• BENEFITS
TODAY
Additional Photos
Festival of Trees, benefit for Westbrook charities with live entertainment, Westbrook Warren Congregational Church. westbrookfestivaloftrees.com. 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today; 10 a.m. to noon, 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Festival of Trees, co-sponsored by the Buxton Garden Club; donations accepted for the Buxton “Keep the Heat On” fund; Bar Mills Community Church, Buxton. Free. 929-8283. 1 to 7 p.m. today to Saturday.
Gingerbread House Competition, benefits the Ronald McDonald House, Residence Inn by the Marriott, Portland. $25 per entry. 761-1660. Competition runs through Dec. 16.
FRIDAY
2011 Dough Ball, prelude to Gingerbread Spectacular with music by The Four Snowmen, silent auction, cash bar and hors d’oeuvres, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. $20 in advance; $30 day of event. 633-5159. 7 p.m.
Talent and Variety Show, benefits Bath Area Food Bank and the church, Congregational Church, Phippsburg. $10; $6 for students and children. 389-1770. 7 p.m.
James Allen Walkers’s “About Face,” photo session with professional portrait photographer; benefits the library; Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth. 846-1336. 6 p.m.
SATURDAY
BeadforLife Bead Party, beautiful beads made from recycled paper to benefit Ugandan women, Sheepscot General, Whitefield. 323-2835. 1 to 4 p.m.
Kittery Artwalk, benefits Footprints Food Pantry, Red Door Pottery Studio and Gallery Shop, Kittery. reddoorpottery.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Candy Cane Train, 90-minute ride from Bath to Wiscasset and back with Santa and his elves, storytellers, singing and hot chocolate and cookies; benefits the Read with Me Family program and Literacy Volunteers; Bath Train Station. $17. candycanetrain.org. 9 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
SUNDAY
“Hey Ho the Holly!” yuletide music in the folk tradition by the Newell Family and Castlebay; benefits Heifer International; St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Newcastle. $7; $5 for students and seniors. 563-8440. 3 p.m.
Brewer’s Holiday Dash 5K, benefits Portland Trails and Toys for Tots, 21-plus; Ri Ra Irish Pub, Portland. Register at: register.gorun.org/BrewersHolidayDash. 775-2411. 11 a.m.
TUESDAY
Portland Greendrinks, benefits the Portland Music Foundation, 21-plus; State Theatre, Portland. $5; $2 with own mug. portlandgreendrinks.com. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• CRAFT FAIRS
TODAY
Art in the Hood Holiday Craft Sale, 12 local artists, Townsend Real Estate & Art Gallery, Willard Square, South Portland. 842-9200. 5 to 8 p.m. today and Dec. 15.
“HANDMADE” and Craft Show, handmade goods and artwork by more than 40 crafters and artists, Waterfall Arts, Belfast. waterfallarts.org. Today to Sunday.
SATURDAY
Christkindlsmarkt, traditional European village market with live music, unique crafts, a kids’ gift shop, German food and a visit with Santa, St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, Scarborough. 756-9723. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Christmas Magic Arts and Crafts Show, handmade gifts by Maine artisans, Westbrook Middle School. $2. 621-2818. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holiday Art Sale and Celebration, paintings, prints and cards by artists Lea Peterson, Barbara Bean, Letty Husson and Susan Zimmerman, Old Post Office Gallery, Georgetown. leapetersonart.net. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Annual Christmas by the Sea Arts and Crafts Fair, Ogunquit Fire Station. 646-4947. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Artisan Craft Fair, benefits the Animal Refuge League, Grapheteria Gallery, Portland. $2 or can of pet food. 772-3709. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Haitian Metal Art Holiday Sale, flat sculptures from recycled oil drums made by Haitian artists; benefits Konbit Sante; St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland. stlawrencearts.org. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Christmas Market at the Garden, fine Maine wares in a festive setting, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. Free. 633-4333. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Designing Women Fine Art and Craft Show, 20 artists and craftswomen; benefits Safe Passage; Woodfords Congregational Church, Portland. $2. designingwomen.org. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Open House and Scandinavian Crafts, holiday cookie decorating, music and more, Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage, Belfast. Free. mainecohousing. 2 to 4 p.m.
Cheap Art Sale and Variety Show, locally made arts and crafts, music by Meghan Yates, Local Sprouts Cooperative, Portland. localsprouts.coop. 5 p.m.
Annual Holiday Art Show, pottery, jewelry and more, Kittery Art Association. 439-1290. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday; 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 15. Through Dec. 18.
SUNDAY
Picnic Holiday Sale, juried indie craft fair, photos with a yeti and live DJs, Portland Company Complex. Free. picnicportland.com. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
DEC. 15
YES Art Works Holiday Arts Fair, Creative Work Systems, Portland. 879-1140. 2 to 6 p.m.
YES Art Works Holiday Arts Fair, Creative Work Systems, Saco. creativeworksystems.com. 2 to 6 p.m.
• SPECIAL EVENTS
TODAY
Seventh Annual Festival of Gingerbread Houses, York Public Library. 363-2818. Today to Dec. 17.
Share the Wonder, exhibit of holiday art, artifacts and a large model train set, Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland. 596-6457. Camden Hills Regional High School Women’s Choir and Chamber Singers, 4 p.m. today; Bay Chamber’s Odeon Quartet, 1 p.m. Saturday.
“Deck the Halls: The Carols of Christmas,” holiday celebration, Victoria Mansion, Portland. $15; $13.50 for seniors; $5 for ages 6 to 17. victoriamansion.org. Today to Jan. 8.
Holiday Open House, Victorian Christmas tree, holiday goodies and holiday music by the Chopin Club, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook. 854-0630. 3 to 7 p.m.
“A Brief History of Porn with Sam Benjamin,” multimedia presentation on the history of film pornography, 18-plus; Space, Portland. $5. space538.org. 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
“Polar Express” Train Rides, holiday-decorated train rides to “The North Pole,” Narrow Gauge Railroad, Ocean Gateway Terminal, Portland. $25 to $40. porttix.com. Rides start at 2:45 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Through Dec. 23.
“Season of Light,” history and astronomy of the winter solstice, New Year’s, Hanukkah and Christmas, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $4 to $6. usm.maine.edu/planet. 7 p.m. Friday. Through Dec. 30.
“Search for the Solar System’s Edge,” astronomy show, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $4 to $6. usm.maine.edu/planet. 8:30 p.m. Through Dec. 29.
Ugly Sweater Scavenger Hunt, find 12 hidden elves around the mall to win a $1,000 shopping spree and an iPad; after-party at Jimmy the Greek’s; Maine Mall Center Court, South Portland. $10 per team of two; adults only. portsportsmaine.com. 7 p.m.
Yule Revel, tree lighting, book signings, crafts, photography exhibit and more, Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport. penobscotmarinemuseum.org. 4:30 to 7:15 p.m.
“Santa’s Reindeer Revue,” talent show by Santa’s rollicking band of renegade reindeer, Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, Portland. $8, $9. kitetails.org. 4 p.m. Friday; 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday; 1 p.m. Dec. 15. Through Dec. 23.
Fire and Ice, live music, food and outdoor cocktails at ice bar, Nonantum Resort, Kennebunkport. $20. nonantumresort.com. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
SATURDAY
The Met Opera: Live In HD, screening of Gounod’s “Faust,” Lincoln Theater, Damariscotta. $23; $21 for seniors. atthelincoln.org. 12:55 p.m.
The Met Opera: Live In HD, screening of Gounod’s “Faust,” Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center, Fryeburg. $23 to $26; $18 for students. 935-9232. 1 p.m.
The Met Opera: Live In HD, screening of Gounod’s “Faust,” Strand Theatre, Rockland. $27; $23 for encore show. rocklandstrand.com. 12:55 p.m.
East End Holiday Stroll, special store events and other activities in east Bayside, shuttle available, East End, Portland. eastendshops.com. Noon to 6 p.m.
North Pole Express Train Rides, steam-heated train ride with storytelling and Santa Claus, Boothbay Railway Village. $10. railwayvillage.org. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Carolyn Currie, haunting, enchanting music, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $8; $6 for children. usm.maine.edu/planet. 7 p.m.
Longfellow Family Christmas, Wadsworth-Longfellow House, Portland. $8; $7 for ages 3 to 18. 774-1822, Ext. 212. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Maine Nordmenn Julefest, food, St. Lucia procession, dancing, caroling, silent auction and more, Sky-Hy Conference Center, Topsham. $15. 215-6186. Noon to 4 p.m.
Maine Indian Basketmakers Sale and Demonstration, also features traditional foods and music, University of Maine (Collins Center for the Arts), Orono. Free. 581-1904. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” by Ten Bucks Theatre Company, Bangor Public Library. Free. 947-8336. 2 p.m.
Cookie Walk, homemade cookies, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Waterboro. $8. 247-6244. 9 a.m. to noon.
Tree Lighting, with Christmas carols, hot chocolate and Santa, Centennial Hall, Harpswell. 666-3247. 5 p.m.
Cookie Walk, Silent Auction and Brunch, West Kennebunk United Methodist Church. 985-6632. 9 a.m. to noon.
Festival of Art and Lights, 14 downtown locations, 38 artisans, children’s activities and more, downtown Lewiston. laarts.org. Noon to 5 p.m.
Gingerbread Spectacular, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. Free. 633-5159. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
SUNDAY
“A John Waters Christmas,” one-man holiday show, contains adult content not suitable for children, State Theatre, Portland. $31.50 to $41.50; $66.50 with meet-and-greet. 7:30 p.m.
Bath Antiques Show, 55 dealers, Bath Middle School. $4. 443-8983. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
27th Annual Christmas Parade, Wells. southernmaineparade.com. 2 p.m.
Brick Store Museum’s Eighth Annual Holiday Tea, drink tea while learning about its customs and history, also sweet treats and tea sandwiches, Bourne Mansion, Kennebunk. $20; $7.50 for ages 14 and under. 985-4802. 3 to 5 p.m.
TUESDAY
The Met Opera: Live In HD, encore screening of Handel’s “Rodelinda,” Strand Theatre, Rockland. $27. rocklandstrand.com. 12:30 p.m.
DEC. 15
Merry Madness, free hors d’oeuvres, raffles and music, local stores open until 10 p.m., Portland Regency Hotel. portlandmaine.com. 5 to 10 p.m.
Sixth Annual Christmas Party, with the Sanford High School Chorus and refreshments, Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum, Sanford. 324-2797. 5 to 7 p.m.
• FILMS
Ogunquit Performing Arts Classic Film Series: “Hello Dolly” (1969), Dunaway Center, Ogunquit. Free. 646-7055. 7 p.m. Wednesday.
• BOOKS/AUTHORS
TODAY
David Smith, P.I., author of “Through My Private Eyes,” Rockland Library. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
Maine Authors David Solmitz and Howard Waxman, Gulf of Maine Books, Brunswick. 729-5083. 7 p.m.
Open Mic and Poetry Slam, First Universalist Church of Auburn. Free. auburnuu.org. 7:15 p.m.
SATURDAY
Eva Murray, author of “Well Out to Sea: Year-Round on Matinicus Island,” Sherman’s Books and Stationery, Freeport. 869-9000. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Jane Bregoli, author of the children’s book “The Goat Lady,” Sherman’s Books and Stationery, Freeport. 869-9000. 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Stephen Hyde and Christoper Ayres, authors of “Between House and Barn, a Rural Interlude,” GoBerry, Portland. 671-9764. 1 to 3 p.m.
Luann Yetter, author of “Portland’s Past: Stories from the City by the Sea,” Nonesuch Books, South Portland. 799-2659. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kapital Ink #5 Release Party, with Crash Barry, author of “Sex, Drugs and Blueberries,” and music by Sweetgrass, Low 90 and Hi Tiger; Zero Station Art, Design, Framing, Portland. 347-7000. 6:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
Rebekah Raye, author of the children’s book “Bear-ly There,” Sherman’s Books and Stationery, Freeport. 869-9000. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
W.H. Bunting, author of “Live Yankees: The Sewalls and Their Ships,” Sherman’s Books and Stationery, Freeport. 869-9000. 1 to 3 p.m.
Martha White, granddaughter of E.B. White and author of “In the Words of E.B. White,” Gulf of Maine Books, Brunswick. 729-5083. 4 p.m.
MONDAY
“Let’s Talk About It,” monthly book and discussion group, Meeting Room 5, Portland Public Library. Free. 871-1700, Ext. 728. “Civil War Fiction” facilitated by Eve Ramon, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY
Port Veritas Spoken Word Night, weekly poetry reading, Local Sprouts Cooperative, Portland. Free/donation. www.localsprouts.coop. 7 p.m.
DEC. 15
Biddeford Adult Poetry Project, facilitated by local poet Joe Breuning, Second Congregational Church, Biddeford. 284-7898. 6 p.m.
Colin Woodard, author of “American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America,” Skidompha Library, Damariscotta. 563-3207. 10 a.m.
• PARTICIPANT DANCE
“A Very Cuban Christmas,” family dance with Latin dance band featuring March Chillemi and Duane Edwards from Primo Cubano; Franciscan Monastery Hall, Kennebunk. $15; free for ages 10 and under. brownpapertickets.com. 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
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