• BENEFITS

FRIDAY

Polar Bear Plunge, benefits the Natural Resources Council of Maine, East End Beach, Portland. Minimum of $50 in pledges. www.nrcm.org. Noon. 

SATURDAY

Atlantic Ocean Plunge, benefits Caring Unlimited domestic violence program, Gooch’s Beach, Kennebunk. 490-3227. 10:30 a.m. (registration), 11 a.m. (plunge).

Lobster Dip, annual event to benefit Special Olympics in Maine, The Brunswick, Old Orchard Beach. $100 minimum to participate; costumes encouraged. Noon.

Resolution Run, benefits Center for Grieving Children, Maine Running Company, Portland. www.mainerunning.com. 9:30 a.m. (registration); 11 a.m. (run). 

• FAIRS/FESTIVALS

Festival of Trees, variety of activities, Saco Museum. Free. 283-3861. Noon to 8 p.m. today; noon to 5 p.m. Friday. 

• SPECIAL EVENTS

TODAY

“The Twelve Days of Christmas,” tours of the mansion decked out in holiday splendor; tours are self-guided, Victoria Mansion, Portland. $5 to $15; free under age 6; $35 family ticket. www.victoriamansion.org. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday and Sunday to Wednesday. Through Jan. 8.

“Christmas with the Longfellows,” a mid-19th century holiday celebration with Longfellow House tours and children’s activities, Wadsworth-Longfellow House, Portland. 774-1822. $12; $10 seniors and students; $3 children; free for under age 6. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last tour leaves at 4 p.m.) today; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (last tour leaves at 1 p.m.) Friday.

“We Weave the Years Together,” explore spinning weaving, knitting and hand sewing through stories and activities for ages 7 through adult, City Center, Augusta. Free. www.oldfortwestern.org. 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

FRIDAY

New Year’s Eve Celebration with balloon drop, crafts and other special activities, Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, Portland. www.kitetails.org. Noon and 2 p.m. (balloon drops).

New Year Gorham with music, dancing, children’s activities and other entertainment, various locations, Gorham. $7. www.newyeargorham.org. 7 p.m. to midnight.

New Year’s Eve Celebration with entertainment, a bonfire, marshmallow toasting, dancing, a children’s parade and a community potluck, various locations, Bethel. Free; donations accepted. (800) 824-2910. 5 to 10 p.m.

“New Year’s the Bay,” New Year’s Eve party with performances, dining and activities, various locations, Belfast. Festival buttons are $15; $5 for students in grades K-12; free for children under age 5. www.nybb.org. Friday.

New Year’s Planetarium with Sky Dome theater shows, lectures and a midnight countdown, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. Donation. 780-4249. 7 p.m. to midnight.

Downtown Countdown with events and activities throughout downtown Bangor. www.downtownbangor.com. Noon to midnight.

New Year’s Eve Party, children’s celebration with entertainment, fireworks, music, hot cocoa toast and activities, L.L. Bean Retail Store, Freeport. Free. www.llbean.com. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sid Tripp’s Black Cat Ball with music, dancing and food; wear festive holiday attire, Mariner’s Church Banquet Center, Portland. $50. 772-3599. 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

First Night OOB, family-friendly activities, bonfire and fireworks on the beach, various locations, Old Orchard Beach. www.oob365.com. 4:30 p.m. to midnight.

New Year’s Eve with Johnny Rawls, includes hotel stay, food, dancing and more, Trade Winds Motor Inn, Rockland. $199 per couple; limited number of dance-only tickets available for $25. 596-6055. Friday.

New Year’s Eve Celebration with music, dancing, vaudeville and refreshments, Criterion Theatre and Arts Center, Bar Harbor. $5. www.criteriontheater.com..com. 8 p.m.

Sardine and Maple Leaf Drop, Tides Institute and Museum of Art, Eastport. www.tidesinstitute.org. 11 p.m. (maple leaf drop), midnight (sardine drop).

New Year’s Eve Party with wine, music, balloon drop and more; benefits the Center for Grieving Children, Grace, Portland. $10. 828-4422. 10 p.m. 

SATURDAY

“Here Comes the Sun,” New Year’s Day celebration with marshmallow toasting and more, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. Free. 633-4333. Noon to 2 p.m.

New Year’s Hike, 2-mile hike on snowmobile trails near the health center, leashed dogs welcome, Sacopee Valley Health Center, Porter. Hot cocoa and refreshments at 10:30 and 11 a.m. 

TUESDAY

Knitting Night, knit (or not) while listening to a performance by fiddler Hope Hoffman and her band, Free Grange Music Studio, Bowdoinham. Free. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. 

• FILMS

Greg Stump’s “Legend of Aahhh’s,” exploration of the history of ski films with an introduction and question-and-answer session with Stump, State Theatre, Portland. $16.50. www.statetheatreportland.com. 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday.

First Saturday Film Series: “1981” (2009), Southwest Harbor Public Library. Free. www.swharbor.lib.me.us. 2 p.m. Saturday. 

• BOOKS/AUTHORS

Author reading and book signing, Rockland Public Library. Free. With Kate Braestrup, author of “Beginner’s Grace: Bringing Prayer to Life,” 6:30 p.m. today. 

• PARTICIPANT DANCE

FRIDAY

New Year’s Eve Dance Party, Nasson Community Center, Springvale. $40. 636-1224. 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. 

SATURDAY

Contra dance, all dances taught, dessert potluck, partner not necessary, Falmouth Congregational Church. $5 to $10; free for children under 5. 756-2201. 7:15 p.m. 

WEDNESDAY

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

• PRO SPORTS

Maine Red Claws, NBA Development League basketball game, Portland Exposition Building. $10 to $30. 210-6655. Vs. Erie, 7 p.m. today.

Portland Pirates, AHL hockey team, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland. $11 to $17. 828-4665. www.portlandpirates.com. Vs. Hartford, 5:30 p.m. Friday.

 

Copy the Story Link