LEAH WOLFSONG
FREEPORT — The Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) will host a free winter hiking skills workshop at 6 p. m. Tuesday at Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Drive.
“ Chapter leaders Peter Broderick and Laura Flight will discuss clothing, gear, snow travel and other essential knowledge to prepare yourself for hiking in the winter,” a library release states. “This event is intended as an introduction course for experienced three-season hikers and a refresher for experienced winter hikers. Attendees will also be able to sign up for the Maine chapter’s winter hiking series, which will includes beginner and advanced trips. This workshop will be an excellent ‘ things- you- need- to- knowbefore you-go’ for anyone who will be hiking this winter.”
This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Laura Flight at flyrodflight@systemfolder.com or 215-5306.
Wolfsong leads pack of solstice celebrants
AUBURN — Leah Wolfsong will headline the 15th annual Winter Solstice Celebration concert Saturday at the First Universalist Church on Pleasant Street.
Guest musicians include Timbered Lake, Katherine Rhoda, Spirit of the Corn and others.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p. m. Donations of $10 for adults or $8 for seniors and students will go to Good Shepherd Food Bank.
“This annual holiday celebration is fun, joyful, spiritual, and it is not to be missed,” a release from organizers states. “If you love the solstice, join this fine group of entertainers for a dynamic evening of song, dance, drumming and ceremony marking the return of the sun. For more information, call 1-877- 833-1372
Artists alight in downtown Lewiston
LEWISTON — The first Festival of Art and Lights, featuring 14 downtown locations, will run from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday along Lisbon Street.
The event will include 38 artisans selling gifts such as jewelry, scarves, pottery, wood working, fine art, lamps, photography, wreath and poinsettias.
Mellow jazz, an afternoon wine tasting and chair massages will be offered for adult shoppers. The festival will also include activities for children, such as snow painting ( weather permitting), snowflake making and photos with St. Nick.
A raffle with a twist has been designed to encourage shopping at the Festival of Art and Lights. Two large gifts boxes containing artwork and gift certificates will be given away at the end of the day. Shoppers can enter the raffles based on their receipts from the day’s shopping. One gift basket will be for those spending between $50 and $200, and the other gift basket will be for those spending more than $200.
Magic of Christmas starts tonight
PORTLAND — Tickets are still available to the 11 performances of Magic of Christmas, Portland Symphony Orchestra’s (PSO) annual holiday spectacular, which opens today.
Orchestra seats are sold out, and there is limited availability in the terrace and grand tier for select shows, but balcony seats are still available for all performances.
This year’s Magic of Christmas features the aerial and acrobatic artistry of Cirque de la Symphonie; a capella groups the Bowdoin Longfellows today through Sunday, then by the Maine Steiners Dec. 16 to 18; the Magic of Christmas Chorus; and the musicians of the PSO under the baton of Music Director Robert Moody.
Audiences are invited to come an hour before each performance to enjoy the Organ Prelude Concert with Ray Cornils, except Dec. 18 at 1 p.m., when students from the Maine Suzuki Association will provide the pre-concert entertainment.
Complete program details are available at portlandsymphony.org.
All performances are at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St.
Ticket prices range from $55 to $25. Tickets are available at www.porttix.com, by phone at 842-0800, or at the PortTIX box office, 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p. m.. Phone and Internet orders are subject to $ 6 per- ticket PortTIX handling fee, and all ticket prices include a $2 Merrill restoration fee.
Bowdren works on display at library
FREEPORT — The Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Drive, is hosting a month-long exhibit by local artist John Bowdren.
Bowdren paints in oils, acrylic and watercolors. He also works with wood, in sculpture or woodblocks for printing.
“He finds the coastal landscape a wonderful subject with its contrasts and tensions of light and weather along the waters edge, the movement and interaction of water, land and sky, between manmade and natural objects,” a library release states.
Bowdrenisaamemberand past president of the Bradbury Mountain Arts. In addition to private collections, his art is found in the corporate collections of L.L. Bean, Inc. and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
For more information about the library, go online to www.freeportlibrary.com.
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