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Annual 3 Bands Concert

The University of Maine Concert Band, the Ellsworth High School Band, and Wagner Middle School Band will take center stage at the tenth annual 3 Bands Concert to benefit youth services at Acadia Hospital. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, Maine Center for the Arts, at the University of Maine.

The guest conductor is Maine native Linda J. Gammon. A graduate of Foxcroft Academy, Gammon received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in conducting from George Mason University.

Tickets are $6, $3 students with ID, those under 17 and seniors over age 62. Tickets are available at the door or by calling Eastern Maine Charities at 973-5055. Tickets also may be purchased online at www.acadiahospital.org.

The 3 Bands concert is sponsored by Affiliated Healthcare Systems, the Bangor Daily News, WZON/WKIT/WDME, WVII ABC 7, Bangor Savings Bank. The concert is offered in conjunction with the University of Maine School of Performing Arts.

Orrington

Maple Festival and Irish Celebration

The Curran Farm, 372 Fields Pond Road, will come to life with live Irish music, a maple sap-to-syrup-making demonstration and the taste of foods made from maple syrup using turn-of-the-20th-century recipes at its Maple Festival and Irish Celebration 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at the farm.

Richard Stockford, president of the Orrington Living History Farm and Museum board of directors, said Mainers need a party at the end of a long, cold winter when it’s time to harvest what may be Maine’s oldest crop – maple sap.

Under the direction of Bob Croce and Jill Martel, the sap-to-syrup demonstration will take place in the sugar shack around the wood stove used for boiling off the sap. It’s a favorite place to swap stories about the olden days, Stockford said. Visitors will have the opportunity to sample beans baked with maple syrup and Curran ginger ice cream.

Paul Shumaker will oversee the preparation of other tasty tidbits to be offered at the celebration, including Irish stew, biscuits, coleslaw, hot chocolate and coffee.

The event also features a sing-along with “The Late Edition,” a coloring contest, a clock demonstration by John Hannington of Orrington and storyteller Carroll Adams.

The cost of admission to the festival, which includes refreshments, for members is $5, $3 children; and for others, $7, $5 children.

Winterport

Open Stage auditions

Winterport Open Stage will hold auditions for the May production of “Parallel Lives: The Kathy & Mo Show,” a comedy by Kathy Najimy and Mo Gaffney, at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 21-22, or by appointment, at Wagner Middle School.

Guest director is Jeri Misler. There are roles for up to six women, age 17 and older. For information, contact Jeri Misler, 223-0917, or visit WinterportOpenStage.com.