CALENDAR

AUGUST 3 FRIDAY

Visit with a local pony and enjoy a ponythemed story and craft at 11 a.m. on the lawn at Memorial Hall, Townsend. For information, call the Townsend Public Library at (978) 597-1714.

An Open House will be held at 1 p.m. at Applewild School, 120 Prospect St., Fitchburg. Information and tours of the school will be available as well as entertainment and performances by summer camp participants. For information, call (978) 342- 6053, Ext. 110.

The 10-year-old Ashburnham All Star Jimmy Fund Team will be collecting money for the Jimmy Fund from 5 to 7 p.m. outside the Ashburnham American Legion, on Williams Road, during the First Friday of the Month Fish Fry. Proceeds to benefit the Jimmy Fund.

4 SATURDAY

The 10-year-old Ashburnham All Star Jimmy Fund Team will host a car wash from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at South Station (the fire station located on South Main Street). Proceeds to benefit the Jimmy Fund.

The Annual Massachusetts State Chili Cook-Off will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bentley Field, Winchendon. Music, concessions, contests and more will be featured. For information, call (978) 297- 1815.

Sterling Gymnastics, 15 Industrial Road, Sterling will host a Cartwheel-A-Thon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in honor of National Gymnastics Day. This fund-raising event is part of the Tyson Fitness Challenge and will benefit the Children's Miracle Network, the alliance of premier hospitals for children. All boys and girls ages 18 and under are invited to register by Aug.1, with prizes to be awarded to all participants, as well as grand prizes to the top cartwheeler in each age division. Pledge sheets and information are available at Sterling Gymnastics or by calling (978) 422-7655.

Enjoy juggling, balloon twisting and magic with Flippo the Jugglin' Clown at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Davis' Farmland, 145 Redstone Hill Road, Sterling. For information, call (978) 422-MOOO.

Miss Emma's Tea will host a Royal Princess Gala, featuring Cinderella, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Best Western Royal Plaza,

Fitchburg. Tea sandwiches, fruit, and tiara cookies will be served, along with musical games, dancing, picture opportunities with Cinderella, and Princess Favors. For ages 3 and up. Tickets are $17.50. For information, or to make reservations, call Debbie at (978) 537-6945.

The Heywood Centennial Celebration, an event with music, children's activities, and fireworks, will be held from 5 to 9:45 p.m. at Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. Held in conjunction with Heywood Hospital, the city of Gardner, and the college. For information, call the Office of Community Relations and Development at (978) 630-6248. Rain date is Aug. 5.

5 SUNDAY

Enjoy juggling, balloon twisting and magic with Flippo the Jugglin' Clown at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Davis' Farmland, 145 Redstone Hill Road, Sterling. For information, call (978) 422-MOOO.

The Nashua River Valley Folk Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard. The Lancaster Coffeehouse presents a day-long celebration of folk music, with Arlo Guthrie as the featured performer. Tickets are $45 in advance; $50 day of show for adults; $15 for children (10 and under are free). For information, call (978) 365-2043.

A Family Workshop "Painting Without Brushes" - with Mary Durkee - will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Fitchburg Art Museum, Merriam Parkway. Create bold and exciting paintings without the use of paintbrushes. Don't forget to dress for the mess for this fun-filled and oh-so-colorful class. Sponsored by TDBanknorth; free at 6:30 p.m. in The Great Hall of Memorial Hall, Townsend. For students ages 8 and up. For information, call the Townsend Public Library at (978) 597-1714.

Do you sing, dance, write or just like telling jokes? If you answered "yes" to any of these talents, then join the Open Mic Variety Show at 7 p.m. at the Leominster Public Library. 30 West St. For children in grades 2 through 6. Sponsored by the Friends of the Leominster Public Library. For information, or to register, call (978) 534-7522.

Fitchburg Pride to host Riverfront Park movie night Friday Night Movies presents "Flushed Away" at dusk, Friday, Aug. 3, at Riverfront Park, Fitchburg. Sonic DJ will entertain moviegoers beforehand with fun, games and raffles at 7 p.m. The Fitchburg Pride will be giving away passes to various local attractions. The Pride will also have an MVP of the Week booth set up for any athlete wanting to be nominated for the honor. At dusk, the movie screen will come down, the popcorn and blankets will come out, and families will settle down to view the movie, full of humor that the whole family can enjoy, giving new meaning to the expression "toilet humor." This family-oriented night of fun and activities is part of the Riverfront Park Free Friday Night Movies series. Rated PG; 90 minutes. The Free Friday Night Movies series runs every Friday through Aug. 17 at Riverfront Park, and is put on by the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority. In the event of inclement weather, the movies will be shown inside at the Fitchburg Public Library. For more information, visit www.discoverfitchburg.com.

The Narragansett Community Band will perform at 3 p.m. at the bandstand on the Templeton Common. Bring your favorite canine and join in the annual Pooch Parade.

Dance2Swing Studios presents DJ Alan- Hep2theJive Vintage Swing Mix at 7 p.m. at the Leominster Lodge of Elks, 134 North Main St. A beginner friendly group swing dance lesson will be held at 6 p.m. Admission is $10. For information, visit www.dance2swing.com

6 MONDAY

Movies at Forbush will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. The PG movie to be shown is for children ages 11 and up. For information, call (978) 874-7416.

7 TUESDAY

A craft fair and art exhibit/sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fitchburg Senior Center, O'Neill Hall, 14 Wallace Ave. Area artists are encouraged to participate. For more information, call (978) 345-9598.

8 WEDNESDAY

The Fitchburg Youth Library, 610 Main St., will host the Central Massachusetts Repertory Theater for a performance of "The Dueling Storytellers" at 10 a.m. This is an interactive fun filled show where Aesop meets the Brothers Grimm and they challenge each other to see who tells the best stories. The theater troupe performed July 25 at the Fitchburg Public Library and the audience met Aesop. This show contains new and different fables from Aesop and stories from the Grimm Brothers. This program is free and open ages 4 and up. For information, call (978) 345-9637.

Prospective students are welcome to attend the Graduate and Continuing Education Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. to find out more about programs at Fitchburg State College. The event will be held in the Center for Professional Studies Conference Room at McKay Campus School. For more information, contact the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education at (978) 665-3842, or e-mail Kelly Norris at knorris@fsc.edu. To register online, visit web.fsc.edu/gce/openhouse.

Join the Leominster Public Library and its neighbors from the Pilgrim Congregational Church at 6:30 p.m. for a chance to see a hot air balloon up close. Children ages 4 through 12 will have the opportunity to go inside the balloon's basket and learn how hot air balloons work. The balloon will be tethered to the ground and will not go up in the air. Registration required. For location information, call (978) 534-7522. Sponsored by the Pilgrim Congregational Church and the Friends of the Leominster Public Library.

The Ashby Band, under the musical direction of Robert Healy, will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Ashby Common. Refreshments provided.

9 THURSDAY

The New England Aquarium will present live moon jellies at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Leominster Public Library, 30 West St. See these amazing underwater creatures up close as you learn about the many colors, shapes and sizes of jellies. For children in grades kindergarten through 6. Registration required. For information, or to register, call (978) 534-7522. Sponsored by the Friends of the Leominster Public Library.

Learn how to make to make a bouquet of paper flowers at 6:30 p.m. in Room 2 of Memorial Hall, Townsend. For students ages 7 and up. For information, call the Townsend Public Library at (978) 597-1714.

A Paper Airplane Workshop will be held at 6:30 p.m. in The Great Hall of Memorial Hall, Townsend. For students ages 8 and up. For information, call the Townsend Public Library at (978) 597-1714.

10 FRIDAY

Friday Night Movies presents "Happy Feet" at dusk at Riverfront Park, Fitchburg. Rated PG; 108 minutes. Sonic DJ will entertain moviegoers beforehand with fun and games at 7 p.m. Free. Visit www.discoverfitchburg.com

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" will be performed at 8 p.m. at Theatre at the Mount, Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. For tickets and information, call (978) 632-2403.

11 SATURDAY

The Ashburnham Firefighter's Association will host its first Scrap Metal Drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ashburnham Highway Department, 19 Central St. For detailed information, or to make a reservation for pick up, call (978) 827- 4021, Ext. 225.

RiverJam 2007 presents Folk By Association from 2 to 4 p.m. at Riverfront Park, Fitchburg. Harmony-driven female duo performing originals and eclectic covers on guitar and mandolin. In case of rain, all concerts will be held at the Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St. Visit www.discoverfitchburg.com

A Hoedown will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. at the 4-H Camp Middlesex, 1031 Erickson Road, Ashby. The event will feature live bluegrass music by Boston Road, food, contests, games, races, animals, face painting, and a best costume contest. For admission information, or to purchase tickets, call (978) 386-7704. All proceeds go to the Camp Pool Fund.