Five to 18% of Knox County residents have Finnish ancestry, and on Sept. 9 the Thomaston Historical Society will host a talk by Scott Hodgkins, President of the St. George Historical Society. He will explore the local Finnish community, its roots and its contributions to the area's economy and culture.

Sean Fleming, and the Red Hot Peppers band, will perform a lively, family friendly concert of Ragtime and Dixieland music, Sunday, Sept. 14, at 3 p.m., at the First Congregational Church in Searsport. 

The beautiful venue, located at 8 Church Street is the site of the church's outreach concert series that runs May-December. 

Admission is by donation, and proceeds go to help further the concert series.  

Salt Pond Studio presents the art of Jamie Spooner in a solo exhibition. Join the artist Saturday, Sept. 6, from 4 - 7 p.m., at Salt Pond Studio, in celebration of this joyful exhibition.

Arts In The Barn will hold a New England Barn Dance on September 13, from 4 - 7 p.m., at 17 Hathorne Point Road, in Cushing.

"This is a dance form that is hundreds of years old and meant for people of all ages and skills, and Chrissy builds your dancing skill step by step in fun and aerobic ways," said Arts in the Barn. "Come to the Barn and have a wonderful, healthy way to end the summer. See you there."

Chrissy Fowler is the caller, John Pranio on fiddle, Glen Loper on mandolin and banjo, and Toki Oshima on guitar.

The Rockland Public Library and the Jane Austen Society of North America, Maine Region will host Merry Post, Saturday, Sept. 13, at 1:30 p.m. Post will offer a talk discussing the many fascinating foods featured in the works of Jane Austen.

ROCKLAND — A screening of the award-winning documentary Outsider, co-presented by Maine Public, will be presented at the Strand Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 5:30 p.m. The 40-minute film addresses both the tragedy and redemption that can result from mental illness. The 40-minute screening will be followed by a panel discussion and a reception. 

In a Thomaston Historical Society talk, September 9, at 7 p.m., Scott Hodgkins, president of the St. George Historical Society, will explore the local Finnish community, its roots and its contributions to the area's economy and culture. The talk will take place in the hall on the lower level of the Federated Church at 8 Hyler Street.

15% to 18% of Knox County residents have Finnish ancestry, according to the historical society.

The Blue Café, occasional series of free performances in Camden Opera House’s intimate third-floor listening room, welcomes back award-winning singer-songwriter Chris Ross, Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Ross will perform solo after opening last winter for The Mallett Brothers.

Ross is a native of Hancock and past winner of the New England Music Awards’ Songwriter of the Year award. 

"He delivers his cinematic lyrics and sharp humor through a smoky Americana, genuine and honest," said the opera house, in a news release.

Quarry Hill welcomes Midcoast Ukes to the Anderson Inn on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 4 p.m.

"Enjoy a lively performance featuring a diverse repertoire of ukulele music," said Quarry Hill. "Experience unique melodies, harmonies, and rhythms showcasing the ukulele’s versatility. Expect a fun and engaging musical experience for all.

The Waldo presents the retrospective exhibit “Multiples of Three: Paintings, Drawings and Sculptures” by the late Suzanne Cooney Phillips (August, 1943 - March, 2025), opening on September 7. The exhibit is in the theatre’s Alfond Gallery, at 916 Main St., in Waldoboro and runs through September 30, 2025.  

The Colonial Theatre, owned and operated by the nonprofit organization Hawthorne Arts Collaborative, has announced that Meg Fournier has been appointed as the organization’s new executive director. 

Born and raised in Louisiana, Fournier has made Belfast and greater Waldo County her home for nearly 20 years.

Most recently, Fournier served as Operations Director and Producer for Points North Institute, whose programs include the Camden International Film Festival and Points North Forum.

Join Friends of Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge in person, or by Zoom, for Michael Boardman’s presentation about his Artist in Residencies at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The presentation will occur Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at
Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge (MCINWR).

Enjoy light snacks in the downstairs meeting room, and save some time to visit his show in the art gallery, according to FOMCI.

Dr. Matt Boucher, State Soil Scientist at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, will lead an outdoor presentation, Soils: Truth, Myth, and Snake Oil, on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 12 p.m., at Merryspring Nature Center.

After premiering Off-Broadway last season, A Taste of Ireland: The Irish Music & Dance Sensation returns to stages across the USA in 2025, performing the show that has entertained thousands around the globe.

Spectrum Generations, in partnership with the Rockland Public Library, presents a Medicare 101 class, taught by Medicare certified volunteers on Monday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m., in the Library’s Community Room.

Medicare 101 clarifies the difference between Medicare Part A and B, Medicare Advantage, and Supplement Plans. It also covers eligibility and ways to avoid lifetime penalties, along with Medicare Saving Programs.

To sign up, call Spectrum at 1-800-639-1553. Walk-ins are also welcome. 

Bess the Book Bus returns to Gibbs Library, in Washington, on Thursday, Aug. 28, from 3 - 5 p.m. 

Join Millay House Rockland, Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 7 to 9 p.m., for Conversations with Dead Poets: A Panel Discussion.

Four contemporary writers will speak to their relationships with poets from earlier eras who left a significant mark on American culture. The conversation includes Maine’s Poet Laureate Julia Bouwsma on Edna St. Vincent Millay, Rosa Lane on Emily Dickinson, Samaa Abdurraqib on June Jordan, and A. O. Scott on Thom Gunn.

The last show of the 2025 Arts on the Hill program brings the Novel Jazz Septet to Beech Hill Preserve, Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m., as part of this summer concert series.  

"The Novel Jazz Septet, led by trombonist Barney Balch, is seven hepcats from all over Maine who have been performing together for years," said Coastal Mountains Land Trust.