• BENEFITS

FRIDAY

Lewiston Auburn Film Festival Fundraiser with fiddler Greg Boardman, a Beatles tribute by Nick Knowlton and Friends, a preview of festival films, light appetizers, a cash bar and a silent auction; Bates Mill Atrium, Lewiston. $10/donation. 577-9746. www.lafilmfestival.org. 5 to 8 p.m.

Dan Candell, master hypnotist and mind reader, benefits the Class of 2013; Fryeburg Academy (Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center), Fryeburg. $10. 935-9232. 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball with silent auction, food and dancing, benefits Community Partners; Port City Music Hall, Portland. $50; $350 for table of eight; no tickets sold at the door. Semiformal attire required. tinyurl.com/cpimemardigras. 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday.

Annual Mardi Gras Ball, authentic Louisiana cuisine from Chef Marc Bell and dancing to music from Robert Sylvain and The Cajun Aces, benefits Portland’s Cathedral School; Eastland Park Hotel, Portland. $40 floor seating; $50 balcony seating. www.mardigrasportland.com. 6 p.m.

EverAfter Mustang Rescue, fourth annual dance with raffle, Eagles Club, Biddeford. $10. 571-4172. 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday. 

• FAIRS/FESTIVALS

Mardi Gras Party with parades, music and more, various locations, Ogunquit. Free. www.visitogunquit.org. 8:30 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Portland Flower Show with guest lecturers, exhibits, vendors and food, Portland Company Complex. Regular tickets: $13 in advance ($12 for ages 65 and older); $15 at door. www.portlandcompany.com. Gala opening, 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday ($30 in advance; $40 at door). Through March 13. 

• SPECIAL EVENTS

FRIDAY

Audio Producer Fred Greenhalgh plays audio samples and talks about his new work, “The Cleansed: Season One,” Coffee by Design, Portland. Free. 7 to 9 p.m.

Solar Shows, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $4 to $6. 780-4249. 7 p.m. Friday and Sunday; 3 p.m. Saturday. Through March 27.

SATURDAY

Can-Am Crown Sled Dog Races, spectator viewing from Main Street and Lonesome Pine Ski Lodge, various locations, Fort Kent. Free to watch. can-am.sjv.net. Saturday to Tuesday.

Day of Wellness, 15 sessions for a balanced and holistic approach to healthy spirit, mind, and body; Casco Bay YMCA, Freeport. $20 members; $35 non-members. 865-9600. www.cumberlandcountyymca.org. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Open House with displays of antique vehicles, historic town photos and old town reports, New Gloucester Historical Society (History Barn). Free. 9 a.m. to noon.

Winter Birding on Casco Bay, boat cruise with guides Bob Bittenbender and Margi Huber, Casco Bay Lines, Portland. $15 to $20. 699-2989. 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Popcorn Saturday, children’s program for preschool through grade 5, River Tree Arts, Kennebunk. $5; $20 per family. 967-9120. “Ask the Ballerina,” 11 a.m.

Kids Night Out with games, movies, swimming, rock climbing, and arts and crafts for ages 7 to 13, St. Joseph’s College (Harold Alfond Center), Standish. $9; $6 for additional child. 893-7723. 5:30 to 9 p.m.

“Yes, You Can Grow Roses in Maine,” rose-growing workshop, Plants Unlimited, Rockport. Free; registration required. www.plants-unlimited.com. 1 p.m.

SUNDAY

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater with comedy, juggling and animal stunts and skits, University of Maine (Collins Center for the Arts), Orono. $22 to $27. www.collinscenterforthearts.com. 3 p.m.

“Winter Delivery,” exhibit of horse-drawn vehicles as an oil delivery wagon, school bus sleigh, and city and country sleighs, Skyline Farm, North Yarmouth. Free/donations. www.skylinefarm.org. 1 to 4 p.m. Through March 27.

Lincoln County Historical Association Winter Lecture Series, Lincoln County Communications Building, Wiscasset. Free. 882-9296. Darryn Petersen, “Living in a Work-in-Progress Historic Home,” 2 p.m.

Guided Snowshoe Hike, all ages, plus scavenger hunt for children, Rines Forest, Cumberland. Free. 829-5315. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

MONDAY

“History Usually Rhymes: The Tea Party, the Framers and the Argument Over State’s Rights,” presentation by former Maine Gov. Angus King, Bowdoin College (Moulton Union), Brunswick. Free. 725-3433. 7 p.m.

TUESDAY

Crazy 4 Cards with Tara Travis, Stamp with Tara Studio, Saco. $15; reservation required. 590-8631. 6:30 p.m.

Mardi Gras in L/A with music by JimmyJo & The Jumbol’ayuhs, Franco American Heritage Center, Lewiston. $22. 689-2000. www.francocenter.org. 6 p.m. 

• FILMS

TODAY

“Queen of the Sun,” new documentary about the global bee crisis, Merriconeag Waldorf School, Freeport. $7. www.merriconeaag.org. 7 p.m.

FRIDAY

Reel Paddling Film Festival, presented by Bowdoin Outing Club, Bowdoin College (Searles Science Building), Brunswick. 725-3346. 3 p.m.

Fly Fishing Film Tour with raffles and silent auction, space is limited, Frontier Cafe, Cinema & Gallery, Brunswick. 725-5222. 7 p.m. Friday; 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday.

Ocean Videos for all ages, Marine Environmental Research Institute, Blue Hill. $3. 374-2135. “Creatures of the Deep,” 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

“No Dearth on the Nile: Margery Durant Flies in Style to Africa,” Durant’s grandson shares the film and family photos, Owls Head Transportation Museum. Free. www.owlshead.org. 1 p.m.

“Ragged Isle,” premiere party of murder-mystery set in Maine with live music by Selby, Robber & Thief, Dominic Lavoie, The Lodge and Confusatron, 21-plus; Geno’s, Portland. $8. www.raggedisle.com. 8 p.m.

Down to the Sea in Film, nautical movie series, Maine Maritime Museum, Bath. $5 to $25. www.mainemaritimemuseum.org. “The Mystery of the Don Disaster,” 6:30 p.m.

MONDAY

“The Baby” (1973), with audio commentary by the Geek Chorus, Geno’s, Portland. 221-2382. 8:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Teens Through Time, film series with teen-cenric viewpoint, Portland Public Library. Free. 1970s: “Over the Edge” (1979), 4:30 p.m.

“Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design,” documentary, Ashwood Waldorf, Rockland. $5/donation. 542-9895. 5:30 p.m.

Classic Film Series, Dunaway Center, Ogunquit. Free. 646-7055. “Let’s Do It Again” (1975), 7 p.m. 

• BOOKS/AUTHORS

TODAY

Chats with Champions Series followed by book signing, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta. Free. www.skidompha.org. “Predators: The Balance of Nature” with Chewonki Foundation, 10 a.m.

SATURDAY

Workshop with author Robin Hansen and illustrator Jamie Hogan, KnitWit Yarn Shop, Portland. 774-6444. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (signing 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).

“Knuffle Bunny,” story time, art project and a chance to win tickets to see a performance of “Knuffle Bunny” at Merrill Auditorium; for children. Portland Public Library. Free. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Children’s Book Character Party with Arthur, storytelling, cookie decorating and more, Colby College (Bookstore), Waterville. Free; tickets required. 859-5400. 1 to 3 p.m.

“Death and Survival in the Civil War,” series with presentations by authors/historians, Maine Historical Society, Portland. Donation. www.spiritsalive.org. “Civil War Heroes and Heroines Buried in Evergreen Cemetery” with Tom Desjardins. Time not given.

“Pros(e) in Portland,” learn about the publishing business, presented by the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, Portland Public Library. $75 members; $125 non-members. 228-8263. www.mainewriters.org. 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

MONDAY

An Evening with Robert Pinsky, U.S. poet laureate talks about poetry, followed by a book signing; Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland. $15. www.portlandmuseum.org. 6 p.m.

Language Arts Live, with poet Major Jackson, Bates College (Chase Hall), Lewiston. Free. www.bates.edu. 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

Lunchbox Friends, talk and signing by William David Barry, co-author of “Deering: A Social and Architectural History”; bring a sandwich (beverage and dessert provided), Falmouth Memorial Library. Free. 781-2351. Noon. 

WEDNESDAY

Storytellers Open Mic with Willey Phinedit, Portland Public Library. $5/donation. moosetellers.ning.com. 7 p.m.

• PRO SPORTS

Maine Red Claws, NBA Development League basketball game, Portland Exposition Building. $5 to $30. 210-6655. Vs. Dakota, 7 p.m. today; Vs. Iowa, 7 p.m. Friday; Vs. Springfield, 1 p.m. Sunday.

Portland Pirates, AHL hockey team, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland. $11 to $17. 828-4665. www.portlandpirates.com. Vs. Bridgeport, 7 p.m. Saturday; Vs. Springfield, 4 p.m. Sunday; Vs. Hershey, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

• PARTICIPANT DANCE

Swing Dance, partner not needed, beginners welcome; Deering Grange, Portland. 653-5012. With Lex and Joe Blues Swing ($10), 8 to 9 p.m. lesson, 9 p.m. to midnight dancing Friday.

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

Saturday Night Dance Party, American Ballroom Dance Academy, Portland. Argentine tango lesson, 6 p.m.; group lesson, 7 p.m.; dance party, 8 to 11 p.m. Call for cover: 671-7644. 6 p.m.

Contra Dance, all dances taught, dessert potluck, partner not necessary; Falmouth Congregational Church. $5 to $10; free for children under 5. 756-2201. With Frigate, 7:15 p.m. Saturday.

International Folk Dance, traditional music and dance from the Balkans, Israel, France, Greece and around the world, Pownal Town Hall. $5; $3 children. 688-2293. Teaching 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday followed by dance party to 9 p.m.; beginners welcome.