• BENEFITS

“Flaws for a Cause,” sale of handmade tableware including unique, slightly flawed pieces to benefit Cultivating Community, Maine Potters Market, Portland. Free admission. mainepottersmarket.com. Thursday to April 30.

Additional Photos

A firsthand look at aquatic life at the 2012 Green Neighbor Family Festival, following the Urban Runoff 5K, at Deering High School in Portland. This year’s race and festival take place Saturday. Courtesy photo

“Run-A-Hound” 5K, benefits Youthlinks; Youthlinks, Rockland. $15; $10 with dog; $8 for students. youthlinksonline.org. 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

“Hope Flies: Miles in Memory of Michaela 5K Run and Walk,” benefit for the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine in honor of Michaela Gaetjens, Southern Maine Medical Center, Biddeford. $20; $10 for ages 12 and under. bit.ly/MilesMichaela. 9 a.m. Saturday.

Shakespeare’s Birthday Bash, buffet, cash bar, music by Spare Parts, auction, Shakespeare trivia and prizes; benefits Theater at Monmouth; The Emporium, Readfield. $25. 685-7348. 6 p.m. Saturday.

WMPG Fashion Show, benefits community radio station WMPG, 18-plus; Asylum, Portland. $10; $5 for students with ID. wmpg.org. 8 p.m. Saturday.

“Dish” Dinner and Discussion with Monica Wood, author of “When We Were the Kennedys”; benefits Falmouth Memorial Library; Falmouth Sea Grill. falmouthmemoriallibrary.org/dishbenefit. $75 (includes meal, drinks, tax and gratuity). 6 p.m. Monday.

Goodwill’s Little Black Dress Event, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, music by The Wetsuits, and live and silent auctions; benefits veterans and their families; Ocean Gateway Terminal, Portland. $35; two tickets for $60. goodwillnne.org. 6 to 9 p.m. April 25.

King Middle School Faculty Talent Show and Auction, fundraiser for seventh-grade trip to Camp Kieve, King Middle School, Portland. $6; $3 for students. king.portlandschools.org. 5:15 to 8 p.m. April 25.

Chocolate Buffet, chocolate confections by Wilbur’s of Maine, silent auction and music by Morse musicians; benefits Morse High School Project Graduation; Bath Middle School. $20. 798-0269. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 25.

• SPECIAL EVENTS

THURSDAY

Laser Mania 2013, laser light festival, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $5.50; $1 for 3-D glasses. usm.maine.edu/planet. “Laser Perseus + Andromeda,” noon; “Electrolaze!”, new techno/dance laser show, 2 p.m.; “Laser Orion,” 3 p.m.

Poets Kristen Lindquist and Dave Morrison, performance of pieces inspired by Amy Waldman’s novel “The Submission” with acoustic musicians Anna and Dave Patterson, Lithgow Public Library, Augusta. Free. www.lithgow.lib.me.us. 6 p.m.

FRIDAY

Laser Mania 2013, laser light festival, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $5.50; $1 for 3-D glasses. usm.maine.edu/planet. “Laser Orion,” noon; “Laser Beatles,” 2 p.m.; “Laser Perseus + Andromeda,” 3 p.m.; Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon,” 7 p.m.; “Laser Vinyl,” 8 p.m.

SATURDAY

Laser Mania 2013, laser light festival, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $5.50; $1 for 3-D glasses. usm.maine.edu/planet. “Laser Perseus + Andromeda,” 1 p.m.; “Laser Orion,” 3 p.m.; Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” 7 p.m.; “Laser Led Zeppelin,” 8 p.m.

Urban Runoff 5K and Green Neighbor Family Festival, Earth Day celebration with 5K road race, kids’ obstacle course, live entertainment, face painting and more, Deering High School, Portland. Festival is free; 5K costs $25 ($15 for ages 17 and under and $60 for families). urbanrunoff5k.com/p/festival.html. 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. (race); 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (festival)

30th Annual Gem and Mineral Show, more than 25 vendors, Saint Joseph’s College (Harold Alfond Center), Standish. $4; $3 for seniors and students; free for ages 12 and under. 893-6617. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Great American Kids Fair, indoor fair with bounce houses, games, rides and more, Portland Expo. gakidsfair.com. $15; $10 with donation of non-perishable food item; free for ages 3 and under. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

SUNDAY

Laser Mania 2013, laser light festival, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $5.50; $1 for 3-D glasses. usm.maine.edu/planet. “Laser Orion,” 1 p.m.; “Laser Perseus + Andromeda,” 3 p.m.

TUESDAY

Port Veritas Spoken Word Series, Portland Slam Team Semi Finals round two, 18-plus; Bull Feeney’s, Portland. $3. 773-7210. 7 p.m.

• FILMS

“Millay at Steepletop” (1983), documentary about poet Edna St. Vincent Millay followed by discussion with Millay scholar Mary Pilote, Rockland Public Library. Free. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

“It’s a Disaster” (2012), indie drama/comedy about the end of the world, Space Gallery, Portland. $8. space538.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

“Herman’s House” (2012), documentary about solitary confinement co-presented by the ACLU of Maine, Space Gallery, Portland. $8. space538.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

• BOOKS/AUTHORS

John Densmore, former drummer of The Doors and author of “The Doors Unhinged,” Record Store Day book signing, Bull Moose Music, Scarborough. Free; cost for book. bullmoose.com. 2 p.m. Saturday.

Lowry’s Lodge Monthly Poetry Series, with Dennis Camire and M.K. Spain, Saccarappa Art Collective, Westbrook. $3. 591-7300. 7 p.m. Saturday.

Carla Sullwood, author of “The Whaler’s Bride,” Rockland Public Library. Free. 594-0310. 2 p.m. Saturday.

Jen Blood, author of “Southern Cross,” York Public Library. Free. www.york.lib.me.us. 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Betsy Williams, author of “Mumma Can You Hear Me?”, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland Center. 829-2215. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Brown Bag Lecture Series, with Augusten Burrows, author of “This is How: Surviving What You Think You Can’t,” Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library. Free; bring bag lunch. portlandlibrary.com. 7 p.m. April 25.

• PRO SPORTS

Portland Sea Dogs, minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, Hadlock Field, Portland. $9, $10. 874-9300. Vs. New Britain, 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; vs. Binghamton, 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday.

Portland Pirates, AHL affiliate of the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland. $16 to $20. portlandpirates.com. Vs. Bridgeport, 7 p.m. Friday; vs. Connecticut, 7 p.m. Saturday.

• PARTICIPANT DANCE

Bath Family Dance, live fiddle music and dance lessons, Bath Dance Works. $3; $12 per family. 522-3900. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Ecstatic Dance Maine, expressive dance with DJ, Reiche Community School Gymnasium, Portland. $10 to $20; sliding scale. 408-2684. 10 a.m. to noon Sunday.

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