May

24 NEW GLOUCESTER: Opening of the Shaker Museum season, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Rte. 26. Open 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday through Columbus Day. Exhibits, tours, workshops, crafts demonstrations, and special events. Admission free. Tour fees apply. For more information, visit www.shaker.lib.me.us, email usshakers@aol.com or call 207-926-4597.

24 PARIS: Artist reception at 6 p.m. at McLaughlin Garden in the historic barn. Exhibit of Alice Kirkpatrick and Jean Beal titled “In Full Bloom: Intimate Views of Plant Life.” The garden is open daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free although donations are always gratefully accepted. Further information is available by calling 743-8820 or visiting www.mclaughlingarden.org.

24-27 PARIS: Lilac Festival at McLaughlin Garden. The biggest crowds of the season arrive to see and smell the lilacs. A festival celebrating the iconic flowering shrubs is held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors may wander through the garden at will or take a tour at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. each day. They may attend a lecture on growing lilacs scheduled at 11 a.m. daily. Special this year will be a book signing and talk by Lisa Colburn, author of the “Maine Garden Journal,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25.

25 SO. PORTLAND: Steam Guest Engineer Program, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad. Experience life as a engineer on the historic Monson Railroad Steam Locomotive number 4. Call 207-828-0814 or visit www.mngrr.org.

June

1 NEWRY: Free Family Fishing Festival, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. rain or shine, Summit Rd., www.upperandro.com. Free casting and fly tying lessons, stocked trout pond for practice, kids can take home their catch; door prizes, mini-tackle box for young anglers.

1-2 WINDSOR: Maine Fiber Frolic, Windsor Fairgrounds, Route 32. From 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Look back in time as Windsor Fairgrounds comes alive with agricultural tradition, a farm and fiber festival. New: doll making workshop. Sheep dog trials and demos, sheep shearing, fleece show and sale, used equipment marketplace, llama fun show, judged fiber goat show, 4-H demonstrations, educational workshop and lectures on spinning, felting, knitting, weaving, rug hooking, animal health and rearing, a kid’s area and the Maine Llama Drill Team. Fees apply. www.FiberFrolic.com.

2 AUBURN: 56th annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, Saint Dominic Academy, Gracelawn Rd. All you can eat pancake breakfast includes Mailhot’s sausage, Oakhurst milk and orange juice, and Starbucks coffee. 6:30-11:30 a.m. http://kiwanisauburnlewistonmaine.org/calendar/

5-22 BRUNSWICK: Maine State Music Theater presents “Dreamgirls,” 22 Elm Street, 207-725-8769 (Box Office), www.msmt.org.

7-9 BRIDGTON: Maine Canoe Symposium is a weekend of lessons, demonstrations, slide presentations, and on-the-water fun. All ages and levels welcome. Fees apply. 35 Winona Rd., Camp Winona, Moose Pond. www.mainecanoesymposium.org, 207-778-0853, info@mainecanoesymposium.org

8 SCARBOROUGH: The BELMONT STAKES at Scarborough Downs; final jewel of the Triple Crown, live via simulcast from Belmont Park. Enjoy a delicious all-you-can-eat buffet in the Downs Club. Special 2 p.m. live racing post time. 10K final. Admission is free. Call 207-883-3022 for reservations. Route 1.

8-9 LIVERMORE: Civil War Living History and Reenactment weekend; gates open 9 a.m. Living history demonstrations, exhibits, fashion show, music, and more. Washburn-Norlands Living History Center; admission fees apply. www.norlands.org/events.html

9 PORTLAND: 40th annual Old Port Festival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 84 Exchange St. Celebrate the beginning of summer in beautiful downtown Portland with multiple music stages, Maine-made arts and crafts, food from local businesses, kid’s activities, and more. The festival begins with a foot-powered parade down Exchange Street led by the Shoestring Theater. www.portlandmaine.com.

14-16 NEWRY: Trek Across Maine — Sunday River to the Sea. 180 miles (average 60 miles per day) across scenic Maine. Start at the mountains of Sunday River Ski Resort and finish in Belfast, Maine. Fees apply. Sunday River Ski Resort, Newry.

14-16 NAPLES: Maine Blues Festival. Fun and refreshing summer kick-off. Family-friendly event held rain or shine. Fees apply. Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. www.mainebluesfestival.com

22 GRAY: Maine Wildlife Park, Outdoor Safety and Survival Skills course. See demonstrations of fire building/starting; survival shelter construction, map, compass and must-have equipment. Call 207-287-5220, email brenda.chaplin@maine.gov or visit www.maine.gov/ifw/education/safety.

26-29 NEW GLOUCESTER: Maine Festival of American Music, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village. Portland String Quartet, David Lonebear Sanipass, story-teller from the Mic Mac Tribe, Brother Arnold Hadd, the Sabbathday Lake Shakers and violist Julia Adams. Evening concerts, lecture, workshop. Call 207-926-4597 or email usshakers@aol.com.

29 KINGFIELD: Kingfield POPS, Kennedy Farm, Route 142. Familiar and patriotic music, family activities, fireworks. Fees apply.

July

3 RANGELEY: Independence Day Celebration, 10 a.m. to dark, parade, cook-outs, silent auction, fireworks, Lakeside Park. www.rangeleymaine.com.

4 BETHEL: Bethel Historical Society annual 4th of July celebration, starts at 11:30 a.m. 10 Broad St., community picnic at the Moses Mason House, Portland Brass Quintet, free but donations appreciated. www.bethelhistorical.org.

6 BETHEL: 24th annual Bethel Art Fair, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Broad St., artists and artisans display/sell their work. Youth art exhibit and children’s activities. Great food and entertainment. Rain date July 7. www.bethelmaine.com.

7-11 RANGELEY: Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen’s Association Strawberry Festival, crafts, yard sale, food, Oquossoc Park, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., www.rangeleymaine.com.

12-14 LISBON: Moxie Festival has entertainment, food, bed race and carnival games in downtown Lisbon. Three-day Pow Wow; Friday night fireworks; Saturday 5K Race, ATV Ride, Maine’s largest summertime parade, Street Fair, Concert in the Park, and on Sunday, the Moxie Car Show and the Chief Worumbo Androscoggin Run Race on the Androscoggin River, Durham. Visit http://moxiefestival.com/ for more information.

12-Aug. 10 LEWISTON: Bates Dance Festival Performance Series celebrates the diversity and creativity of contemporary dance in this six-week festival. Fees apply. Times vary. Schaeffer Theatre, Bates College. Information about tickets and event locations, as well as additional performance details, can be found at batesdancefestival.org.

13-14 BETHEL: 52nd annual Western Maine Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Festival, Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Crescent Park School. Cut gem stones, jewelry and fine mineral specimens on display and for sale. For more information, call 207-665-2759 or email oxfordcountymineralandgemassoc@gmail.com.

16-Aug. 13 HARRISON: 41st annual Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival, Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at Deertrees Theatre, located at the top of Long Lake, is the picturesque setting for the Festival’s five-concert series on the last three Tuesday evenings in July and the first two in August. www.sebagomusicfestival.org

19-21 YARMOUTH: 47th annual Yarmouth Clam Festival has a parade, free performances, juried craft show, art show, sports contests, carnival and variety of free family-oriented activities. Clams are the feature menu item. Times vary. Main St. All Proceeds from food booths and parking lots support Yarmouth’s nonprofit student, sporting, music, church, and community-service organizations.

19-21 NO. WATERFORD: Waterford World’s Fair; agricultural events, displays and activities for the entire family. www.waterfordworldsfair.org

20-21 BETHEL: Mahoosuc Arts Council’s annual Mollyockett Days Festival events and activities include a 5-mile classic road race, parade, ARTirondack chair auction, frog jumping contest, duck race, arts and crafts, food, entertainment, fireworks at dusk, and more. Bethel Town Common. www.mollyockettdays.com

26-27 RANGELEY: Logging Museum Festival Days, ME-16, bean-hole beans, Logger’s Hall of Fame, entertainment, competitions, parade. www.rlrlm.org

26-28 AUGUSTA: 36th annual Maine Quilts show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday; 76 Community Dr. Workshops, lectures, merchants mall, quilt appraisals, demonstrations, silent auction. For more information, visit www.mainequilts.org, email info@mainequilts.org, or call 207-415-4417.

TBA FARMINGTON: Annual Strawberry Festival and Art in the Park, vendors, food, music, fun and games.

21 STATEWIDE: Open Farm Day develops awareness of and educates the public about how their food, fiber and other agricultural products are produced. Over 100 farms across the state will be open to the public. Watch farm activities, see demonstrations and displays, taste samples, pet animals, see crops, farm-raised products for sale, barn tours and hay rides, refreshments. Check the newspaper for participating local farms near you or visit www.getrealmaine.com.

August

1 RANGELEY: Art in August, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Lakeside Park. Rangeley Friends of the Arts presents Art in August, a juried art show with 50 fine artists and craftsmen. Paintings: originals and prints; photography, jewelry, fiber art, woodworking, pottery, glass. http://rangeleymaine.com

2-3 WILTON: 31st annual Blueberry Festival, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, live entertainment, parades. www.wiltonbbf.com

2-4 ANDOVER: Annual Andover Old Home Days Celebration, all day, parade, antique car displays, exhibits, art and flower shows, crafts, firemen’s muster, horse show, food and music.

11 BETHEL: 22nd annual Maine State Triathlon, 8 a.m. start, adult sprint triathlon with a 1-km swim at Songo Pond, 25-km bike race, and 5-km cross-country run. Teams or individuals. Second annual Kids’ Triathlon at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10. www.bethelmaine.com.

15 RANGELEY: Blueberry Festival, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Lakeside Park. Jams, muffins, pies, gifts, crafts, entertainment.

16-18 LEWISTON: Great Falls Balloon Festival. Hot air balloon rides, tours of local places of interest, food, craft booths, carnival, fireworks and more. www.greatfallsballoonfestival.org

17 LOVELL: 38th annual Arts and Artisans Fair, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. New Suncook School, 95 Main Street. Fiber arts, photography, jewelry, glass, wood, painterly art, used book sale; lunch available for purchase. Major fundraiser for Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library.