Friday-Sunday. Common Ground Fair Education Center, 294 Crosby Brook Road, Unity, $20-$25, free for 12 and under, all tickets must be reserved. mofga.org.

The Common Ground County Fair continues to be centered around sustainable living and organic farming. This year’s schedule features a huge variety of demos, lectures, food, live music and more than 1,000 exhibitors. Pick a day to venture to Unity, and help the fair celebrate its 50th anniversary.

7:30 p.m. Friday. Strand Theatre, 345 Main St., Rockland, $23 in advance, $28 day of show. rocklandstrand.com.

Award-winning singer-songwriter and saxophonist Vanessa Collier and her band will be blowing the roof off the Strand Theatre with a night of blues, soul and R&B tunes. The set will include tracks from her Memphis-inspired album “Do It My Own Way,” where you’ll hear the funky “Elbow Grease,” the moody “Take Me Back” and the inspiring “Wild As a Rainstorm.”

Toby McAllister and the Sierra Sounds are part of the Runaway Maine Music Fest in Turner this weekend. (Photo by Alexander Sirois)

4 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday. The Runaway, 40 Airport Road, Turner, $55 in advance, $70 at the gate, $107.48 for two-day pass, free for 12 and under. therunawaymaine.com.

With an emphasis on outlaw country music and rock, the Runaway Maine Music Fest is a two-day event held on the grounds of the former Twitchell Airport in Turner. The Friday lineup features Madilynn Treasure, The Real Young Swagg, The Chase Jobe Band, Cole Barnhill and headliner Bryan Martin. On Saturday, catch Sorry Safari, Toby McAllister and the Sierra Sounds, Marcy Playground (“Sex & Candy”) and Sister Hazel (“All For You”). Several food trucks and vendors will be on site. BYOB, and be ready for a hell of a good time.

A still from “Never Give Up” from Hungary and Mexico. The story traces a young boy’s desert journey alone as he attempts to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, guided only by his mother’s final words: “Never Give Up.” (Image courtesy of Manhattan Film Festival)

7 p.m. Friday, 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday. The Public Theatre, 31 Maple St., Lewiston, $15. thepublictheatre.org.

Here’s a chance to see a collection of short films from several countries, including Ireland, Moldova, South Africa and Australia. The Manhattan Short Film Festival features 10 shorts, including “Never Give Up” (Mexico, Hungary), “Mary is Missing” (Ireland) and “Hai Davia” (Moldova). Audience members can vote for their favorite films and cast members.

Noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Lincoln Street, Biddeford, $30, $45 VIP early access, $10 for non-drinkers and under 21. heartofbiddeford.org.

From left, Brad Andrews, Holly Andrews and Tom Andrews cross the street to head into the third annual Biddeford Oktoberfest on Pearl Street in Biddeford in September 2025. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image

Dirndls and lederhosen aren’t required to have a festive time at the annual Biddeford Oktoberfest. Lincoln Street will be lined with local breweries, food trucks, live music, games and all sorts of family-friendly fun. Admission includes a branded stein and two drink tickets. Or go big with the VIP pass, which includes early entry, a stein, two drink tickets, an Oktoberfest sticker and an alpine hat.

4 p.m. Sunday. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $49.50-$69.50. statetheatreportland.com.

Books-A-Million presents an afternoon appearance by author John Green. All ticket holders will receive an autographed copy of his new novel, “Hollywood, Ending.” Green will be interviewed about it, and will answer audience questions. The novel spins a behind-the-scenes Hollywood love story that examines the price of a public life when two young actors rise to fame in a film about Andy Warhol. Some of Green’s previous works include “Looking for Alaska,” “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Turtles All the Way Down.”

Sunday-Oct. 3. Cumberland Fairgrounds, 197 Blanchard Road, Cumberland, $15 (cash only), free for 12 and under, $6 seniors 65 and over on Sept. 29 and Oct. 30. cumberlandfair.com.

Fairgoers enjoy one of the many rides at the Cumberland County Fair in 2023. (Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer)

With a history that dates back to 1869, the Cumberland County Fair pulls out all the stops when it comes to a classic Maine fair. Livestock shows, pig racing and pig scrambles, ox pulling, blacksmith demos, professional rodeo and freestyle motocross shows, live music, fireworks and of course the ride-filled midway is a sampling of the offerings. Pass the fried dough and cotton candy!

Astronaut Pamela Melroy floating into the Unity module of the International Space Station during Space Shuttlle Discovery’s STS-120 mission in 2007. Melroy is a retired United States Air Force colonel, veteran test pilot and recently served as the deputy administator of NASA. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29. Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St., Freeport, $23.18, $7.18 for students. freeportspeech.org.

If you’re curious about the vast realm of outer space, don’t miss a conversation with three women who are shaping space exploration. Dr. Darby Dyar is a planetary geologist, mineralogist and spectroscopist, and is currently the Deputy Principal Investigator for NASA’s VERITAS mission to Venus. She’ll lead the discussion with Dr. Tara Rutley, a scientist and engineer who, as chief scientist for Orbital Reef at Blue Origin, guides the scientific vision for a next-generation commercial space station, and Pamela Melroy, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and former NASA astronaut who most recently served as the deputy administrator of NASA. The past, present and future of space exploration will be unpacked, and attendees will be able to participate during a Q&A session.