If Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of six more weeks of winter has got you down, don’t fear: Longfellow Days are here!

While that may be overly corny, it is true that the many interesting and fun activities planned for Longfellow Days can help you fill the long, cold days of February.

Now in its ninth year, Longfellow Days is a monthlong celebration honoring the life and works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who studied and taught at Bowdoin College.

This year the events will explore the loving connectedness that enriches our personal and public lives. A wide range of activities will take place, including community poetry, lectures, tours, dining and film events, and much more. This Saturday, from noon to 3 p.m., there will be free tours of the Joshua Chamberlain House Museum, including Longfellow’s room in the house.

If poetry is your thing, you should plan to check out the Coursen Readings, which will be held this Sunday and again on Feb. 19 at Curtis Memorial Library. At these events, local poets Robert Farnsworth, David Moreau, Alice Persons, Carolyn Gelland Frost, Bob MacLaughlin and Kevin Sweeney will read and discuss their work.

In addition, Ted Bookey and Helene McGlauflin will host Readings at The Highlands and Readings at Thornton Oaks, in which resident poets and community members will meet to discuss and read works of their own.

Food lovers will not want to miss the Heart’s Delight Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Maine Lounge in Moulton Union at Bowdoin College. Savor a buffet from the renowned dining services at Bowdoin College, including Hungarian mushroom soup, haddock with Maine shrimp, pan-seared balsamic turkey steak, fettucini with squash and baby spinach, roasted Maine root vegetables, red velvet cupcakes, apple crisp, chocolate rum balls and more. During the event, Wesley McNair, Maine’s poet laureate, will read from his most recent collection, “Lovers of the Lost.” Reservations are required. Cost is $25.

Another fun cultural and culinary event will be the Cabaret on Friday, Feb. 24, at the Inn at Brunswick Station. A Valentine buffet of chef Kevin Cunningham’s signature desserts, cheeses, and beverages will be served up with music, love letters and poetry.

Maine State Music Theatre’s Birdie Katz and pianist David Dean head a stellar local cast that includes Rob Jarratt, Maryli Tiemann and Ursus Verses. Enjoy an evening of good company, chocolate mousse, and Wicked Joe coffee. Reservations at $20 are encouraged by Feb. 14.

And on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 3 p.m., a special service led by the Rev. Brad Mitchell will be held at the Bowdoin College Chapel. The service will feature themes of love with music, song and readings from organist Grace Lewis McLaren.

Bowdoin College a capella groups The Longfellows and the Merrymeeting Singers will perform “Snow-Flakes,” a Longfellow poem to music composed by Charles Kaufmann.

The offering at the service will benefit the reconstruction of the Unitarian Universalist Church at Pleasant and Middle streets. The church burned down in June 2011.

In addition to attending events, you can show your support for Longfellow Days by purchasing and proudly wearing the Longfellow Days T- shirt designed and produced by ArtForms, which is associated with Cool As A Moose. The shirts are available for sale at all Longfellow Days events, as well as at the Cool As A Moose store on Maine Street in Brunswick.

So mark your calendar for these great upcoming events. Be sure to plan extra time to include some shopping and to enjoy a delicious meal at one of our many wonderful restaurants.

For more information or to register for the events, go to www.brunswickdowntown.org/longfellowdays or “Like” the Longfellow Days Facebook fan page.

Brunswick Blast

And that’s not all! From wine tastings to trunk shows to special sales events, there’s always a lot going on in downtown Brunswick. How can you keep up-to-date on what’s happening downtown?

The best way is to subscribe to The Brunswick Blast, a bi-weekly eNewsletter distributed by the Brunswick Downtown Association. Each issue of The Blast is chock full of information on activities and events offered by local businesses and organizations.

You can sign up to receive the Blast on the BDA Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/brunswickdowntown or via a link on the home page of the BDA website at www.brunswickdowntown.org.

Staying local

It is important to remember that participating in local events is not only fun, it helps our downtown. When you spend your dollars at our shops and restaurants, the money you spend stays local. It goes back into our community in taxes, rent and donations from Brunswick businesses to our local schools and nonprofit organizations, as well as many other ways that help our town thrive.

So help your neighbors, help your friends, help strengthen your downtown by shopping local.

TRACY COUGHLIN is marketing and communications coordinator for the Brunswick Downtown Association.

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