• CRAFT FAIRS

Handmade on Main, custom furniture, textiles, greeting cards, glass, T-shirts and fine art, Engine, Biddeford Arts. feedtheengine.org. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and Wednesday to Dec. 20. Through Dec. 29.

Studio 53 Holiday Event, showcase of more than a dozen fine artists, artisans and craftpersons, Studio 53 Fine Art Gallery, Boothbay Harbor. 380-7554. Thursday to Sunday.

“Handmade” Art and Craft Sale, jewelry, altered and silkscreened clothing, soaps, home goods, art and more, Waterfall Arts, Belfast. waterfallarts.org. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday to Sunday and Dec. 20; by appointment Tuesday and Wednesday. Through Dec. 23.

Holiday Hop Art Happening and Sale, featuring Running With Scissors, Open Concepts and Portland Fiber & Weaving Studio, 50-54 Cove Street, Portland. 831-5682. 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

• SPECIAL EVENTS

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THURSDAY

Northern Lights Celebration, wagon rides, musical light show, live music, theater and more, L.L. Bean Flagship Store, Freeport. Free. Schedule at llbean.com/llb/shop/512152. Daily through Dec. 31.

Winter Window Walk, stroll through downtown to enjoy festive window displays, downtown Portland. Free. portlandmaine.com. Daily through Sunday.

“Christmas at Victoria Mansion: The Gilded Age,” self-guided tours, Victoria Mansion, Portland. $15; $13.50 for seniors; $5 for students; free for children under age 5. victoriamansion.org. Daily through Jan. 6.

Eighth Annual Festival of Trees, decorated trees and wreaths decorate the museum, Dyer Library and Saco Museum, Saco. Free. sacomuseum.org. Daily through Dec. 30.

Merry Madness Kick-Off, free hors d’oeuvres, raffles and music followed by late-night shopping in downtown Portland until 10 p.m., Portland Regency Hotel. Free. portlandmaine.com. 5 to 6 p.m.

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Annual Holiday Open House, caroling and snacks, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook. Free. 854-0630. 3 to 6:30 p.m.

“A Turning Night of Stars,” spoken poetry of 13th-century Sufi mystic Jelaluddin Rumi with musical accompaniment, Rockland Public Library. Free. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m.

Horse and Wagon Rides, Monument Square, Portland. Free. 772-6828. Every half-hour from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Through Dec. 23.

FRIDAY

LAVA Fest, classic vaudevillian comedy performed by Lewiston/Auburn Variety Arts Festival, Bates College (Schaeffer Theatre), Lewiston. $15; $10 for seniors and students. laarts.org. 7:30 p.m.

Open Mic and Poetry Slam, First Universalist Church, Auburn. Free. 783-0461. 7:30 p.m.

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Dough Ball, food, drink and preview of Gingerbread Spectacular, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. $20 in advance; $30 day of ball. boothbayoperahouse.com. 7 p.m.

The Polar Express, ride a replica of the famous train while meeting Santa, drinking hot chocolate, eating cookies and caroling, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum, Portland. $20 to $40. Schedule at porttix.com. Various times Friday to Sunday. Through Dec. 23.

SATURDAY

Boat Parade of Lights, seventh annual Christmas parade in Portland Harbor; view from Bug Light Park, Maine State Pier or Eastern Prom walking path; Portland waterfront. 408-7525. 4:30 p.m.

Caroling with Friends of the Eastern Promenade, Christmas caroling along the Prom and Munjoy Hill, Fort Allen Bandstand, Portland. easternpromenade.org. 4:30 to 6 p.m.

LAVA Kids, family-oriented music and magic, Bates College (Schaeffer Theatre), Lewiston. $10; $8 for ages 14 and under. laarts.org. 2 p.m.

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“Polar Express” Reading, in children’s section, Portland Public Library. Free. portlandlibrary.com. 11 a.m.

“Christmas with the Rat Pack,” five-course dinner and show, Anthony’s Dinner Theater, Portland. $39.95. anthonysdinnertheater.com. 7 p.m.

Little Mania Wrestling, professional wrestling with all little people cast, 21-plus; Club Texas, Auburn. $15 in advance; $20 day of event and in advance for ringside. clubtexas.info. Doors at 8 p.m.

Christmas at Swan Hall, tour an 1886 Victorian House with nine rooms and 16 Christmas trees; benefits Lyric Theater; Swan Hall, Portland. $5. 400-6085. 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Gingerbread Spectacular, gingerbread house exhibit, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. Free. boothbayoperahouse.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“Hansel and Gretel: A Puppet Opera,” Englebert Humperdinck’s classic opera featuring original fine art bunraku-style puppets, Mayo Street Arts, Portland. $10; $8 for children. mayostreetarts.org. 6 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.

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TICA Cat Show, pedigreed cats compete for “Best in Show,” Westbrook Armory. $5; $4 for students and seniors; free for active military and children under 12. 353-2633. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

“Wilde Nights at the Mansion,” evening salon with Oscar Wilde portrayed by Frank E. Reilly followed by champagne, fruit and cheese, Victoria Mansion, Portland. $35; reservations required. 772-4841, Ext. 821. 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

MONDAY

Seanachie Nights: Spoken Word and Music, solstice revels with Sebastian Lockwood reading “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” and more, Bull Feeney’s, Portland. $9/donation. 253-0288. 7 to 9 p.m.

TUESDAY

Community Potluck and Christmas Show, music by Michelle Bruckner, Devin Dukes, John Adams, Matthew Ryder and Jason Hersom; Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. Free/donation. boothbayoperahouse.com. Potluck at 5:30 p.m.; music at 7 p.m.

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Poetry Evening, read your own poems or someone else’s, York Public Library. Free. www.york.lib.me.us. 6:30 p.m.

Port Veritas Spoken Word Series, with poet Deonte Osayande, 18-plus; Bull Feeney’s, Portland. $3. 773-7210. 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

“Dinner with Dickens,” actor Kirk Simpson portrays Charles Dickens for dramatic reading of “A Christmas Carol,” Clay Hill Farm Restaurant, Cape Neddick. $10 with an a la carte menu. 361-2272. 6 to 8 p.m.

Mid-Winter’s Eve at Stonehenge, explore the mysteries of Stonehenge, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. Donation. 780-4249. 7 p.m.

• FILMS

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“Charlie Is My Darling: Ireland 1965,” newly restored Rolling Stones tour documentary from the “Out of Our Heads” tour, Westbrook Performing Arts Center. $10; $5 for students. westbrookpac.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday.

“OLAS: The Film,” premiere of music documentary followed by performance by the band, all ages; Space Gallery, Portland. $10. space538.org. 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

“Step Up to the Plate,” documentary about French chef Michel Bras handing his restaurant over to his son Sebastien, all ages; Space Gallery, Portland. $7. space538.org. 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

“Le Havre” (2011, rated PG), an African boy arrives by cargo ship in the city of Le Havre, York Public Library. Free. www.york.lib.me.us. 3 p.m. Sunday.

“Samsara,” documentary shot on sacred grounds, industrial sites, disaster zones and natural wonders, all ages; Space Gallery, Portland. $7. space538.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“An Angel for May” (2002), screen adaptation of Harley Cokeliss’ novel, Rockland Public Library. Free. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20.

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• BOOKS/AUTHORS

THURSDAY

Debra Sparks, author of “The Pretty Lights,” University of New England-Westbrook College Campus (Abplanalp Library), Portland. 221-4375. Noon.

Photographer Brian Vanden Brink, author of “Iconic: Perspectives on a Man-Made World,” Portland Museum of Art. portlandmuseum.org. 6 to 8 p.m.

SATURDAY

Kieran Shields, author of “The Truth of All Things,” Nonesuch Books, South Portland. nonesuchbooks.com. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Eva Murray, author of “Island Schoolhouse,” Rockland Public Library. 594-0310. 2 p.m.

Robin Hansen, author of the children’s book “Ice Harbor Mittens,” Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport. penobscotmarinemuseum.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sandy Oliver, author of “Keeping Warm with Maine Cooking,” Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport. penobscotmarinemuseum.org. 1:30 to 2 p.m.

Musician and Composer Aaron Robinson, author of “Does God Sing?”, Maine Coast Book Shop and Cafe, Damariscotta. mainecoastbookshop.com. 11 a.m.

Josh Pahigian, author of “Strangers on the Beach,” Christmas Farm Alpacas Country Farm Shop & Fiber Studio, Buxton. 400-9206. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

SUNDAY

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Chris Van Dusen, author of the children’s book “If I Built a House,” Nonesuch Books, South Portland. nonesuchbooks.com. 1 to 3 p.m.

TUESDAY

Sandra Oliver, author of “Maine Home Cooking: 175 Recipes from Down East Kitchens,” Camden Public Library. 236-3440. 7 p.m.

• PRO SPORTS

Portland Pirates, AHL affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland. $15 to $20. portlandpirates.com. Vs. Manchester, 6:30 p.m. Friday; Vs. St. John’s, 7 p.m. Monday and 4 p.m. Tuesday; Vs. Springfield, 7 p.m. Wednesday.

• PARTICIPANT DANCE

Holiday Gala Contradance, music by Scrod Pudding and calling by Bill Olson, Bowdoinham Town Hall. $9. 666-3090. Beginners’ workshop at 7:30 p.m.; dance at 8 p.m. Saturday.


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