• BENEFITS

TODAY

Unity Barnraisers Community Meal Fundraiser, with the Gawler Family, Unity Centre for the Performing Arts. $20. 648-9005. Meals at 5 and 7 p.m.; music at 7:30 p.m.

Second Annual Red Cross Fairpoint Bundle Up Blood Drive, raffle prizes of iPods, laptops, Kindles, Nooks and digital cameras, Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland. redcrossblood.org. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SATURDAY

Natural Resources Council of Maine Polar Bear Plunge and 5K Race, benefits the Natural Resources Council of Maine, East End Beach, Portland. $30. supporters.nrcm.org/register. Walk at 11 a.m., run at 11:30 a.m., plunge at noon.

SUNDAY

Lobster Dip, benefits Special Olympics in Maine, costumes encouraged, The Brunswick, Old Orchard Beach. $100 minimum to participate. somaine.org. Noon.

Here Comes the Sun Party, roast marshmallows on terrace, free s’mores, hot dogs and beverages; benefits the Boothbay Region Food Pantry; Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. Cash or food donation. mainegardens.org. Noon to 2 p.m.

• SPECIAL EVENTS

TODAY

First Annual Hula Hoop and Juggling Contest, open to children in grades K-12, Nasson Community Center, Springvale. 324-5657. Noon to 3 p.m.

“Rusty Rocket’s Last Blast,” kid-friendly solar system tour, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $4, $5. 780-4249. 11 a.m.

“Search for the Solar System’s Edge,” astronomy show, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $4 to $6. usm.maine.edu/planet. 1 p.m.

“Deck the Halls: The Carols of Christmas,” holiday celebration, Victoria Mansion, Portland. $15; $13.50 for seniors; $5 for ages 6 to 17. victoriamansion.org. Today to Saturday and Monday to Jan. 8.

FRIDAY

“Season of Light,” history and astronomy of the winter solstice, New Year’s, Hanukkah and Christmas, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $4 to $6. usm.maine.edu/planet. 11 a.m.

SATURDAY

New Year’s at Noon Pajama Party, family party with balloon drop at noon, Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, Portland. $9; free for children under 18 months. kitetails.org. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Downtown Countdown, music, children’s activities, wagon rides, street dance, midnight countdown and more, downtown Bangor. downtownbangor.com/NYE. Noon to midnight.

Birth Roots Baby Boogie, Portland’s baby, toddler and family dance party; benefit for Birth Roots; Peoples Opportunity Alliance, South Portland. $20 per family/donation. ourbirthroots.org. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Celebration with The Girls of L/A, cocktail hour, dinner, concert by the L/A Girls and dancing with DJ Greg Curry, Franco-American Heritage Center, Lewiston. $50; $25 for concert only. francocenter.org. 6 p.m.

Planetarium show, with Northern Stars Planetarium’s inflatable star theater, Bangor Public Library. Free; visit library for tickets. 947-8336. 6:30 to 9:25 p.m.

New Year’s Gorham, music, dancing, children’s activities and other entertainment, various locations, Gorham. $7. newyeargorham.org. 7 p.m. to midnight.

Gala on the Point, New Year’s Eve celebration with music by Colorblind and Jim Ciampi and The Cityside Events Band, The Landing at Pine Point, Scarborough. $79.95; includes appetizers, dinner buffet, dessert and complimentary midnight toast. thelandingatpinepoint.com. 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

New Year’s Eve dinner and music, dinner, Champagne toast, Celtic harp and flute by Naia, Jumpin’ Jakes Seafood Cafe, Old Orchard Beach. $30. 937-3250. 7 p.m. to midnight.

New Year’s Eve Party with Chrissie O’Dell, includes lodging, four-course meal, dance, party favors, Champagne toast, breakfast and more, Trade Winds Motor Inn Keel Lounge, Rockland. $199 per couple. 596-6055. Dinner at 7 p.m., dance at 9 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Magical Madness Dance, music by Wavelength, Italian Heritage Center, Portland. $55 to $65; includes dinner and dance. 772-2500. 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Open Sky New Year’s Celebration, all-ages event with Dave Gagne, Arborea, Resisdance, Naveah Dance Company, Open Sky Faery, East Wave Radio and more, One Longfellow Square, Portland. $20 ($50 for family); includes dinner. cowpastureproductions.com. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

New Year’s at the Planetarium, watch the most recent astronomy shows during countdown to 2012, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $6. usm.maine.edu/planet. 8 p.m. to midnight.

“Icing” New Year’s Eve Bash, music, food, art and Champagne, Space, Portland. $50. space538.org. 9 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Sardine and Mapleleaf Drop, Bank Square, Eastport. tidesinstitute.org. 11 p.m.

SUNDAY

Metropolitan Opera Live in HD: Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” screening of Julie Taymor’s fantastical production for children and families, Lincoln Theater, Damariscotta. $10. 563-3424. 1 p.m.

“Potluck and Peaceful Beginnings,” community celebration with music, crafts, poetry, puppet shows and food, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta. Free; bring potluck contribution. 563-3781. Noon to 3 p.m.

• FILMS

“Ram Dass: Fierce Grace,” 2002 documentary with post-film discussion led by Bill Halpin and Saskia Huising, Rockland Public Library. Free. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m. today.

“Matilda” (1996), Dyer Library, Saco. Free. dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org. 3 p.m. Friday.

• BOOKS/AUTHORS

Robert Klose, teacher and author of “The Three-Legged Woman and Other Excursions in Teaching,” Rockland Library. Free. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m. today.

• PRO SPORTS

Portland Pirates, AHL affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland. $12 to $20. 828-4665. Vs. Worcester, 5:30 p.m. Saturday; vs. Connecticut, 1 p.m. Monday.

Maine Red Claws, NBA Development League affiliate of the Celtics, Bobcats and 76ers, Portland Exposition Building. $6 to $30. 210-6655. Vs. Rio Grande Valley, 1 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday.