Bangor gets ready for winter festival

BANGOR – Weather or no, the frosty festivities of Winter Weekend in downtown Bangor will be at their icy best Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 12-15, to coincide with the first weekend of high school basketball tournaments at Bangor Auditorium.

Activities will be held throughout the city. Highlights of the weekend include:

. Bangor Symphony Orchestra Open House, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Feb. 12-13, 51A Main St. Features an instrument petting zoo, face painting, hot cider and cookies, and a concert ticket raffle.

. The Bangor Museum and Center for History “Maine Basketball Wall of Fame,” 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, 6 State St. The museum also continues through March with its “From Away: Exploring Bangor’s Cultural Heritage” exhibit.

. Banff Mountain Film Festival, 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, Bangor High School Peakes Auditorium. Advance tickets available at Epic Sports for $8, $9 at the door.

. Quilt Exhibit and Raffle, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Feb. 12-13; “The History of Quilting,” illustrated talk by Alex Turillo, noon-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, Hammond Street Senior Center, 2 Hammond St.

. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 12-15, Penobscot Theatre Company, Bangor Opera House. For ticket information, call 942-3333.

. Unveiling of the giant snowman, 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, by Whig and Courier Pub, West Market Square.

. Father-Daughter Valentine Dance, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, Bangor Civic Center.

. Chilifest, noon Saturday, Feb. 14, Whig and Courier Pub, West Market Square.

. Ice sculpture demonstration, noon Thursday, Feb. 14, by the Sea Dog Restaurant, Front Street. Hot chocolate and cookies.

. First-time ever sled dog race on the waterfront, 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. The event will benefit the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter.

. Maine Discovery Museum celebration of its third birthday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15. McFravis Family Fiddlers, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. Live sled dogs from Medford’s Ledge Farm Adventure Center, 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15.

. Frisbee golf, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; snowshoe romp, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, on the waterfront. Frisbees supplied by Epic Sports.

. Live music featuring guitarist and composer Jay Kaufman, 1-2:30 p.m. and 3-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, Haworth Academic Center, 60 Main St.. Also open stage. Those who wish to perform should call 990-3879 or arrive early to sign up.

. River City Cinema at Union Street Brick Church: “Nanook of the North” and “Ishmael,” 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15. Hot soup and bread at intermission. Tickets at the door, $12.

. “Expanding Universe: The Recent Paintings of Al Held” and “Prospect of Light: Images from Pinhole and Plastic Cameras,” 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, University of Maine Museum of Art, Norumbega Hall, 40 Harlow St. $3.

Snow sculptures also are on the agenda. Piles of snow will be available Feb. 11 at Hannibal Hamlin and Norumbega parks. Participants have until 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 13, to complete a snow sculpture.