By Kelly Morgan

Every Thursday, right here. Entertainment highlights for in town and beyond.

Floating on Air

LEWISTON – Hitch a ride skyward at the annual Great Falls Balloon Festival, or keep those feet on terra firma and enjoy the sites and sounds with live concerts, food vendors and much more. >>When: Friday through Sunday >>Where: Railroad Park, Lewiston and Festival Plaza, Auburn >>Tickets: Admission is free; balloon rides $200; helicopter rides $35 >>FMI: Call 783-2249 or visit greatfallsballoonfestival.org

Arts and Artisans

LOVELL – More than 60 artists and craftspeople will show their work at the 31st Annual Lovell Arts & Artisans Fair, a juried show to benefit the Charlotte Hobbs Library. Free. >>When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday >>Where: New Suncook Elementary School, Route 5 >>FMI: Call 925-3177 or visit hobbslibrary.org

Raptors and Reptiles

YARMOUTH – Bring the kids along for Raptors and Reptiles: Adaptations and Tools, where educators from the Gray Center for Wildlife will use live birds and reptiles to demonstrate how animals survive in the wild. Free. >>When: 11 a.m. Saturday >>Where: Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth, Route 1 >>FMI: Call 846-8002 or visit yarmouthbirds.com

Blueberries and beasts

UNION – Eat wild blueberry pie, listen to acts like Little Big Town and admire the livestock at the agricultural Union Fair. Don’t miss the He-Man contest Sunday. >>When: Sunday through Aug. 25 >>Where: Union Fairgrounds, Common Road >>Tickets: $7 daily; $15 for a 3-day pass; $30 week-long pass; $3.50 senior citizens (63 and up) on Tuesday; children under 15 free >>FMI: Visit unionfair.org

Psychic Signs

BRIDGTON – Get in touch with your spiritual self at a Summer Psychic Fair hosted by The Maine Center for Spiritual Enrichment. With spiritual readings by psychics, mediums and intuitives; small group classes and meditation sessions. >>When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. >>Where: 328 Main St. >>Tickets: $2 donation admission, readings individually priced >>FMI: Call 647-2706 or visit mainespiritualcenter.org

Also this week



30th Annual Trappers’ Convention, Friday through Sunday, East Bethel Road, Bethel >>FMI: [email protected] or 875-5765

Maine author Wayne Curtis reads from his latest, “And A Bottle of Rum,” 7 p.m. tonight, Longfellow Books, One Monument Way, Portland >>FMI: 772-4045 or longfellowbooks.com



Maine State Ballet’s Summer Gala featuring, “Hansel and Gretel” and “Souvenir,” 7 p.m. Saturday, Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland >>FMI: 842-0800 or portlandevents.com

Check out Encore on Fridays for complete event listings.