“Ice Harvesting & Celebration of Presidents Day 1870 at Norlands,”  Livermore

Feb. 20, Thursday, 5:30pm, “Jason Purdy,” internationally known magician and illusionist Jason Purdy is a natural-born performer. He craves the attention of his audience and once captured holds them hostage to their amazement. With Jason’s stunning flair for dramatics and the love of his art, Jason combines a spectacular blend of polished magic and illusions, witty comedy and toe-tapping music along with audience participation to create a memorable, magical entertainment experience! This is one show you are not going to want to miss, $5-$10, Sunday River Resort, 15 South Ridge Road, Newry. FMI: 800-543-2754, www.sundayriver.com.

Feb. 20, Thursday, 7pm, “A New Chapter in the History of the Maine Shakers,” a program about the Gorham and Poland Shakers. The speaker will be Br. Arnold Hadd of the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community. Public is invited. Refreshments served, free, New Gloucester Meetinghouse, 389 Intervale Road, New Gloucester. FMI: newgloucester.com.

Feb. 22, Saturday, 9am-3pm, “Winter Family Fun Day,” the ski and snowshoe trailer will be on site for free snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals. Activity line-up includes: A Food Truck will provide hot food from (11 pm-3pm), Mountain Safety Research – Snowshoes Demonstration (9am-3pm), LL Bean – Fat Bike Demonstration (9am-3pm) and winter pump track , Kids Snowshoe Story Trail (9am-3pm) (self-guided story walk), Winter Camping display in the field (9am-3pm), Ice climbing demo in the Quarry off of Switchback trail, Kids sliding hill (9am-3pm) Fastest Sliding Hill in the area!, Guided Snowshoe Hikes (10 am & 2pm) about an hour long each, A Fat Bike Adventure Race at 1pm, free with paid park admission, Bradbury Mountain State Park, 528 Hallowell Road, Pownal. FMI: 207-688-4712, maine.gov/bradburymountain.

Feb. 22, Saturday, 9am-4pm, “Wild Crafted Basketry,” in this hands-on workshop we will explore an introduction to traditional basket weaving techniques with round, wild harvested, flexible fibers. In the first hour or so of the workshop we will travel to local low-lying areas and cut our own materials for immediate wet-weave use upon returning to Fiber & Vine. TEACHER: REBECCA MAY VERRILL Instructor will provide some pre-harvested materials; however, the nature of this project is for the maker to establish a connection with their own materials. Wonderful organic variations in size, color, texture and form will occur! Students will be guided through an introduction to make a large flat bottomed basket. Depending on size and ease of use with the materials, each student should be able to complete the bulk of the basket (and the knowledge of how to complete it afterward if time doesn’t allow) within the workshop. Examples and stages of development, as well as different styles of baskets will be shared, as will many different resources to encourage and inspire future weaving projects. It is highly likely that participants will leave this workshop with a new way of seeing the landscape around them and never leave home without a pair of snippers in their backpack or glove box. What to Bring: We will be spending the first hour or so of class outside, harvesting materials, so please dress accordingly! Bring small, hand-held pruners or garden shears, gloves and waterproof boots. Feel free to bring other shoes to change into during class. Adequate hand strength, creative openness and a positive attitude are the only other requirements. For $20 a catered lunch by Cafe Nomad will be provided, payable on the day of class. This includes a sandwich, chips, pickle, sparkling water and a cookie. We will have a variety of beverages to choose from as well. Please specify your food preferences during the next step. $100. Fiber and Vine, 402 Main Street, Norway. FMI: 207-739-2664, fiberandvine.com.

Feb. 22, Saturday, 11am-4pm, “Ice Harvesting & Celebration of Presidents Day 1870 at Norlands,” This annual event is a belated celebration of President’s Day – 1870 style. A special tribute to America’s first president, George Washington, takes place at 1:30pm. Washington was born on February 22, 1732. Norlands’ interpreters Willi Irish and Beth Chamberlain, portraying the Washburn’s 19th-century neighbors, will bake a version of Martha Washington’s cake and pay tribute to President Washington with poems and songs at 1:30pm. Stop by for a slice of cake and participate in the celebration. In addition to the celebration, Norlands will host a traditional ice harvest. See traditional ice cutting demonstrations on Bartlett Pond, just down the hill from the Norlands. Stop by the pond on the way to or from Norlands. Help cut the ice into blocks, load them on to the horse-drawn wagon and then help to unload and pack the ice in the ice house, inside Norlands’ barn. Warm up in the Washburn kitchen with a cup of soup or hot chocolate. Guided tours of the 1867 Washburn family home will be offered every hour. Several family stories will be shared on the tour of this elegant home, especially stories about the family’s relationship with Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. The one-room schoolhouse will be open with a teacher ready to greet you, as if it’s 1853. The Washburn kitchen will be busy with a craft activity for all ages. Bring snowshoes and walk the historic carriage trail to the Pools of Simeon, reflecting pools designed in 1903 by the youngest Washburn brother, William Drew, $10/adults, $6/12 and under, free/5 and under, $25/family rate, Washburn-Norland Living History Center, 290 Norlands Road, Livermore. FMI: 207-897-4366, norlands.org.

Feb. 22, Saturday, 6:30pm, “The Hayloft at Dragonfly Barn presents Davy Sturtevant,” originally hailing from Erie, Pennsylvania, Davy Sturtevant is a veteran touring artist, producer, engineer, songwriter, and performer who now makes his home in the western foothills of Maine. Blessed with a gorgeous tenor voice and skilled on a range of instruments that come to life in his capable hands, Davy is at once a witty, thoughtful, and engaging stage presence and is a member of The Heather Pierson Trio. Lite refreshments provided, BYOB event, $20/advance, $25/general, The Hayloft at Dragonfly Barn, 95 Sanborns Grove Road, Bridgton. FMI: 207-749-6160, www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4466528?ref=349591.

Feb. 25, Tuesday, 8pm, “Mardi Gras with the Heather Pierson Band,” Heather Pierson and her band-Davy Sturtevant, strings/cornet; Shawn Nadeau, upright and electric basses; Craig Bryan, drums and percussion; joined by special guests Mike Sakash on reeds and George Wiese on trombone-will bring the sounds of New Orleans to life in a very special show at SMAC, credit cards not accepted on site, $30 pp $5/handling fee, Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dugway Road, Brownfield. FMI: 207-935-7292, stonemountainartscenter.com.