THURSDAY, AUG 6
Fans of national parks, this is your night. The Sierra Club's NIGHT OUT FOR THE NATIONAL PARKS includes a reception at Bull Feeney's with free food and conversation from 6-7 pm. Mingle with other national park enthusiasts before heading to Merrill for a sneak peek of the new PBS series "National Parks: America's Best Idea" and a Q&A with filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan. Tix $15 and available at www.porttix.com. Preview starts at 7:30 pm. More info: http://maine.sierraclub.org.

With their up-tempo afrobeat music, AFROMOTIVE fuses West African rhythms and instrumentation with funk, improvisation and dance beats. Catch the high-energy performance at 10 pm at the Asylum. Tix $10. More info: www.portlandasylum.com.

Have you been missing The Bard? Miss him no more as Shakespeare in the Park with Fenix Theatre Company returns. This time around it's "A MIDSUMMER NIGHTÕS DREAM," and Director Peter Brown has turned this classic tale of Athenian lovers lost in the woods into a wild party of sultry fairies that love nothing more than screwing with the minds and emotions of unsuspecting humans. Get to Deering Oaks Park for the 6 pm show or get more info at www.fenixtheatre.org.

FRIDAY, AUG 7
The 4th annual CELEBRATE MAINE FESTIVAL launches with the "Toot Blues" viewing. The film highlights traditional Southern musicians such as Guitar Gabriel, Captain Luke and Etta Baker. DennyMike's supplies the BBQ dinner and a live musical review follows at the Regatta Room in Eliot. Tix $40 and available at www.brownpapertickets.com. Saturday and Sunday boast local music, an artisan fair and a Maine marketplace during two days of outdoor summer celebration. More info: www.celebratemainefestival.com.

MOIRA SMILEY & VOCO sing emotional music with the vaudevillian combo of cello, accordion and banjo to create a stompin' rebel harmony. Catch their blend of Americana and Eastern European sounds at One Longfellow Square. Doors open at 7 pm. Portland's Ramblin' Red opens. Tix $15 in advance/$18 at the door and available at www.onelongfellowsquare.com.

SATURDAY, AUG 8
South Portland's ART IN THE PARK features 185 artists and photographers and an international food court. Browse and buy from 9 am-5 pm in Mill Creek Park. More info: www.artintheparkmaine.com.

Maine Roller Derby and PortSports team up for a kickball tourney for a good cause. The CHARITY KICKBALL TOURNAMENT benefits The Vera Foundation and for $10 you can kickball all day, hang with the MRD refs, grill some burgers and feel good about you in Portland's Payson Park. Tournament entry is $10 and includes at least two games between 10 am and 6 pm. Register at http://pscharitytourney09.eventbrite.com.

The Local Sprouts Co-op celebrates its second anniversary during TAKING ROOT at SPACE in Portland. It's an evening of local fare, raffles and performances by Over a Cardboard Sea, the Orchards, Lady Zen, Hanifa Washington and the Excuse Me Circus. The anniversary begins at 8 pm. $15 for dinner and show/$10 dinner only/$8 for show only. More info: www.space538.org.

SUNDAY, AUG 9
Whether you recall Woodstock fondly - or weren't even born yet - everyone can appreciate the music and legends created back in 1969. Recapture some of the spirit during the HEROES OF WOODSTOCK SHOW featuring Jefferson Starship, Canned Heat, Ten Years After, Big Brother and The Holding Company, the Grateful DeadÕs Tom Constanten and host Country Joe McDonald. Gates open at 11 am at The Barnyard, off Rte. 108 in Livermore. Tix $50-$200. More info: www.mainetix.net.

Appreciate the warm winds and Casco Bay views while they last during the BIG CHIEF CRUISE & GROOVE aboard the Casablanca. Dance it up to the eclectic band or recline back with a cold beverage to take in the scenery. Tix $15 in advance/$18 day of and available at www.brownpapertickets.com. Cruise departs Custom House Wharf at 4 pm sharp.

MONDAY, AUG 10
Live the high life (at least for a few hours) aboard one of Portland Schooner Company's historic wooden windjammers, Wendameen or Bagheera, during their Monday Night Tasting BUBBLES AND PEARLS. Savor domestic Hackleback and Spoonbill caviars paired with NV Roederer Estate Brut, a 2006 Roger Goulart Cava Rose and a NV Carod Clairette de Die, all provided by Browne Trading Company. Sail departs the Maine State Pier at 6 pm and returns at 8 pm. Call for pricing/reservations: 766-2500.

TUESDAY, AUG 11
GREENDRINKS is keeping to the peninsula this month, bringing the green-minded gathering to Empire Dine and Dance from 5:30-8 pm. Local Sprouts and 317 Main St. co-sponsor the event. What's not to love about a community-focused venue, amazing cooperatively-sourced food and great local tunes? The gathering is free. More info: www.portlandgreendrinks.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUG 12
Built more than 4,500 years ago, Stonehenge has captivated humanity for centuries, while revealing precious few of its secrets. Who built this mammoth henge? What was its purpose? Professor Patrick Peoples guides you on a fascinating tour of the ancient structure during DEEP SUMMER AT STONEHENGE at the Southworth Planetarium's Star Dome Theatre. Admission by donation. Tour begins at 7 pm. Call 780-4249 FMI or reservations.

THURSDAY, AUG 13
Funny for funny's sake ain't bad. Funny to raise money for good works, well, that's even better. Support Mad Horse Theater Company and their revitalization of the Hutchins School during A NIGHT OF LAUGHS. Host Chuck Igo and area comedians will keep things entertaining. Tix $10. Doors open at 7:30 pm at Events on Broadway in South Portland. More info: www.madhorse.com or call Lease-a-Laugh 317-7884.

We're not sure which hot local band will be playing yet, but there will be one more ALIVE AT FIVE concert at Monument Square tonight. Be there from 5-8 pm for this final concert of the 2009 summer series (postponed from July 9) and get yourself a beverage from the Sebago Beer Garden.

FRIDAY, AUG 14
The hill at Harry Brown's Farm comes alive with music, giant puppets, belly dancing and fire twirling during the three-day BE HERE NOW FESTIVAL. The two-hour drive from Portland is well worth performances by Black Bear Moon, Penpa Tsering, Trailer Trash, The Brew, Hot Day at the Zoo and others. Food vendors, a healing tent, free H2O and community bonfires keep the spirit up. Tix $50 for entire weekend or $25 for one day. More info: www.harryshill.com. Teams of filmmakers fan out around Portland to create films based on a genre drawn from a hat, an assigned line of dialog and a prop. It's filmmaking creativity at its peak during the 48-HOUR FILM PROJECT. Teams have 48 hours to create a film and possibly win Best in City or a berth in the 48 Hour Film Project at Cannes. FMI on the project or to register (hurry!): www.48hourfilm.com/portland_maine.

SATURDAY, AUG 15
From the casual art pursuer to the proud connoisseur, there's something for everyone at the BRUNSWICK OUTDOOR ARTS FESTIVAL. The festival showcases more than 60 juried artists, who work in a variety of two- and three-dimensional mediums, including oil paintings, watercolors, mixed media, photography and fiber arts. The free festival is open from 9 am-5 pm on the sidewalks of Maine Street in Brunswick. More info: www.brunswickdowntown.com.

Get thee to the Queen City. Bangor is where the musical action is. The KAH BANG Music and Art Festival brings in talents like Matt & Kim, Ra Ra Riot, Ida Maria, Royal Bangs, April Smith, The Gay Blades, The Killing Moon and others to the Bangor waterfront. Music starts at 11 am and runs all day. Tix $27.50 in advance/$35 day of and available at www.kahbang.com. For free tix, check out the KAH BANG contest at www.maientoday.com/contests.

MISS FAIRCHILD and MAINE ROLLER DERBY get reacquainted as tonight's multi-purpose party hosts. It's a video debut, mixtape release and kickoff for the MRD fall season all rolled into one. Celebrate Miss Fairchild's new video and "WonÕt Be Your Kept Woman" mixtape. And wish the ladies of the MRD a bout-kicking Ô09 season (starting Aug 29). Admission $6. The party starts at 9 pm at SPACE in Portland. More info: www.space538.org.

Brown Street in Portland is transformed into an African marketplace during the KWENU CELEBRATION. Find vendors offering unique crafts and mouthwatering African cuisine. Live music fills the street, including Vanga Inanga, last year's Rwandan dance troupe. Plenty of activities will keep the kids busy will you try your luck at the raffle. Festival runs from noon-5 pm on Brown Street. More info: www.museumafricanculture.org.

SUNDAY, AUG 16
An independent film company from Sanford, Gold Shoe Productions is releasing their initial feature film ALTERNG CONCLUSIONS tonight. A kind of a twisted blending of American Beauty and Reservoir Dogs, the film is a tale of revenge & redemption, violence & innocence. Tix $7. Film starts at 7 pm at Sanford Maine Stage in Springvale. More info or to see the trailer: http://goldshoeproductions.com.

There was no Monument Square or Tommy's Park when settlers first started arriving in what is now Portland. That was in 1632. Go back to that time with Spirits Alive during the "EARLIER PORTLAND - THE UNMARKED PAST" tour at Eastern Cemetery. The tour begins at 1 pm and it costs $7 for adults. Learn about the local events of the 17th and 18th century and how they shaped the Portland we know today. In case of bad weather, call the hotline at 318-2982.

Everyone's got a GPS these days, but do you really know how to use yours? Learn the basics at L.L. Bean's interactive workshop today from 4-7 pm. You'll also be introduced to GEOCACHING at the free event, which takes place at the flagship store in Freeport. All equipment will be provided.

MONDAY, AUG 17
Musician/singer/storyteller Kate Chadbourne enhances the Celtic atmosphere at Bull Feeney's during this month's SEANACHIE NIGHTS. Catch "Tales and Songs of Ireland" from 7-9 pm and get transported to the streets and countryside of Ireland. Admission is free/$9 donation suggested. FMI on Seanachie Nights: www.lynnecullen.com.

In the mood for a little WINE AND CHEESE today? How about if it's free? All you have to do is find yourself at the Hannaford in York between noon and 4 pm for some free national and international samples, along with advice on pairings. Don't forget - you have to be at least 21 to participate in the wine tasting or the Hannaford police will track you down.

TUESDAY, AUG 18
One Longfellow Square's Summer Jazz Festival continues with a celebration of the music of guitar legend Lenny Breau. THE LENNY BREAU PROJECT features younger brother Denny Breau (guitar), Tony Gaboury (guitar), Fitz Jenkins (bass) and Steve Grover (drums). Tix only $5/free with season pass. Music starts at 8 pm. More info: www.onelongfellowsquare.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUG 19
If you're looking for that special someone you may not need to look any longer. Just pencil yourself in for the "GET SOCIAL, GIVE GOATS" event at The Works Cafe on Temple Street in Portland at 7 pm tonight. It's WeClick's ethical speed dating for the outdoor enthusiast with the opportunity to meet singles interested in running, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, hiking, cycling and anything else active people do in Maine. Register in advance at WeClickdating.com because space is limited. A portion of the proceeds go toward the purchase of a milking goat for a family in a place like Haiti or Kenya.