March 20: PORTLAND, Portland Stage affiliate artists will present a reading at 7 p.m. at the Portland Performing Arts Center, 25A Forest Ave. Free 774-0465

March 20: SOUTH PARIS, Michael Hicks will present a program on native Maine orchids at 7 p.m.at the McLaughlin Garden Center.

March 22: LEWISTON, the third annual Chili and Chowder Taste Challenge will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, Pleasant Street. 777-3199

March 22, 29: PORTLAND, the Comedy Connection Improv Comedy will be held every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. at the Comedy Connection, 16 Custom House Wharf. $6 774-2006

March 23, 30: FARMINGTON, a free fish chowder luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church.

March 23, 30: LEWISTON, “Sharing Poetry,” will be held every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Wisdom Center for Women, 97 Blake St. 784-0155

March 23-26: PORTLAND, the 35th annual Maine Boat Show will be held from noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Cumberland County Civic Center. $8/$4 865-1196

March 23: TOPSHAM, children’s book author/illustrator, Chris Van Dusen, will present a program at 5 p.m. at the Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road. Free 725-1727

March 24: FARMINGTON, the “Price is Right,” will be held at Mt. Blue High School. 779-9000

March 24: PORTLAND, a Comedy Showcase, with Tom Clark, Amy Tee and Brett Groh will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Liquid Blue, 440 Fore St. $5 854-9778

March 24, 31: PORTLAND, a benefit haddock chowder, lobster roll or ham salad luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday at North Deering Congregational Church, 1364 Washington Ave. $6.50/$3.75 883-3568

March 24, 31: RUMFORD, a salmon pie Lenten luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. $6

March 25: AUGUSTA, a program on rug hooking will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Maine State Museum, State House Complex. Free 287-2301

March 25, 26: BAR MILLS, the Maine Maple Weekend will be held at the Snell Family Farm, 1000 River Road, Route 112. $8/$4.50 929-5318

March 25: FARMINGTON, a corned beef and cabbage luncheon will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at Henderson Memorial Baptist Church, Academy Street. Free 778-2163

March 25: HEBRON, a Cabin Fever Day, with food sale, indoor yard sale and more, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hebron Community Baptist Church. 966-2042

March 25, 26: LEWISTON, the annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake will be held at Sparetime Recreation. 782-5437

March 25: PORTLAND, a Comedy Showcase, with Jeremie Remian, KU and Ellen Moschetto will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Liquid Blue, 440 Fore St. $5 854-9778

March 25: PORTLAND, a celebration of music, comedy and baseball lore will be held at 7 p.m. at the Italian Heritage Center, 40 Westland Ave. $20 797-6354

March 25: TURNER, a fundraising auction will be held at 10 a.m. at Leavitt Area High School.

March 25: WATERFORD, an indoor yard sale will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at the Wilkins Community House basement, Plummer Hill Road. 583-2320

March 26: BAR MILLS, the Chili-Chowder-Pie Festival will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Bar Mills Parish House, Route 4A. $4/$2 929-6052

March 26: BRUNSWICK, a Bowl-a-Thon will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at Yankee Lanes. 443-2403

March 26: LEWISTON, a St. Patrick’s Day potluck will be held at noon at Good News Chapel, 2151 Lisbon Road. 225-3285

March 26: PORTLAND, the Maine 2006 Antique Paper Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Holiday Inn West, 81 Riverside St. $4 828-8065

March 29: AUGUSTA, a benefit auction will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Senator Inn. $25/$12 1-800-438-5963

March 30: PORTLAND, the Harlem Globetrotters will perform at 7 p.m. at Cumberland County Civic Center. $65/$15 775-3458

March 31, April 1, 2: AUGUSTA, the 26th annual Sportsman’s Show will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Augusta Civic Center. $7/$4 626-3315

March 31, April 1, 2: GORHAM, the Pine State Boat Show will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the USM Field House. $7/$2 882-9777

March 31, LEWISTON, the Wingnuts, comedy improv troupe, will perform at 7:30 p.m. at King’s Bridge Theatre, 387 Lisbon St. $8 577-6157

March 31-April 2: LEWISTON, a Home and Garden Show will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Colisee, 190 Birch St. $5/$3 783-2009

March 31: PORTLAND, a Comedy Showcase, with Paul Nardizzi, Rocco and Tammy Pooler, will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Liquid Blue, 440 Fore St. $5 854-9778

April 1: NEWRY, Parrot Head Weekend and 19th annual Bust ‘n’ Burn mogul competition will be held at Sunday River Ski Resort. 824-5243

April 1: PORTLAND, the 14th annual Sold on Kids benefit auction will be held at Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks. 294-4430

April 1: WILTON, a cabin fever craft fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nichols Expo Center. 778-4726

April 2: AUBURN, a public breakfast will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at the VFW Hall, 588 Minot Ave. $4.50/$3.50 784-6883

April 2: FARMINGTON, an International Festival, with entertainment, talent and fashion show, buffet and more, will be held at 1 p.m. at UMF Lincoln Auditorium. 778-0921

April 2: LEWISTON, the Public Theatre will hold its third annual Treasure Trek starting at 1:30 p.m. at the theater, corner of Maple and Lisbon streets. $50 782-2211

April 2: SABATTUS, a public breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the American Legion Hall, Island Road. $6/$3 375-8897