Performances by comedian Paula Poundstone and country star Jo Dee Messina will headline Women’s Week in and around Bangor.

Touted as Bangor’s biggest-ever celebration of women, the festivities are aimed at helping women “stay amazing.” To that end, events are planned from Nov. 1-14 to strengthen and stimulate body and mind.

Sen. Susan Collins will be the keynote speaker at a “Women in Small Business” conference from 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 8, at the Husson Center for Family Business.

Authors Tess Gerritsen, Kate Flora and Kathy Emerson will be “Sisters in Crime” during a workshop from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at the Bangor Public Library.

EMMC and Bangor-Brewer YWCA will hold a series of free fitness classes and wellness workshops as well as a health fair, which is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Nov. 2-4. The fair will include blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, flu and pneumonia shots ($5 each), bone density assessments, exercise recommendations, relaxationa and stress management techniques, facials, massages, makeup tips, manicures and pedicures. All will take place at the YWCA, 17 Second St., Bangor.

Poundstone will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono. Tickets are $13-$15 and are available now by calling 581-1755 or (800) MCA-TIXX. Messina will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at the Bangor Auditorium. Jenny Paquette will open the show. Tickets are $18.50-$30 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Bass Park box office, or by calling 990-4444 or 775-3331.

Most events are free; all are open to the public. For a full list of events, call 989-9444, visit www.stayamazing.org and watch WLBZ-2 for updates.

Women’s week is sponsored by Eastern Maine Healthcare, WLBZ-2 and Bangor-Brewer YWCA.