Celebrate Martin Luther King Day at Bates College

LEWISTON — On Monday, Jan. 19, Bates College will offer a day full of workshops, lectures, presentations, music and more honoring the legacy of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.

This year’s observance explores the theme of anger in social justice work. The keynote speaker will be philosopher Myisha Cherry, associate professor of philosophy at the University of California, Riverside.

In her talk, drawing on King’s life and work, as well as contemporary philosophy and psychology, “Cherry will explore ways to harness our fears so that we can survive and thrive in difficult times, instead of being consumed or overwhelmed by them,” say organizers.  

The presentation begins at 9 a.m. and kicks off a day full of diverse programming honoring King. Events are free. For the full schedule of events and to register to reserve your place at various events, go to www.bates.edu/mlk/.

WILTON — St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 59 High St. in Wilton will hold a Martin Luther King Jr. Day service from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19. The guest speaker will be Sandra Bassett, a Passamaquoddy educator from Sipayik near Eastport. Some of her work has included facilitating peace and healing circles with Wabanaki people who are incarcerated. For more information email [email protected].

Hear the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra in Lewiston

LEWISTON — The Midcoast Symphony Orchestra will present “Myths & Magic” at the Franco Center, 46 Cedar St., from 7-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17. Tickets cost $27 in advance and $30 at the door, with free admission to anyone 25 and younger.  Get more info.

Conducted by Rohan Smith, the orchestra’s program will include: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Magic Flute Overture,” Jean Sibelius’s “Swan of Tuonela,” Tan Dun’s “Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds,” Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel Overture,” Paul Dukas’ “Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” and Howard Shore’s selections from “The Lord of the Rings.”

For more information, go to francocenter.org.

Enjoy a day of free skiing and tubing at Black Mountain

RUMFORD — Black Mountain of Maine ski area will offer a day of free skiing, snowboarding and tubing sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank on Wednesday, Jan. 14, from 5-9 p.m. It is one of several free nights of fun at the mountain being sponsored by generous area businesses. See the ski area’s website at skiblackmountain.org or Facebook page for those dates, weather updates and more information.

Ski and board rentals will be $35 plus tax. There will be no charge for tubes. The resort’s café and The Last Run Pub will be open. 

Black Mountain of Maine is at 39 Glover Road.

Hear Coyote Island in Bethel

BETHEL — Bethel Area Arts & Music at The Gem Theater will present Maine’s own Coyote Island on Saturday, Jan. 17, starting at 7 p.m.

Social hour begins at 6 p.m. “Pay What You Can Tickets” benefit Bethel Area Arts & Music. For more information go to thegemtheater.com.

The Gem Theater is at 48 Cross St.

Enjoy Eberhardt, Gorka, Kaplansky and Larkin in Gardiner

GARDINER — Johnson Hall Opera House will present “On A Winter’s Night” featuring Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky and Patty Larkin, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

According to organizers, this reunion tour ofeatures “veteran singer-songwriters that remain among the brightest stars of the singer/songwriter movement for the past three decades.

“In 1994 Christine Lavin gathered them together, along with folk and Americana artists to showcase music of the winter season on the now-classic “On A Winter’s Night” CD, followed by several years of touring collaborations. These artists have released dozens of recordings and toured steadily through the decades, with fond memories of their touring days together.”

For tickets and more information go to www.johnsonhall.org or call 207-582-7144.

Johnson Hall is at 280 Water St.

Take in the Lewiston Farmers’ Market in Auburn

AUBURN — That’s right, the Lewiston Farmers’ Market is continuing its winter season at a new location, Edward Little High School at 77 Harris St. in Auburn, from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. It will also be open at that location on Thursday, Feb. 12, and Thursday, March 19. Learn more at the Chamber of Commerce’s events listing here: lametrochamber.com.

See Mr. Drew at his new location in Poland

POLAND — On Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mr. Drew and His Animals Too will hold a grand opening at the new location at 1395 Maine St.

Cost of the event is $10. Children 1 year old and younger are free.

The highlight of the grand opening will be “animal encounters” with Mr. Drew’s more than 400 exotic reptiles, amphibians, fish, marine touch tank, arachnids, insects and birds. But there will also be food trucks, face painting, balloon animals, magicians, snake relaxation therapy, Fluff Me, Mike the Tarot Guy, free popcorn and cotton candy, and more.

For more information go to www.facebook.com/mrdrewandhisanimalstoo/about/.

Catch spirited contemporary ballet in Bath

BATH — The Chocolate Church Arts Center will feature Resurgence Dance Company’s “Thursdays Child,” an original contemporary ballet, on Friday-Sunday, Jan. 16-18.

According to organizers, “Watch your favorite monster family dance their tales of tragedy and triumph,” in this production at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Organizers say the ballet is the story of “your favorite television monster family told by the patriarch through flashbacks and present-day snapshots. Raphael creates his postmortem autobiography, and he’s as selfless in death as he was in life. He waxes poetic about his wife, Lorena, and daughter, Thursday, and how they never really got along. Raphael finally says his piece and lets the ladies know they need to straighten up and stop bickering — from his own casket. We will see how Lorena and Thursday affect the entire household through their tiffs and antics, and eventually we discover how Raphael finds his peace.”

The family friendly show is at the Chocolate Church main stage at 804 Washington St. For more information go to www.chocolatechurcharts.org.

Have an event you’d like to get in? Email details to [email protected] to be considered for inclusion in the weekly listing. And add your event to the Sun Journal calendar here: www.sunjournal.com/events-calendar/#!