Community Calendar

BRUNSWICK, Maine – Local residents looking to give back, get involved, or learn more about needs in their community are invited to attend a Community Volunteer Fair on Wednesday, January 14 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at 179 Neptune Dr., Brunswick. The event snow date is January, 21, 2026.

The Volunteer Fair, co-hosted by United Way of Mid Coast Maine, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, Midcoast Literacy, Midcoast New Mainers Group, and Merrymeeting Community and Adult Education, will bring together more than 20 local nonprofits, civic groups, and community organizations offering a wide range of volunteer opportunities—from mentoring youth and supporting seniors, to environmental stewardship, food security programs, arts and culture, and more.

This event is a chance for people of all ages and backgrounds to explore meaningful ways to contribute their time and talents. Whether someone has a few hours a month or wants a more regular commitment, we can all help our communities thrive.

The fair is free and open to the public, and will include:
• Informational tables featuring local organizations
• On-the-spot volunteer sign-ups
• Family-friendly activities
• Light refreshments

No prior experience is needed to participate in most volunteer roles. Community members are encouraged to bring friends, family, and anyone interested in learning more about how to make a positive impact locally.

For more information, please contact Maggie at maggiec@uwmcm.org or visit volunteer.uwmcm.org.

New England's largest walk-through light show. 1 mile trail, over 2 million lights and trees wrapped heights of over 90 feet.

Note: our schedule varies and does not operate daily. It is on our website. Thanks!

It's FREE skiing, snowboarding & tubing from 5pm-9pm sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank. Ski & board rentals are just $35+tax. There is no charge for tubes* The Café & The Last Run Pub will be open. * All tubers must sign a release form on our website ahead of time or pick up a waiver at the ticket window the evening of the event. Conditions may change so always check our website & Facebook page for the latest information regarding this event & the tubing park. See less

Join the Town of Freeport and project partners to learn about the future of Freeport’s Village Corridor, rooted in the community voices that built the Downtown Vision Plan! A vision for new housing, inviting public spaces, and transportation for all!
For more information about this project visit our website: freeportmaine.com/439

Mixed Level Belly Dance:

Authentic Belly Dance, or raks sharqi, is an ancient form of dance. Raks sharqi means “dance of the east” in Arabic. Belly dance celebrates every body type and every stage of life. The dance is proud and powerful and soft and sinewy with elegant and isolating movements emanating from the core. It’s the Pilates of dance. And so much fun! In this Mixed Level (Beginner through Intermediate/Advanced) class, we will work with improvisation and group choreography, as well as continually working with subtleties of technique at whatever level you are.

Please wear comfortable clothing, similar to what you might wear to a yoga class that will allow for free movement and the ability to see your movement. Hip scarves make it even more fun. You can dance barefoot or in a pair of comfortable dance shoes. Zils (finger cymbals) and veils will also be used in class and are available for purchase from the instructor.

Fall 2025 & Winter 2026 Session I (Beg/ML)

10-week Session: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 6-7:15pm
9-10 & 24, 10-8 & 22, 11-12, 12-10-25 & 1-14 & 28, 2-11 & 2-25-25
$150 per person for the 10-week session; $20 drop-in rate per class.

@ People Plus, 35 Union Street, Brunswick, ME

Register through Merrymeeting Adult Education for the current session.

We will deepen our connection to Mother Earth, the Divine Universe and our own unique divinity through movement meditation. Open to all levels and forms of dance practice. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a journal and a pen.

$60 per quarter (3 classes) or $25 drop in rate per class

We cover the basics of West Coast Swing dancing in the first class and expand on them in the intermediate class for those with some experience. It is a relaxed atmosphere with the emphasis on having fun. We encourage people to come with a partner however, singles are welcome.

Friends of Merrymeeting Bay’s (FOMB) fourth presentation of their 29th annual Winter Speaker Series: PFAS Distribution in Casco and Merrymeeting Bays features Chris Aeppli, environmental chemist and senior scientist, Bigelow Lab for Ocean Sciences. Winter Speaker Series presentations are held via Zoom and accessible via hyperlink at the top of the FOMB web page: www.fomb.org. This event takes place Wednesday, January 14th at 7 pm.

PFAS are a large group of emerging contaminants of national concern for ecosystem and human health. These persistent chemicals have multiple sources and primarily travel via groundwater and surface water, and, therefore, reach coastal ecosystems. The large number of PFAS compounds in the environment as well as the lack of detailed PFAS data in estuaries represents a major uncertainty about the scale and sources of the coastal PFAS problem. This project collected and shared data about the distribution, levels, and source contributions of PFAS in Casco Bay and its watershed including the Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers and Merrymeeting Bay. It includes bay-wide and lower watershed sampling, comprehensive PFAS analysis, assessment of source contributions (from facility effluent, stormwater, leachate from biosolid and firefighting foam impacted sites), and engagement with stakeholders and decision makers.

Christoph Aeppli is an environmental chemist and senior research scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine. He leads a research program in marine pollution and a testing center for "forever chemicals" (PFAS). Chris studies the fate of organic chemicals in aquatic environments, with a focus on PFAS and oil residues from marine oil spills. His current work includes tracing the sources and pathways of PFAS in coastal waters such as Casco and Merrymeeting Bays. Aeppli’s research investigates the physical and chemical processes that control how these contaminants move, change, and affect marine life.

FOMB hosts their Winter Speaker Series October-May, on the second Wednesday of each month. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic and ability for participants to attend from out of the area, the series continues via Zoom. The FOMB February 11th 2026 presentation, Quiet=Healthier: Addressing Community Noise features Jamie Banks, founder and president, Quiet Communities.

Speaker Series presentations are free, open to the public. Visit www.fomb.org to see speaker biographies, full event schedules, video recordings of past presentations, become a member, and learn more about how you can help protect beautiful Merrymeeting Bay and the Gulf of Maine.

For more information contact FOMB at 207-666-3372 or edfomb@comcast.net.

Bagaduce Music launches its new Second Wednesday House Concert Series—a monthly midweek music gathering combining the intimacy of a house concert with the energy of a community party. Featuring high-caliber local and regional musicians across genres, the series offers affordable, welcoming evenings of great music.

The kickoff concert features the Gawler Family Band, a beloved Maine-based fiddling family known for joyful Downeast dance tunes, rich vocal harmonies, and engaging storytelling. Rooted in the traditional music of Maine and the Northeast, their repertoire ranges from rollicking fiddle tunes and shanties to ballads, humorous songs, and a cappella harmonies.

The evening includes a free guided jam open to all from 5-6pm and dinner available on campus from Conscious Café from 6-7:30pm, and a 7:30 pm concert with The Gawler Family Band!