated by Priscilla Cookson, York Public Library. www.york.lib.me.us. Bring poems to share, either your own or favorite poems by someone else, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Community Potluck and Carol Sing dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by music provided by Kevin Kiley, John Adams, Matthew Ryder, Abbey Hutchins and friends, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. boothbayoperahouse.com. 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: