Monday is Patriot’s Day, the beginning of a weeklong school vacation for public schools in Maine.

Many schools are getting a head start by closing Friday too. That means children all over the state will be uttering the words that send every parent into a state of exasperation: “There’s nothing to doooo!”

When they say that – and they will – feel free to give them this issue of GO to read. It’s chock-full of family-friendly entertainment during school vacation week, and as a bonus, there are more adult-oriented events for that night when you need an escape from the kids.

To get you started, here are some events that will provide entertainment for the entire family while supporting a good cause as well.

• At 6 p.m. Friday, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project will host its annual fundraiser, “CeleSoiree: A Celebration of Immigration Through the Performing Arts.” The event stars Maine poet Richard Blanco, who delivered the poem at President Obama’s second inauguration and is carrying on the proud tradition begun by Longfellow.

Blanco will be joined by The Burundi Batimbo Beats Drummers and the Pihcintu Multinational Children’s Chorus, so there will be plenty of entertainment along with appetizers, a cash bar, a live auction and an immigrant art exhibit.

The event will be held in Hannaford Hall at the University of Southern Maine, 88 Bedford St., Portland. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. Children ages 5 and under will be admitted free. For information, visit ilapmaine.org.

• Krista’s Restaurant, 2 Main St., Cornish, will host “Grow a Library,” a benefit concert and dinner for Bonney Memorial Library’s renovation and expansion, at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

This event features Kate Beever on marimba and John McCain on electric guitar. (No, not THAT John McCain, though it would be fun to see.) The $50 admission fee includes dinner, dessert and the concert. Call 625-8083.

• Musicians Kate Schrock, Dave Bullard & The Sound Wavez, and Ellen Tipper team up to play the Brunswick Coastal Rotary’s 2nd Annual Concert to End Hunger at 7 p.m. Friday. The concert will be at  the Orion Performing Arts Center, 66 Republic Ave., Topsham. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $6 for students. For information, visit coastalrotary.org.

• The Maine Marimba Ensemble and The Portland Rhumba Project will perform traditional and contemporary Zimbabwean music at a benefit for Tariro, a Zimbabwean nonprofit that works to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by educating young women and girls.

The concert starts at 8 p.m. Friday at Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland. There’s a suggested donation of $5 to $10. Visit mayostreetarts.org.

• Friday through Sunday, the town of Ogunquit will host its 23rd Annual Patriots Day Celebration. (Yeah, it’s a few days early, but what the heck.) The event will include historical characters watching the streets, fife and drum concerts, re-enactments, a cookout and a craft fair.

The Ogunquit Memorial Library will host a fundraiser/book sale on Friday and Saturday, and the Animal Welfare Society will man a table on Saturday and Sunday, where it will be selling handcrafted pet supplies. For more information, call 646-2939 or go to visitogunquit.org.

Deputy Managing Editor Rod Harmon may be contacted at 791-6450 or:

rharmon@pressherald.com

Twitter: RHarmonPPH