• BENEFITS

TODAY

Portland Symphony Orchestra Show House Tour, benefits the PSO, 149 Western Promenade, Portland. $25 at door. porttix.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today to Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29. Through Oct. 2.

“Martinis and Art,” art raffle, food, drinks and jazz music to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Patient Navigator Program, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland. $85 (includes one raffle ticket). 373-3700. 5:30 to 8 p.m.

FRIDAY

Community Harvest’s Savory and Sweet Soiree, proceeds will help provide emergency assistance, complimentary monthly dinners and holiday meals to families, Nonantum Resort, Kennebunkport. $20 to $25. 967-1911. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“Jack and Jill,” play about a delightful romp through marriage; fundraiser for Osher LifeLong Learning Institute; University of Southern Maine (Wishcamper Center), Portland. $10; $5 for Osher members. 929-6676. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.

SATURDAY

Step Up! For Autism, walk benefitting Maine Autism Alliance, all ages; Back Cove, Portland. maineautism.org. 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lighthouse Cruise, with College of the Atlantic faculty members and local historians; benefits COA’s marine program and repairs of buildings on Great Duck Island; Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. $30; $10 for ages 14 and under. 288-2386. 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Frolic for Flippers 5K, benefit for Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center; University of New England, Biddeford. $25; $20 for students. 602-2750. Registration at 7 a.m.; run at 10 a.m.

“Swinging for a Cure,” golf tournament benefit for Pulmonary Hypertension research, Webhannet Golf Club, Kennebunk. $125 per player (includes cart, green fees and post-tournament barbecue). 695-3042. Registration at 11:30 a.m.; golfing at 1 p.m.

SUNDAY

Jim Scott, concert by composer and performer to benefit Universal Universalist Brunswick Church, damaged by fire in June; First Universalist Church of Auburn. $10 to $20; free for children. 783-0461. 1 p.m.

“Let’s Book” Walkathon, benefits Southwest Harbor Public Library, Pemetic School Green, Southwest Harbor. 244-7065. 2 p.m.

Pemaquid Oyster Festival, featuring oysters from the Damariscotta River, entertainment, educational exhibits and boat tours; benefits Edward A. Myers Marine Conservation Fund; Schooner Landing, Damariscotta. Free/donation. 380-9912. Noon to dusk.

MONDAY

“A Glittering Occasion,” fantastical art, jewelry and collectibles auction; benefits NAMI; Senator Inn and Spa, Augusta. RSVP: (800) 464-5767. 5 to 9 p.m.

• FAIRS/FESTIVALS

171st Annual Farmington Fair, agriculture exhibits, midway, harness racing and more, fairgrounds, Farmington. Today to Saturday; schedule at farmingtonfairmaine.com.

Common Ground Country Fair, demonstrations, Maine organic foods and crafts, livestock exhibits and entertainment, Common Ground Fairgrounds, Unity. $10; $8 for seniors; free for ages 12 and under and for those with handicaps. mofga.org. 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Chalk on the Walk, art walk, performances, workshops and more; various locations, Biddeford. Free. heartofbiddeford.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Maine Lakes BrewFest, microbrews, live music and local food vendors, Point Sebago Resort, Casco. $25 in advance; $30 at gate. mainelakesbrewfest.com. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Punkinfiddle Festival, old-time games, traditional arts, music, farm animals and more, Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm. $15 per carload. wellsreserve.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

OOB Autumn Celebration, food, live music, farmers market, petting zoo and more, Memorial Park, Old Orchard Beach. Free. oob365.com. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Cumberland County Fair, agriculture exhibits, midway, food, live entertainment and more, 197 Blanchard Road, Cumberland. cumberlandfair.com. $9 adults weekends; $7 adults weekdays; free for ages 12 and under. Various times Sunday to Oct. 1.

• SPECIAL EVENTS

TODAY

Girl Scout Dropout Launch Party, women celebrate their independence and share experiences with a sense of humor, Grace Restaurant, Portland. girlscoutdropout.com. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Soprano Renee Fleming: Live in HD, live screening of “Night of Love,” Strand Theatre, Rockland. $15. rocklandstrand.com. 3 p.m.

FRIDAY

Full Dome Double Feature: “Two Small Pieces of Glass” and “IBEX,” University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $5, $6. 780-4249. 7 and 8:30 p.m. Through Sept. 30.

Blabbermouth Night, free-wheeling soapbox discourse with audience participation, Yvette Torres Fine Art, Rockland. (888) 777-1077. 6 to 8 p.m.

SATURDAY

Wharf Street Sparkling Wine Walk, 21-plus; Cinque Terre Restaurant, Portland. $30 to $40. winewiseevents.com. 3 to 5 p.m.

Classic Quilters Demonstration, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, New Gloucester. Free. 926-4597. 10 a.m.

Guided Tours Through Topsham’s Historic District, Old Town Hall, Topsham. $5/donation. 749-0458. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

First Parish Market Arts and Crafts Fair, First Parish Church, Freeport. firstparishmarket.com. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Through Oct. 8.

Pumpkin Patch Trolley, ride to a field designated as the pumpkin patch, Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport. $5.50 to $8; free for ages 5 and younger. trolleymuseum.org. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Open Farm Weekend, meet alpacas and watch spinning, weaving and fiber dyeing, Longwoods Alpaca Farm, Cumberland. Free. longwoodalpacas.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

SUNDAY

Spirits Alive Tours of Eastern Cemetery, learn about historical figures via historical re-enactments, Eastern Cemetery (Congress Street gate), Portland. $7; free for children under age 12. spiritsalive.org. 1:15 p.m.

North Yarmouth Family Triathlon, two-mile paddle, one-mile run and one-mile bike ride, Wescustogo Park, North Yarmouth. $15 per team. nymevents.com. 2 p.m.

Fall Equinox Guiden Meditation and Community Sauna Celebration, silent meditation woods walk and sauna sweat, Nurture through Nature Retreat Center, Denmark. $30. 452-2929. 3 to 5:30 p.m.

Psychic Sunday, Lucid Stage, Portland. $1 admission; additional fees for readings, products and services. lucidstage.com. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

National Theater in London Live, screening of comedy “One Man, Two Guvnors,” Strand Theatre, Rockland. $23; $15 for ages 18 and under. rocklandstrand.com. 3 p.m.

Ecstatic Dance, with DJs, The Awake Collective, Portland. $10 to $20. theawakecollective.com. 10 a.m. to noon.

MONDAY

“Giselle,” broadcast of ballet performed at the Royal Opera House in London, Frontier Cafe, Cinema & Gallery, Brunswick. $15. explorefrontier.com. 2 and 6 p.m.

TUESDAY

Photographer Richard Ferland, slideshow and presentation on traveling in China, Thomas Memorial Library, Cape Elizabeth. 799-1720. 7 p.m.

Pig Roast Dinner, Woodfords Club, Portland. $10; $5 for children. 772-4893. 6:30 p.m.

• FILMS

TODAY

“I, Borg,” with post-screen discussion, Rockland Library. Free. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m.

“Shakespeare in Love” (1998), Winter Street Center, Bath. $5. 522-1018. 7 p.m.

FRIDAY

“Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest” (2011), music documentary (rated R), Portland Museum of Art. $7. portlandmuseum.org. 7 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.

SUNDAY

“Kissed by Lightning” (2009), University of Maine (Lincoln Auditorium), Farmington. Free. 778-7424. 7 p.m.

TUESDAY

2011 Manhattan Short Film Festival, 10 short films from around the world, Space, Portland. $8. space538.org. 7:30 p.m.

“Jane’s Journey” (2010), documentary with live video chat with Jane Goodall, Brunswick 10. $15. fathomevents.com. 8 p.m.

• BOOKS/AUTHORS

TODAY

SheSpeaks, storytelling by Jeanne Thompson, Shay Stewart Bouley, Jessica Esch, Monique Barrett and Karen Wyman, Mayo Street Arts, Portland. $12 to $15. mayostreetarts.org. 7:30 p.m.

Gregory Pardlo, poetry reading, Bates Museum of Art, Lewiston. Free. 786-6256. 7:30 p.m.

Maine Women Write’s Inaugural Kick-Off, launch of statewide book club celebrating Maine authors being published this year, Space, Portland. Free. space538.org. 7:30 p.m.

Eric Hopkins, author of “Eric Hopkins: Above and Beyond,” book signing and illustrated talk, Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland. Free with museum admission. 12:30 p.m. (for museum members only), 1 to 2 p.m. and 2:15 to 4 p.m. 

FRIDAY

Layne Witherell, author of “Wine Maniacs: Life in the Wine Biz,” Longfellow Books, Portland. 772-4045. 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Patty Rutka, author of “Salome” and “Jarus’s Daughter,” Wiscasset Public Library. Free. 882-7161. 1 p.m.

TUESDAY

“Ten Contemporary Poets, Plus One,” readings from contemporary American poets, York Public Library. Free; call to register. 363-2818. 7 p.m.

Colin Woodard, author of “American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America,” Owl & Turtle Bookstore, Camden. 236-4769. 4:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Brown Bag Lecture, with David Livingstone Smith, author of “Less Than Human,” Portland Public Library. Free; bring a lunch. 871-1710. Noon to 1 p.m.