Thursday, Aug. 9

Fri. & Sat., Aug. 10 & 11

•Thrift Shop run by the Women’s Alliance, Fri., 4:30-6:30 p.m. and Sat., 9 a.m.-12 noon; Federated Church, Rte. 100, Rochester.

Saturday, Aug. 11

•Randolph Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Central Street, next to OSSU office.

•Rochester Farmers Market, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., southwest corner of the Rochester park, Rte. 100.

•Randolph Rotary Art Auction, with art in all media and price ranges, from originals to prints, supplied by Marlin Art; complimentary wine and cheese, plus cash bar; all proceeds go to needy people and organizations in local communities and to targeted international relief efforts; 7 p.m., Morey Hall, Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center. For tickets call Brent Kay at 728-5052 or Arny Spahn at 728-4799.

•Hancock Vol. Fire Dept. Auction fundraiser, begins 9 a.m., rain or shine, north end of Vt. Plywood mill, Rte. 100, Hancock.

•Silent Auction, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Brookfield Town Hall, Winners announced at 8 p.m.

•Pig Roast and Raspberry Festival with all the trimmings, sponsored by Mystic Star Phoenix Lodge #97 and Beulah Chapter #15, seatings at 5, 6:15 & 7 p.m., Masonic Temple, Brookfield. Reservations: 728-5696 or 728-5225.

•Stargazing Evening and Ice Cream Social, see the Perseid meteor showers, bring a friend and an instrument if you wish, 7-10 p.m., Four Springs Farm, Royalton. Free admission. Call Janet at 802-296-7241, ext. 113 for directions.

•23^rd Annual "Sheep Herding with Border Collies," featuring Border Collie programs and family centered activities about sheep and wool, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Billings Farm & Museum, Rte. 12, Woodstock. Info: 457-2355.

•Bean Hole Beans will be featured at the chicken barbecue, along with homemade pies and music by the Lyme Town Band, 5 p.m., Post Mills Church, Rte. 244, Thetford.

Sunday, Aug. 12

•Third annual Firecracker Circuit Horse Show, 9 a.m., Mid-State Riding Club grounds, Rte. 12 N, Randolph. Info: 276-3385.

•Josh Landis, a professor of Near East Studies, speaks on "Syria: Update 2007," 3 p.m., Rochester Public Library, Main St., Rochester. Free.

•"Civil War Sites in Vermont," a talk by Howard Coffin, a Vermont Humanities Council event hosted by the Strafford Historical Society, 2 p.m., Strafford Town House.

Wednesday, Aug. 15

•Bingo Night, 6:30 p.m., Old Town Hall, Brookfield. Proceeds benefit town hall restoration.

•Fantasy novelist Beth Hilgartner talks about her work, 6:30 p.m., Aldrich Public Library, Barre.

Wed.-Fri., Aug. 15-17

•Circus Smirkus, Vermont’s award-winning international youth circus, celebrates its 20^th Anniversary 2007 Big Top Tour with "The Zoot Suit Caper: A Boogie Woogie Whodunit;" Wed., 2 & 7 p.m.; Thurs., 11 a.m.; and Fri., 2 & 7 p.m., under the big top beside Montpelier High School, Montpelier. Tickets: at the door and by calling 1-877-SMIRKUS. On-site box office opens one hour before show time. Advance purchase recommended.

Thursday, Aug. 16

•"Rock Snot" education event, hosted by the White River Partnership (WRP), 5:30 p.m., at the mouth of Stony Brook in Stockbridge; see "rock snot" in the river and learn more about how to stop it from spreading; free and open to public, followed by a barbecue dinner at the Peavine Restaurant to raise money for WRP didymo education program.

Fri. & Sat., Aug. 17 & 18

•"All you can eat" spaghetti buffet or meatball subs, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. United Church vestry, Center Rd., Cornish, N.H. Info: 60-3-542-8546.

Saturday, Aug. 18

•Randolph Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Central Street, next to OSSU office.

•Rochester Farmers Market, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., southwest corner of the Rochester park, Rte. 100.

Sunday, Aug. 19

•World renowned bird carver Floyd Scholz gives a behind the scenes look at his new book, "the Golden Eagles;" 3 p.m., Rochester Public Library, Main St., Rochester.