• BENEFITS

International Fire and Police Winter Games, benefits Special Olympics and Shriners Hospital Burn Center, Sunday River Ski Resort, Newry. www.ifpwg.com. All day today.

• FAIRS/FESTIVALS

Snowmobile Snodeo, snowmobile festival with a number of activities in the area, various locations, Rangeley. www.rangeleysnowmobile.com/snodeo.htm. Various times today to Saturday.

Bethel WinterFest, skiing and snowboarding events, music and more, Bethel Common.
www.bethelwinterfest.com. Various times Friday to Wednesday. Through Jan. 30.

Mushers Bowl Winter Carnival, various locations, Bridgton. $3 for carnival button; some events require extra fees. www.mainelakesmushersbowl.com. Various times Saturday and Sunday.

Winter Family Fun Day, ice skating, sledding and interpretive walks, lunch included, Cobscook Bay State Park, Edmunds Township. $1.50 for ages 12 to 64; free for all others. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

• BOOKS/AUTHORS

FRIDAY

David Robinson and Elizabeth Tanefis, “The Saco River,” book signing and author talk, Saco Museum. Free. 283-3861. 6 to 8 p.m.

“Colonial Asia Coming Unglued (August 1842 to February 1942): 100 Years in 100 Minutes,”  Tom DeMarco and Mac Deford present a program exploring colonial Asia, Rockport Opera House. $5/donation. www.camdenconference.org. 7 p.m.

Little Lake Stewards Series, environmentally themed stories and more for preschoolers, Sebago Lake Ecology Center, Standish. “The Wonders of Water,” 10 a.m. to noon.

SATURDAY

Play Me a Story, play reading series of children’s books by company actors followed by an acting workshop for children ages 4 to 10, Portland Stage Company. www.portlandstage.org. Readings of “Tacky the Penguin,” 10:30 a.m.

Salon Nights Series, featuring local poets, musicians and artists, Red Door Pottery Studio and Gallery Shop, Kittery. Free. Musician and poet Bruce Valley, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY

“Colonial Asia Coming Unglued (August 1842 to February 1942): 100 Years in 100 Minutes,” Tom DeMarco and Mac Deford present a program exploring colonial Asia, University of Maine (Hutchinson Center), Belfast. $5/donation. www.camdenconference.org. 3 p.m.

Boon Island Day, guest speakers including authors will focus on the history of Boon Island, Old York Historical Society (Remick Barn), York. $10. 363-4974. 1 p.m.

TUESDAY

Poetry reading with Jeffrey Thomson and Christopher Locke, University of Southern Maine (Glickman Family Library), Portland. Free. 228-8263. 7 p.m.

Port Veritas Youth Poetry Slam, Coffee by Design, Portland. $3. 7 to 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Brown Bag Lecture Series with Jane Brox, author of “Brilliant,” Portland Public Library. Free; bring own lunch. 871-1710. Noon to 1 p.m.

Patricia Hughes, “Maine Waterfalls: A Comprehensive Guide,” book talk and signing, Maine Maritime Museum, Bath. $5. Noon.

• FILMS
TODAY

Random Movie Night, series in the Teen Lounge, Portland Public Library. www.portlandlibrary.com. 3:30 to 6 p.m.

“Izaak,” Tamy Ben-Tor’s meditation on stereotypes, tradition and taboo, Maine College of Art (Institute of Contemporary Art), Portland. meca.edu. 6 p.m.

Film and Discussion Series, Rockland Public Library. Free. “Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth: The Message of Myth” (1988), 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Teens through Time, film series with teen-cenric viewpoint, Portland Public Library. Free. “Bye Bye Birdie” (1963), 4:30 p.m.

Ann Arbor Film Festival, traveling tour of independent and experimental films, Space, Portland. $7. www.space538.org. 7:30 p.m.

“Roe at 38: Celebrating 38 Years of Roe v Wade,” film screening and discussion, University of Southern Maine (Glickman Family Library), Portland. www.mainewomen.org. 7 to 8:30 p.m.

• PARTICIPANT DANCE

Ballroom dancing, Maplewood Dance Center, Portland. 878-0584. 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Wednesday; 7:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday.

Swing dance, partner not needed, beginners welcome, Deering Grange, Portland. 653-5012. With Maine Swingin’ DJs ($8); 8 to 9 p.m. lesson, 9 p.m. to midnight dancing Friday.

Grand opening, dance studio opening with workshops during the day and a performance featuring music and dancing in the evening, Bright Star World Dance, Portland. Workshop tickets are $20; evening performance tickets are $10.

BrightStarWorldDance.com. Various times Sunday.

• PRO SPORTS

Portland Pirates, AHL hockey team, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland. $11 to $17. 207-828-4665. www.portlandpirates.com. Vs. Worcester, 7 p.m. Friday; Vs. Providence, 7 p.m. Saturday; Vs. Norfolk, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.