• BENEFITS
TODAY
Kids First Gala, silent and live auctions, food and dancing to benefit Kids First Center, Woodlands Club, Falmouth. $75. kidsfirstcenter.org. 6 to 10 p.m.
Burdock Benefit Show, with country band Tricky Britches, Local Sprouts Cooperative, Portland, Free/donation. burdockgathering.org. 7 p.m.
“Walk for Wishes,” Maine Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraiser walk with appearances by Sea Dogs mascot Slugger and Red Claws mascot Crusher, Payson Park, Portland. maine.wish.org. Registration and entertainment at 5 p.m.; walk at 6 p.m.
FRIDAY
Charlotte White Center Annual Auction, family-friendly event features hors d’ouvres, beverages and cash bar; benefits community health and social services for adults, children and families; Bangor Motor Inn. $10. charlottewhitecenter.com. 6 to 9 p.m.
Freeport Woman’s Club Annual Grand Plants Auction, scholarship fundraiser with refreshments, Winslow Park, Freeport. 865-0757. 12:45 p.m.
Art Auction and Sale, by the estate of designer and illustrator Arlene Thomson, benefits UMaine Honors College; Buchanan Alumni House, Orono. 581-3264. 5 to 8 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Laura Foundation Fundraiser, with cocktails, dinner, silent auction and performances by musician Carol Noonan and comedian Mike Miclon; benefits people with disabilities in the Mount Washington Valley; Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield. $75. thelaurafoundation.org. 6:30 p.m.
“Truly Talented Kids Variety Show,” fundraiser for the arts center, Schoolhouse Arts Center, Standish. $10; $5 for students and seniors. schoolhousearts.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.
SATURDAY
TWO: High Energy Juggling, benefit for Engineers Without Borders, all ages; St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland. $15. stlawrencearts.org. 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6:45 p.m.)
SWAPmaine, all the clothing you can fit in a bag; benefits Goodwill Industries of Northern New England; Head Games Salon, Portland. Free if you drop off clothes to swap today; $5 if you bring clothes on Saturday; $10 without clothes to swap. swapmaine.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Two-Face,” original musical by Mary G. Lancey, benefit for St. Albans’s Church; St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Cape Elizabeth. $10. 799-4014. Wine and refreshments at 6:30 p.m.; performance at 7:30 p.m.
“Spring Dance Informance,” with Thornton Academy dance classes, the Thornton Academy Alumni Dancers and Collective Motion; fundraiser for Freedom Dances, a branch of the Wounded Warrior Project; Thornton Academy Garland Auditorium, Saco. $3; free for veterans and active military. thorntonacademy.org. 7 p.m.
Rachel Coleman Concert, host of “Signing Time” performs for children and families; benefits the Signing Time Foundation; Camden Opera House. $5 to $10. (800) 838-3006. 10:30 a.m.
SUNDAY
Phillips Farm Celebration, with food, photos and fiddle music, benefits the Phillips Farm Campaign; Round Top Farm, Damariscotta. 563-1393 $5 to $10. 563-1393. 4 to 7 p.m.
Walk and BBQ, 4.5-mile interfaith walk to benefit Habitat for Humanity; St. Pius X Church, Portland. 781-2665. Barbecue at noon; walk at 1 p.m.
Susan Savell, singer-songwriter, with accompanist Flash Allen; benefits the Connecting Neighbors Capital Challenge; United Church of Christ, Bath. $15; free under age 10. faithinbath.org. 4 to 6 p.m.
Spring Fling Open House, with plant sale, bake sale, food, children’s activities and more, benefits the Animal Refuge League; Animal Refuge League, Westbrook. arlgp.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Play On, spring social and fundraiser for Theater at Monmouth with previews of the summer season, Joyce’s, Hallowell. $40. theateratmonmouth.org. 2 to 5 p.m.
• FAIRS/FESTIVALS
Wings, Waves and Woods, annual birding festival with boat trips, guided nature walks and presentations by artists and naturalists; various locations, Deer Isle. Schedule at islandheritagetrust.org. Friday.
Health Fair, outdoor fair with nutrition, health and fitness demonstrations, Oxford Street, Portland. Free. mmc.org. 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Monmouth May Faire, with plants and food for sale, demonstrations, bake sale, used book sale, tours of Cumston Hall and more; 796 Main St., Monmouth. 441-7071. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Lebanon Community Festival, with heavy equipment and monster trucks on display, children’s events, food and more, Hanson and Lebanon elementary schools, Lebanon. Free admission. 608-5615. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Maine Comics Arts Festival, with more than 100 comic book and comic strip writers, artists, publishers and cartoonists, Ocean Gateway Terminal, Portland. $5; free for ages 12 and under. Schedule at mainecomicsfestival.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
• FOOD & DRINK
The Relish Cooking Show, cooking with chef John Ashton; presented by A Dash of Diva; Portland Exposition Building. $25 to $35. 791-6707; tickets.porttix.com. 7 p.m. today.
Trivia Night, drink specials, munchies and prizes, Jameson Tavern, Freeport. 865-4196. 4 to 6 p.m. Friday.
Wine Tasting with Peter Weygandt, featuring European wines, Rosemont Market & Bakery, Portland. 831-2553. 4 to 7 p.m. Friday.
Green Up Your Life with Delicious Green Vegetables, presentation by Meg Wolff, Cancer Community Center, South Portland. Free. 774-2200. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Spring Italian Fiesta, five performers sing Italian numbers with five-course dinner, Anthony’s Dinner Theater, Portland. $39.95. 221-2267. Saturday.
• SPECIAL EVENTS
TODAY
Second Annual Southern Maine Coastal Classic, four days of AKC all-breed dog shows and obedience and rally trials, Wassamki Springs Campground, Scarborough. $4 per vehicle. 324-8773, Ext. 218. Daily activities began at 8 a.m. rain or shine today to Sunday.
FRIDAY
Solar Show: ” Mars Quest and Black Holes,” University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $4 to $9. usm.maine.edu/planet. 7 and 8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Maine Marble Show, Governor’s Restaurant, South Portland. $3; free for children under 12. 657-4165. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Morris Farm Community Plant Sale, Morris Farm, Wiscasset. 882-4080. 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Dinosaur Carnival, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Topsham. 751-3416. 2 p.m.
Open House, Raku Firing and Potluck, with potter, clay artist and instructor Malley Weber, River Arts, Damariscotta. Free/donation. 563-1507. 1 to 4 p.m.
Maine Poets Society Gathering, with Dawn Potter and Tom Carper, University of Maine (Richard Randall Student Center), Augusta. $12; includes coffee and lunch. encirclepub.com/poetry/mps. 9:30 a.m.
SUNDAY
The Thinking Heart: The Life and Loves of Etty Hillesum, history in poetry and music, Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, Portland. Donation. 926-5983. 3 p.m.
MONDAY
Met Opera Live: “Die Walkure,” screening in high definition, Strand Theatre, Rockland. $27. 594-0070. Noon.
TUESDAY
Port Veritas, acoustic spoken word, Local Sprouts Cooperative, Portland. Free. localsprouts cooperative.com. 7 to 9 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
“Armchair Traveler Series,” virtual journey to Mali in West Africa and to Kabaale, a remote village in Uganda, with Amy Faulkingham, Scarborough Public Library. Free. 883-4723, Ext. 240. 6:30 p.m.
• FILMS
TODAY
“Jaws” (1975), 21-plus; Big Easy, Portland. Free. bigeasyportland.com. 7:30 p.m.
“The Himalayas,” documentary explores the landscape and animals at the top of the world, Rockland Public Library. Free. 594-0310. 6 p.m.
FRIDAY
“Grease” (1978), live music from the film between screenings, State Theatre, Portland. $6. statetheatreportland.com. 6 and 9 p.m.
“Sky Dancer” (2010), documentary about the daily life and teachings of one of Tibetan Buddhism’s great female masters, College of the Atlantic (McCormick Lecture Hall), Bar Harbor. Free. 801-5624. 4:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
“Seven Shades of Green,” documentary showing the journey of a partial Irish-American narrator from Boston to Ireland, includes a conversation with writer/director Justin Bell, Maine Irish Heritage Center, Portland. $7. 780-0118. 7 p.m.
TUESDAY
Flix for Chix, monthly film series of movies for women, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta. $5/donation. 563-5513. “Strictly Ballroom” (1992), 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
“8 Weeks in March with AIRE,” Jim Sharkey documentary follows American Irish Repertory Ensemble’s show “Juno and the Paycock,” Lucid Stage, Portland. $25. airetheater.com. 8 p.m. (7 p.m. reception)
Teens Through Time, film series with teen-cenric viewpoint, Portland Public Library. Free. 871-1700. 1990s: “Cheaters,” 4:30 p.m.
“The City Dark,” new documentary about light pollution and the disappearing night sky, Space, Portland. $5, $7. space538.org. 7:30 p.m.
“Living Downstream” (2010), documentary based on the book by ecologist and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Bangor Public Library. Free. 947-8336. 6 p.m.
BOOKS/AUTHORS
TODAY
Poetry and Music Series, with Cony High School poets and musicians, Lithgow Public Library, Augusta. Free. lithgow.lib.me.us. 6:30 p.m.
Douglas Kennedy, author of “The Moment,” book signing and reading, Kennebooks, Kennebunk. 967-8282; reservations recommended. 6:30 p.m.
John Manderino, author of “The H-bomb and the Jesus Rock,” Longfellow Books, Portland. longfellowbooks.com. 7 p.m.
Jane E. Radcliffe and Linda C. Lefko, illustrated talk about their research on the Rufus Porter Landscape Mural School, Bethel Historical Society. Free. 824-2908. 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Nature Walk and Book Signing, with Tony Oppersdorff and Kyrill Schabert, authors of “Best Nature Sites: Midcoast Maine Route 1 Corridor — Brunswick to Belfast,” Crystal Spring Farm, Brunswick. Free. 729-1112. 2 p.m.
Eugene Elcik, Lars Christensen and Clay Hurtubise, authors of “The Lobsterman of Deep Cove, Maine,” “The Almost Always Audacious Adventures of Larry and Wuppy The Easter Puppy” and “Shaman: Devil’s Deal,” Arbys, Portland. 773-7763. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Jim Nichols, author of “Hill Creek,” The Personal Bookshop, Thomaston. Free. 354-8058. 4 to 6 p.m.
Spring Author Series, with Lea Wait, author of the “Antique Print Mystery” series, Wiscasset Public Library. Free. 882-7161. 1 p.m.
Lighthouse Author and Historian Tim Harrison, power-point presentation: “Lighthouses and Their Role in American History,” Whiting Community Center. Free. 646-7000, Ext. 101. 1 p.m.
Dana Moos, author of “The Art of Breakfast,” Acadia Shop, Bar Harbor. 288-5600. 1 to 3 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Brown Bag Lecture Series, with Andre Dubus III, author of “Townie,” Portland Public Library. Free; bring own lunch. 871-1710. Noon to 1 p.m.
Deborah Gould, author of “Household,” Gardiner Public Library. 582-3312. 7 to 8:30 p.m.
PRO SPORTS
Portland Sea Dogs, Minor League baseball, Hadlock Field, Portland. $7 to $9. portlandseadogs.com. Vs. Reading, noon today; Vs. New Hampshire, 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday.
PARTICIPANT DANCE
Ballroom Dancing, with DJ John, Maplewood Dance Center, Portland. Call for price: 854-0584. 7 to 11 p.m. Friday; 7:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Contra Dance, with The Big Moose Contra Band and caller Chrissy Fowler, College of the Atlantic (Gates Center), Bar Harbor. $6; free for children. 288-5015. 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Contradance, Town Hall, Bowdoinham. $9. 666-3090. 8 to 11 p.m. (beginner’s lesson at 7:30 p.m.) Saturday.
Contradance, live music by Soupbone, Mayo Street Arts, Portland. $6. 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday Night Dance Party, American Ballroom Dance Academy, Portland. Call for cover: 671-7644. Argentine tango lesson at 6 p.m.; group lesson at 7 p.m.; dance party 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Ballroom Dancing, Maplewood Dance Center, Portland. Call for price: 854-0584. Tango, 7 to 11 p.m.
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