• BENEFITS

Open Studio: Benefit for Safe Passage, artist reception accompanied by music by Emilia Dahlin, The Jason Spooner Trio, Caroline Cotter and DJ Johnny Mambo; Richard Sandifer Gallery and Studio, Portland. $20; $50 VIP. rgsphoto.com. 4:30 p.m. to midnight Friday.

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“Strut your Mutt,” a two-mile walk-a-thon (dog not required) featuring obedience demonstrations, contests and prizes begins at 11 a.m. Sunday (registration at 10 a.m.) at Mothers Beach in Kennebunk. The event benefits the Animal Welfare Society’s Sadie Fund.

Walk for Recovery, 1.5 mile-walk, live music and children’s activities presented by Serenity House, Monument Square, Portland. $10. ccmaine.org. Registration at 8:30 a.m.; walk at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Annual Walk to Defeat ALS, Northern New England Chapter of the ALS Association walk to raise funds for research and patient services for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Payson Park, Portland. alsanne.org. Registration 9 to 10:30 a.m.; walk at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Mount Desert Island Garlic Festival, food from local restaurants, musicians, brewers and garlic growers; benefits local nonprofits; Smugglers Den Campground, Southwest Harbor. $5. nostrano.com/garlic.html. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

“Strut your Mutt,” two-mile walk-a-thon (with or without a dog), obedience demonstrations, contests and prizes; benefits Animal Welfare Society’s Sadie Fund; Mothers Beach, Kennebunk. 985-3244. Registration at 10 a.m.; walk at 11 a.m. Sunday (rain or shine).

Art Show and Sale, benefits the Alzheimer’s Association, Cape Memory Care, Cape Elizabeth. Free admission. 553-9616. 4:30 to 7 p.m. Monday.

• FAIRS/FESTIVALS

Lewiston/Auburn Greek Festival, Greek folk music and dancing, wide variety of Greek foods, bazaar, bookstore and games for children, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Lewiston. Free admission. holytrinitymaine.org. 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Capriccio, festival of the arts with music, lectures, readings, performances and special events, various locations, Ogunquit. Various prices. maine.info/cities/ogunquit/events.php. Thursday to Sept. 16.

Clinton Lions Agricultural Fair, midway, woodsman’s day, animal pulling events, exhibits and stage entertainment, Clinton Fairgrounds. $5; $14 per carload; free for children under age 12. Schedule at clintonlionsfair.com. Thursday to Sunday.

International Seaplane Fly-In, float plane competitions, educational exhibits, craft fair, food and more, Moosehead Lake, Greenville. seaplanefly-in.org. Thursday to Sunday.

Eastport Pirate Festival, ball, parade, lobster boat race, pirate invasion, bed race, music and more, various locations, Eastport. Most activities are free. Schedule at eastportpiratefestival.com. Friday to Sunday.

Litchfield Fair, midway, agricultural exhibits, livestock and animal-pulling events, Litchfield Fairgrounds. $6; $2 for seniors and children ages 12 to 17; free for children under age 12. Schedule at litchfieldfair.com. Friday to Sunday.

Maine Starlight Festival, statewide celebration features events by astronomy clubs, planetariums and science centers. Schedule at starlightfestival.org. Friday to Sept. 16.

Annual United Maine Craftsmen’s Fall Festival of Arts and Crafts, unique handcrafted products made by more than 100 Maine artisans, Smiling Hill Farm, Westbrook. $2 admission. 621-2818. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Harvest Hoot 2012 Festival, music, entertainment, food and children’s activities; Grammy-nominated child-ren’s entertainer Judy Pancoast opens the event; Camden Snow Bowl. camdensnowbowl.com. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Oxford County Fair, livestock shows, animal-pulling events, midway, crafts, exhibits, harness racing and more; country singer LeAnn Rimes performs Sept. 15; Oxford Fairgrounds. $1 to $5. Schedule at oxfordcountyfair.com. Wednesday to Sept. 15.

• SPECIAL EVENTS

Tate House Museum Architectural Tour, from the cellar to the attic to reveal the “insides” of an 18th-century house, Tate House Museum, Portland. $10; $8 for seniors; $6 for ages 6 to 12. 774-6177. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Through Sept. 20.

Maine Good Sam Samboree RV Rally, folk and bluegrass festival celebrating RVs, Fryeburg Fairgrounds. $88 for weekend. mainegoodsams.org. Friday to Sunday.

75th Anniversary Celebration, music by Peter Foxwell and Company, local artisans demonstrations and refreshments, Skowhegan History House. Free. 474-6632. 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday.

North Yarmouth Fun Day, parade, music, games and more, Village Green, North Yarmouth. Free. northyarmouthevents.org. All day Saturday; parade at 9 a.m.

Experiencers Speak: UFO Alien Adbuction Conference, speakers, authors, tarot card readers and more pertaining to the metaphysical and paranormal, 29 School St., Gorham, $20.12 in advance; $25 at door. (774) 766-2558. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Dark Follies, vaudeville, The Oak and the Ax, Biddeford. $8. theoakandtheax.blogspot.com. 8 p.m. Saturday.

Steamy Nights, burlesque by Atomic Trash!, Vivid Motion, Whistlebait Burlesque, The Dirty Dishes and more, St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland. $10 in advance; $12 at door. stlawrencearts.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Bellydancers Jessani & Anabee and Friends, Jimmy the Greeks, South Portland. 774-7335. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Smoke and Mirror Circus, unique combination of circus, theater and performance art, 21-plus; Geno’s Rock Club, Portland. $8. 221-2382. 9 p.m. Sunday. Through Oct. 14.

Bug Maine-ia, children’s event with live insect zoo, entomologists, environmental educators, foresters and others, Maine State Museum, Augusta. Free. mainestatemuseum.org. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday.

• FILMS

“The Queen of Versailles” (2012), documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis, Space Gallery, Portland. $7. space538.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

“Encounter Point” (2006), documentary about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, post-film discussion with Bill Halpin and Saskia Huising, Rockland Public Library. Free. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

“Ai WeiWei (Never Sorry)” (2012), documentary about internationally known Chinese artists Ai WeiWei, Strand Theatre, Rockland. $8.50. rocklandstrand.com. 8 p.m. Friday.

“Amy’s Wish,” short film premiere by Bates College professor of theater Paul Kuritz; adaptation of James Caputo’s award-winning short play; Bates College (Olin Arts Center), Lewiston. Free. 786-62574 p.m. Saturday.

“Normative Narratives,” film series about the portrayal of gay men in cinema, Space Gallery, Portland. $7. space538.org. “The Green” (2011; includes Q&A with executive producer Paul Marcarelli), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“The Invisible War” (2012), award-winning documentary on rape in the military, Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, Portland. Free. 878-9414. 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13.

• BOOKS/AUTHORS

Marcy Titcomb Kudirka, author of “Since You Ask Kennebunk Shipbuilder Joseph Titcomb,” Kennebunk Free Library. kennebunklibrary.org. 3 p.m. Thursday.

Nancy Brown, author of “Song of the Vikings,” Portland Public Library. portlandlibrary.com. Noon Friday.

Maine Organization of Storytelling Enthusiasts (M.O.O.S.E.), evening of storytelling for adults with featured guest Simon Brooks, Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library. $5/donation. portlandlibrary.com. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Tom Curry, author of “Island: Paintings by Tom Curry,” Thos. Moser Showroom, Freeport. 865-4519. 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

William Barry, author of “Maine: The Wilder Half of New England,” USM Glickman Library, Portland. 865-3152. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Maryanne O’Hara, author of “Cascade,” Longfellow Books, Portland. longfellowbooks.com. 7 p.m. Sept. 13.

• PARTICIPANT DANCE

Contra Dance, music by Crowfoot with caller Nilds Fredland, bring clean shoes for dancing, Wescustogo Hall, North Yarmouth. $10; $7 for seniors and students. 233-4325. Potluck at 7 p.m.; beginner’s session at 7:30 p.m.; dance 8 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

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