BENEFITS

FRIDAY

Live auction, benefits the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, Elks Club, Rockland. www.therealmaine.com. 5 to 6 p.m. (preview), 6 to 9 p.m. (auction).

Alive in Lewiston, family-friendly event with live music, locally-made art and food; benefits Lots to Gardens. St. Mary’s Nutrition Center of Maine, Lewiston. $5-$15; reservations required. 6:30 p.m.

Rising Tide Dinner, Maine People’s Alliance awards dinner with guest speaker Jim Hightower, Woodfords Congregational Church, Portland. www.mainepeoplesalliance.org. 6 p.m. 

SATURDAY

Empty Bowl Supper, enjoy soup in a handmade bowl and keep the bowl; benefits Project Feed, Woodfords Congregational Church, Portland. $10/donation. 797-4494. 4:30 to 7 p.m.

David Mallett concert, benefits New Hope for Women, First Congregational Church, Camden. $18. www.newhopeforwomen.org. 7:30 p.m.

“Trust in Art,” fresh paint day and auction to benefit Heartwood College of Art and Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, Atlantic Hall, Cape Porpoise. $20. 985-0985. 4:30 p.m.

“An Evening with Stevie Coyle,” fingerstyle guitarist; benefits Schoodic Arts for All, Hammond Hall, Winter Harbor. $12. 963-2569. 7 p.m.

Silent auction, benefits the Children’s Center, Elks Club, Portland. 797-9366. Saturday.

Out of the Darkness, community walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Payson Park, Portland. www.afsp.org. 11 a.m. (registration), noon (walk) Saturday. 

SUNDAY

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Monument Square, Portland. 10 a.m. (registration), 11 a.m. (walk) Sunday.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Tanger Outlet Center, Kittery. www.cancer.org/strideson. 8 a.m. (registration), 9 a.m. (walk) Sunday.

SPECIAL EVENTS

TODAY

Destination Haunt, walk the Twilight Trail and enter the Execution Center; recommended for ages 13 and older (the family matinee is toned down). Destination Haunt, Lebanon. $20-$35. www.destinationhaunt.com. 6 to 11 p.m. today to Saturday; family matinee ($13; $9 for ages 12 and younger) 2 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Through Oct. 31.

Tarot Night, bring your tarot deck, Abrahadabra Oasis, Portland. Free. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

FRIDAY

Haunted Schoolhouse, old-fashioned haunted house not suitable for young children; a “safe room” with crafts and games is available for youngsters. Schoolhouse Arts Center, Sebago Lake. $8; $5 for ages 12 and younger. www.schoolhousearts.org. 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Haunted House, former Circuit City Building, Augusta. $10. uvm.wikidot.com/projects-hh. 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday.

Game Show: Minute to Win It, try to accomplish the tasks as shown on the TV game show. University of Maine (Olsen Student Center), Farmington. Free. 778-7346. 9 p.m. 

SATURDAY

Tales of Terror, take a “spirited” tour of the dimly-lit mansion before being really spooked by storyteller Lynne Cullen. Reservations required; children should be age 12 or older. Victoria Mansion, Portland. $20; $10 for children under age 18. 772-4841, Ext. 10. 6 to 7:30 and 8 to 9:30 p.m.

African cultural events, spoken word, poetry and music as part of the African Refugee Health: Best Practices Conference. Bates College (Olin Arts Center), Lewiston. Free; tickets required. www.bates.edu. 7 p.m.

Model Train Rail Fair, Community Center, Phillips. Free. 639-2630. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

FAIRS/FESTIVALS

FRIDAY

Belfast Poetry Festival, various locations, Belfast. www.belfastpoetry.org. Various times Friday. 

SATURDAY

Octoberfest 2010, with beer, German food and polka, West Market Square, Bangor. Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. 942-9339. 

WEDNESDAY

Yarmouth Art Festival, art, music and refreshments, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Yarmouth. Free. www.yarmouthartfestival.com. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

FILMS

TODAY

Sagadahoc Preservation’s Dreamland Theater, film series, Winter Street Center, Bath. “Babette’s Feast,” 7 p.m.

“Language of America,” documentary about New England American Indian tribes fighting to preserve their language and cultural heritage, Space, Portland. $7. www.space538.org. 7:30 p.m.

 

MONDAY

Global Lens Film Series, touring program of narrative features from around the world, Bates College (Ronj Coffeehouse), Lewiston. $5. 786-6135. “Leo’s Room,” 8 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m. Monday. Series runs through Dec. 13. 

WEDNESDAY

Food Film Series, with discussion, University of Maine (Lincoln Auditorium), Farmington. Free. 778-7210. “We Feed the World,” 7 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m. and 2 and 6 p.m. Wednesday. Series runs through Nov. 17.

“The Bully,” short film by local filmmaker followed by a musical performance by Graham. Space, Portland. $5-$10/donation. www.space538.org. 7:30 p.m.

BOOKS/AUTHORS

FRIDAY

Author presentations during the African Refugee Health: Best Practice Conference. Bates College (Olin Arts Center), Lewiston. Free; tickets required. www.bates.edu. Patricia Walker, co-editor of “Immigrant Medicine,” 6:30 p.m. Friday; Richard Mollica, author of “Healing Invisible Wounds,” 11 a.m. Sunday. 

SATURDAY

Poetry book celebration, with guided nature walks, exhibit of the illustrations from “Nest, Nook and Cranny” and book signing with illustrator Jamie Hogan. Gem Gallery, Peaks Island. Free. 699-2755. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The Lost Hero,” book-release party for ages 8 to 12, Borders Books and Music, South Portland. Free. 775-6110. 2 p.m. 

SUNDAY

Loretta Krupinski, author of “A Maine Artist’s Garden Journal,” presents “Blending Art and Maritime History of the Maine Coast”; benefits the Provident Association of Saco. Saco Museum. $5. www.sacomuseum.org. 2 p.m. 

TUESDAY

Murder and Mayhem, mystery author series, Lithgow Public Library, Augusta. Free. Vicki Doudera, “A House to Die For,” 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Series runs through Oct. 21. 

WEDNESDAY

Brown Bag Lecture series, bring your own lunch, Portland Public Library. Free. 871-1710. Geoffrey Wolff, “The Hard Way Around,” noon to 1 p.m. 

PARTICIPANT DANCE

FRIDAY

Swing dance with Maine Swingin’ DJs; partner not needed, beginners welcome. Deering Grange, Portland. $8. 653-5012. 8 to 9 p.m. lesson, 9 p.m. to midnight dance.

Dancing with DJ John, Maplewood Dance Center, Portland. 878-0584. 7 to 11 p.m. Friday. 

WEDNESDAY

Ballroom dancing, Maplewood Dance Center, Portland. 878-0584. Dance social, 7 to 11 p.m.