BENEFITS

FRIDAY

Elykssor Clothing for a Cause, benefits the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Pearl Lounge, Portland. $8. www.pearloldport.com. 9 to 11 p.m.

The End of the World Dance Party, benefits the National Audubon Society and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network; 21-plus. Asylum, Portland. $5/donation. www.portlandasylum.com. 8 p.m.

SATURDAY

Kwenu Party, refreshments and live music; benefits the museum. Reservations required. Museum of African Culture, Portland. www.museumafricanculture.org. 5 to 8 p.m.

Victory Ride, benefits a 9-year-old boy fighting brain cancer. Bentley’s Saloon, Arundel. $15. (603) 359-9692. 8:30 a.m. (registration), 9:30 a.m. (ride starts).

Rick Charette and the Bubble Gum Band, children’s songs, Noble High School, Berwick. $10. Benefits the D.A. Hurd Library’s renovation and expansion project. 676-2215. 7 p.m.

Benefit concert, benefits the Phil James Family Emergency Fund. Trinity Episcopal Church, Portland. Donation. 615-1550. 8 p.m.

“Jayne County’s Sex! Art! Music!” music and other performances to celebrate the influence of the punk-rock aesthetic on rock and culture; 21-plus. Part of the proceeds go to the Animal Welfare Society. Kymara Gallery, Biddeford. $10. 286-7399. 7 to 10 p.m.

SUNDAY

Music Cruise with the Calypso Cowboys; benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Casablanca Cruises, Portland. $25. www.phcofmaine.com. 3 to 6 p.m.

Will Gattis, performance, wine tasting and auction to benefit the musician and Preble Street Resource Center. PineCrest Bed and Breakfast Inn, Gorham. $5. www.pinecrestmaine.com. 2 p.m.

MONDAY

New library benefit, music and food, South Berwick Public Library. www.south-berwick.lib.me.us. 6 p.m.

TUESDAY

Art for MARC, art show and silent auction benefiting the university’s Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center. University of New England (Art Gallery), Portland. www.une.edu. 5 to 9 p.m.

FAIRS/FESTIVALS

TODAY

Union Fair and Maine Wild Blueberry Festival, traditional agricultural fair with contests, harness racing, entertainment and midway. Union Fairgrounds, Union. $8; $4 ages 12 to 14; free for under age 12. www.unionfair.org. Today to Saturday.

Acton Fair, 4-H exhibits, animal-pulling events, midway. Route 109, Acton. $5 today and Friday; $6 Saturday and Sunday; free for under age 12 every day. www.actonfair.net. Today to Sunday.

Piscataquis Valley Fair, homemade ice cream, agricultural exhibits, crafts, midway and animal pulling events. Fairview Avenue, Dover-Foxcroft. $6; $2 ages 5 to 10; free for ages 9 and under. www.piscataquisvalleyfair.com. Today to Sunday.

New England Trappers’ Weekend, demonstrations, contests, music, auction and more. Olsen residence, Bethel. Free. mta.homestead.com. Today to Saturday.

Crown of Maine Balloon Fest, hot air balloons, activities. Northern Maine Fairgrounds, Presque Isle. 764-6561. Today to Saturday.

FRIDAY

American Folk Festival, dancing, music, storytelling and other traditional folk art performances. Riverfront parks, Bangor. $10/donation. www.americanfolkfestival.com. Friday to Sunday.

SATURDAY

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

Picnic Music+Arts Festival, live music by local bands, artisans and more. Lincoln Park, Portland. Free. www.picnicportland.com. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Freedom Days Celebration, in honor of local veterans, with live music, ice cream social and more. The Woods at Canco, Portland. Free; reservations required. 772-4777. 2:30 to
4:30 p.m.

Juried Craft Show, sponsored by the Society of Southern Maine Craftsmen. Village Green, Kennebunkport. Free. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Maine Native American Summer Market, show, sale and demonstrations of Native American arts and crafts. Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, New Gloucester. Free. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Kwenu, street festival, Museum of African Culture, Portland. Free. Noon to 4 p.m.

North Yarmouth Fun Day, parade, music, games and more. Village Green, North Yarmouth. nymeevents.com. Begins at 7:30 a.m.

SPECIAL EVENTS

TODAY

Cruise In Night, classic cars from all eras. Charlie Beiggs, Windham. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Hocking Granite Quarry Tour, tour of privately owned former quarry now a wildlife sanctuary. Tour will include discussion on quarrying. Free/donations. St. George Grange. 372-8893. 6 p.m.

FRIDAY

Historical Walking Tour, learn about the 350-year history of Ogunquit. Katie’s Cafe on Shore Road, Ogunquit. $5; free for Ogunquit residents. www.ogunquit.org. 9:30 a.m. Friday, Monday and Wednesday.

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

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; registration required. Castle Tucker, Wiscasset. $30. 882-7169. 3 to 4:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

Salon Nights Series with poet Shelley Girdner and musicians Graf & Green. Red Door Pottery Studio and Gallery Shop, Kittery. Free. 7 p.m.

Lighthouse tours, one of only 40 caisson-style lighthouses in the U.S. and the only one open to visitors; wear good shoes; must be over 55 inches tall; canceled in case of rain or fog. Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, South Portland. $5. 699-2676. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Barks in the Park, costume parade, demonstrations, agility games, group dog walk and more. Commons, Gardiner. Free. www.
gardinermainstreet.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Women in Everyday Life Tour, historian Elaine Bradbury leads hourly tours of the Marrett House focusing on the lives of upper-class rural Maine women. Marrett House, Standish. $4-$5; $2.50 children. historicnewengland.org. 11 a.m. to 
3 p.m.

SUNDAY

Veterans for Peace 25th Anniversary Convention March and Rally, march through Portland concludes in Tommy’s Park, Portland. www.
vfpnationalconvention.org. 9 a.m.

Spirits Alive Walking Tours, one-hour ghost tour, Eastern Cemetery, Portland. $4-$7; free for under age 12. 318-2982. 1:30 p.m.

Marine Animals, oceanographer Mike Dunn talks about the lives of marine animals and invites attendees to interact with animals in the museum’s touch tank. Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport. $3-$8. 1 to 2 p.m.

TUESDAY

Port Veritas, spoken-word series; all ages. North Star Music Cafe, Portland. $2. 699-2994. Sign-up at 7 p.m.

PRO SPORTS

Portland Sea Dogs, Minor League baseball, Hadlock Field, Portland. $7-$9. www.portlandseadogs.com. Binghamton, 7 p.m. Monday to Wednesday.

PARTICIPANT DANCE

Thursday Night Dancing with live music, Clay Hill Farm Restaurant, Cape Neddick. Admission is free with dinner or $5 for dancing and drinks, www.clayhillfarm.com. 8 to 10 p.m. today.

Country dancing, Maplewood Dance Center, Portland. 878-0584. 7 to 11 p.m. Friday.

Ballroom dancing, Maplewood Dance Center, Portland. 878-0584. Semi-formal dance party, 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday.