FIVE FOR FIGHTING
An evening with Five For Fighting with String Quartet and special guest Lace & Lee is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Johnson Hall Opera House, 280 Water St., Gardiner.
John Ondrasik — the songwriter and performer known as the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, Five For Fighting— has both evolved and come back around full circle. To date, the band has released six studio LPs, including “America Town” and “The Battle for Everything,” and the top-10 charting “Two Lights,” along with an EP and live albums.
Tickets cost $50; johnsonhall.org.
NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY
The Waterville Opera House readies to host Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Waterville Opera House, 1 Common St., Waterville.
In the early 2000s, both Natalie and Donnell were busy raising their seven children (all world-class musical talents in their own right), running a fully operational farm, and building a thriving Farmers Market in Lakefield, Ontario — all while playing over 75 North American shows a year.
The couple has sold out over 1,000 shows in North America. In their combined careers, they have recorded with a star-studded list of collaborators including Yo-Yo Ma, Michael McDonald, Allison Krauss, Thomas Dolby, The Rankin Family, Rhiannon Giddens, Johnny Reid, Nickelback and more. Each has found time to tour and perform with some of the biggest names in music including The Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana, Don Henley, Béla Fleck and more. Natalie and Donnell keep up a tireless touring schedule and continue to build on their reputations as must-see live performers.
Tickets: $55-$65; operahouse.org.
FLOYDIAN TRIP
Don’t miss the Floydian Trip set for 8 p.m. Saturday at Waterville Opera House, 1 Common St., Waterville.
The ‘Echoes Through Time’ 2026 Tour brings the music of Pink Floyd to life in a high-energy journey through every era of the band’s history.
Tickets: $35-$45; operahouse.org.
GARLIC FESTIVAL
Maine’s Garlic Festival is set to return Saturday and Sunday at Lake George Regional Park off U.S. Route 2 in Canaan. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
The festival brings together approximately 50 vendors offering fresh local produce, artisan garlic specialties, and handmade arts and crafts. There will be local food trucks, craft beer, and live folk and Americana performances.
The event serves as an annual fundraiser for the park, supporting the upkeep, operations and community programming of the public space.
For more information visit the Maine’s Garlic Fest website.
MAINE CRAFT WEEKEND
The annual statewide tour of craft artist open studios and events returns Saturday and Sunday. From Kennebunkport to Greenville, nearly 100 crafts people and makers will showcase their work, welcome visitors, give demonstrations and show off their wares.
For more information and a map of participating makers, visit Maine Craft Weekend.
FRYEBURG FAIR
Fryeburg Fair 2026 is scheduled to return Oct. 4-11 at 1154 Main St. in Fryeburg; it’s Maine’s final agricultural fair of the year.
Don’t miss harness racing, horse pulls, livestock shows, Woodsmen’s Field Day, Firemen’s Muster, Grand Parade, midway rides, craft halls, fair food, beer tents, big-name music on the Main Stage and more.
Admission is $15 with discounts for children and seniors.
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