• BENEFITS
THURSDAY
Maine Women’s Gala & Auction: “Bidding to Break the Glass Ceiling,” live and silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, dancing and music by the Maine Miramba Ensemble; benefit for the Maine Women’s Policy Center; Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland. mainewomenspolicycenter.org/gala.html. $75 to $1,000. 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Tours of Kennebunk Wedding Cake House, benefit for hunger relief in York County, Wedding Cake House, Kennebunk. $10. 985-3700. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Sept. 27. Through Oct. 15.
FRIDAY
Multiple Sclerosis Society Fundraiser Party, music by Evolution, Ramada Inn and Conference Center, Lewiston. $10. 240-3580. Doors at 7 p.m.; music at 8 p.m.
Fall Into A Good Book, book sale, Auburn Public Library. Free admission. auburn.lib.me.us. 3 to 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
“HelpHOPELive for Chris Collin,” benefit dance for motorcycle crash survivor Chris Collin with DJ Tap Fitzgerald and Sideshow Music, door prizes and more, Rochambeau Club, Biddeford. $10. 590-5654. 8 p.m. to midnight.
Frolic for Flippers 5K, benefit for Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center, University of New England, Biddeford. Registration link is tinyurl.com/frolic4flippers. $25; $20 for students. 602-2750. 10 a.m. (registration starts at 7 a.m.).
Family Farm Fun Day, pony rides, cart rides, face painting, hay rides, model calf roping, basketball and food; benefit to send athletes to Maine Equine Special Olympics; Equine Journeys, Bridgton. Free/donation. 647-8475. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SEPT. 27
10×10 Benefit Art Exhibit and Sale, preview of silent auction of works by local artists; benefits Arts Are Elementary; Curtis Memorial Library and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brunswick. 10x10brunswick.org. 5 to 8 p.m.
• FAIRS/FESTIVALS
THURSDAY
Farmington Fair, midway, livestock exhibits, animal-pulling events, harness racing and more, Farmington Fairgrounds. $6; $2 for ages 8 to 11; free for ages 7 and under; $3 for parking. Schedule at farmingtonfairmaine.com. Thursday to Saturday.
FRIDAY
Common Ground Country Fair, demonstrations, Maine organic foods and crafts, livestock exhibits and entertainment, Common Ground Fairgrounds, Unity. $10; $8 for seniors and those who arrive via bicycle; free for ages 12 and under. Schedule at mofga.org. 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
SATURDAY
Chalk on the Walk, art walk, performances, workshops, children’s activities and more, various locations, Biddeford. Free. heartofbiddeford.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Autumn Celebration, food, music, crafters, farmers market, petting zoo, pumpkin carving and more, Memorial Park, Old Orchard Beach. Free. oob365.com. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Punkinfiddle and National Estuaries Day Celebration, music, crafts, food and family activities, Laudholm Farm Reserve, Wells. $5; free for children under age 16. wellsreserve.org/visit/calendar/2012/9. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holden Fall Frolic, crafts, food, entertainment, games, auctions, book signings and more, Holden Elementary School. Free. 843-5518. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Shaker Hill Apple Festival, arts and crafts fair, wagon rides, Shaker Museum exhibits, children’s activities, antique car rides and music, Shaker Village, Alfred. Free. shakerhillapplefestival.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
SUNDAY
Cumberland County Fair, harness racing, exhibit halls, midway, livestock and 4H exhibits, pulling events, food and live entertainment, Cumberland Fairgrounds, Cumberland. $9; $3 for seniors on Tuesday and Sept. 27; free for ages 12 and under. Schedule at cumberlandfair.com. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Sept. 29.
• SPECIAL EVENTS
THURSDAY
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.
Recollections of World War II, four speakers tell stories about living through WWII, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. Free. boothbayoperahouse.com. 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
“Vines in the Vaults,” wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and private tour of museum storage area to rarely seen treasures, Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk. $40; $30 for museum members. 985-4802. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Harvest Dinner, three-course gourmet dinner of locally harvested food prepared by Chef Jeff Landry of The Farmer’s Table, Skyline Farm, North Yarmouth. $50. skylinefarm.org. 5:30 p.m.
“Playing for Change: Peace Through Music,” Maine video premiere with live music by Katy Gaga, The Veayo Twins, Beware of Pedestrians, Emergency Sirens and Metal Sideburns, Asylum, Portland. portlandasylum.com. 5 to 8 p.m. (all ages, $5); 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. (21-plus, $8).
Pumpkin Patch Trolley, ride a streetcar to find the perfect pumpkin, Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport. $10; $8 for seniors ages 60 and older; $7.50 for ages 6 to 16; free for ages 5 and under. trolleymuseum.org. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Through Sept. 30.
• FILMS
“In the Blood” (2012), documentary about Maine logging with live score performed by Sumner McKane, Saco River Theatre, Bar Mills. $12; $10 for seniors and students. 929-6472. 7:30 p.m. Friday.
“The Invisible War” (2012), award-winning documentary on rape in the military, Bates College (Schaeffer Theatre), Lewiston. Admission is donation of a non-perishable food item. 782-7228. 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Global Lens International Film Series, international films, Bates College (Olin Arts Center), Lewiston. Free. bates.edu/museum. “Craft” (2010, Brazil), 6 p.m. Monday. Through Dec. 3.
“The Imposter” (2012), thriller, Space, Portland. $7. space538.org. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Camden International Film Festival, dozens of films, special guests, panels, parties and other special events, various locations, Camden and Rockland. $8.50 per film; passes are $25 to $125. Schedule at camdenfilmfest.org. Sept. 27-30.
• BOOKS/AUTHORS
Joanne Dobson and Beverly Graves Myers, authors of “Face of the Enemy,” Longfellow Books, Portland. longfellowbooks.com. 7 p.m. Thursday.
Jacqueline Sheehan, author of “Lost and Found,” Portland Public Library. portlandlibrary.com. Noon Friday.
Pat O’Donnell, author of “Necessary Places,” Camden Public Library. 236-3440. 7 p.m. Tuesday.
An Evening of Poetry, bring poems to share (originals or favorites), York Public Library. york.lib.me.us. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Phillip Hoose, author of “Moonbird: A Year on the Wing of Great Survivor B95,” Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library. portlandlibrary.com. 6 p.m. Sept. 27.
“The Poet As Art: A Poetry Series,” with Brian Turner, Bates College (Edmund S. Muskie Archives), Lewiston. laarts.org. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27.
Kate Braestrup, author of “Here If You Need Me: A True Story” and “Marriage and Other Acts of Charity,” Trinity Episcopal Church, Portland. 828-1090. 7 p.m. Sept. 27.
Monica Wood, author of “When We Were the Kennedys,” Maine Historical Society, Portland. mainehistory.org. 7 p.m. Sept. 27.
David Hackett, author of “Champlain’s Dream,” University of Maine (Fox Auditorium), Fort Kent. 834-7557. 7 p.m. Sept. 27.
• PARTICIPANT DANCE
Port City Swing Dance, music by the Mainiac Swingin’ DJs, Woodfords Club, Portland. $8. 563-8632. Lessons at 8 p.m.; dance at 9 p.m. Friday.
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