Friday, May 16

Benefit concert for Newtown Youth Services, 7:30–10:30 pm, Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room, 45 Main Street, donation $8, performance by Hat City Blues Band (classic rock) with proceeds to NYS, refreshments available, raffles; 270-9335, 270-9357.

Saturday, May 17

ARMED FORCES DAY

Craft Fair & Tag Sale, 9 am-3 pm, Newtown VFW Post 308, Tinkerfield Road, organized by members of Newtown VFW Post 308 Ladies Auxiliary (tables available); 270-7939, 267-1299.

Barn Crafts & Perennial Plants on Main Street, 10 am-3 pm, 51 and 59 Main Street, local artists and gardeners will be offering antique pins, Americana, wooden bowls and boxes, decoratives, fresh baked goods, perennials and more.

Annual Jolly Green Giant Fair, begins 11 am rain or shine, Sandy Hook School, 12 Dickinson Drive, free admission, silent auction, cake walk, games, refreshments.

Annual Flagpole Photographers Spring Show, 12-5 pm, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, free, annual exhibition of works by local photographers’ club will continue to May 18; 364-1719.

Book Signing, 1-4 pm, McLaughlin Vineyards, Alberts Hill Road, Newtown resident and author Brendan Carsen will be on hand to sign copies of his new release, The Boatman Gang; 426-1533.

2nd Annual Armed Forces Day Tribute, 6:30-10:30 pm, Edmond Town Hall gymnasium, 45 Main Street, admission $5/advance, $7/door, performances (and dancing encouraged) by The Church Hill Boys, The ShoreGrass Band and The Heartstone Gospel Singers, refreshments, door prizes, soft-soled shoes required for dancers; 267-5445.

Connecticut Master Chorale & Orchestra Spring Concert, 8 pm, St Rose of Lima, 46 Church Hill Road, tickets $15/advance, $18/door, performance of Handel’s Judas Maccabæus with guest soloists, also Joseph Jacovino on organ; 743-0473.

Sunday, May 18

2003 Housatonic Valley Classic & Saturn Women’s Classic, women’s race reaches Main Street approximately 12:40 pm, men’s race approximately 1:55 pm, three-day professional bicycle race concludes with 61- (women) and 101-mile (men) courses that include Currituck Road, Main Street, Sugar Street, Boggs Hill Road, Palestine, Hundred Acres, Platts Hill, Brushy Hill, Castle Meadow, Hattertown, onto Poverty Hollow Road and into Redding before concluding in Danbury.

Floral Showcase, 1 pm, The Homesteads at Newtown, 166 Mt Pleasant Road, free public program with arrangements by local florists, live music by The Notables, and refreshments; 426-8118.

Annual Flagpole Photographers Spring Show, 1–4 pm, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, free, annual exhibition of works by local photographers’ club; 364-1719.

Family Barn Dance, 3-5 pm, Dodgingtown Firehouse, Route 302 at Jacklin Road, admission $6 adults, $3 ages 11 and under, live calling and music by Patricia Campbell and The Reel Thing, all dances taught and called, all ages welcome.

“Travels from Maine to Portugal” opening reception, 3-6 pm, Grey Horse Gallery, 3 Washington Avenue, opening for new exhibition of 60-plus works by Newtown artist Dick McEvoy, show continues to June 21; 270-1199.

Monday, May 19

Commission on Aging, 5 pm, Multipurpose Building, Riverside Road.

Board of Fire Commissioners, 7:30 pm, Dodgingtown Firehouse, Dodgingtown Road.

Board of Selectmen, 7:30 pm, Booth Library, 25 Main Street.

Newtown Pension Committee, 7:30 pm, Town Hall South, 3 Main Street.

NMS 7th Grade Spring Concert, 7:30 pm, at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road.

Public Schools Climate Control Committee, 7:30 pm, Canaan House, Fairfield Hills.

Tuesday, May 20

Newtown Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5:30-7:30 pm, The Inn at Newtown, 19 Main Street, nonmembers welcome ($10), networking and refreshments; 426-2695.

Economic Development Commission, 7:30 pm, Multipurpose Building, Riverside Road.

Town Meeting, 7:30 pm, Newtown High School auditorium, 12 Berkshire Road, third budget proposal drafted by Legislative Council for 2003-04 will be considered.

NMS 8th Grade Spring Concert, 7:30 pm, at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road.

Newtown Friends of Music Annual Meeting, 7:30 pm, Edmond Town Hall’s old courtroom, 45 Main Street, all holders of season tickets and board members invited; 426-6470.

Wednesday, May 21

Housatonic Valley Paddlers Club meeting, 7 pm, Newtown CL&P Service Center, Barnabas Road, newcomers welcome, planning session for upcoming trips and get-togethers; 203-263-3281.

Thursday, May 22

Newtown Forest Association Annual Meeting, 7:30 pm, The Inn at Newtown, 19 Main Street, business meeting will be followed by presentation by on invasive plants by Bryan Connolly, survey coordinator for IPANE, reservations requested; 426-9902.

Saturday, May 24

Memorial Weekend Salute The Troops Ceremony, 10 am rain or shine, VFW Post 308, 18 Tinkerfield Road, military fly-over will coincide with guest speakers and ceremony to honor Connecticut soldiers who have served or have served in recent Iraq conflict, also to honor those who have died defending America in any way, presentation of wreaths for war monuments; 426-8563.

Third Annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race & Festival, 10 am-3 pm, Sandy Hook Center, annual duck race by Newtown Lions Club takes place at 2 (tickets $5), festival offers live music performances, magic shows, face painting, booths by civic organizations, tag sale, karate demos, visits by Governor’s Horse Guard, more; 426-8971, 426-4529.

Newtown Craft Fair, 10 am-5 pm rain or shine, Canaan House, off Mile Hill Road, free admission, juried event will feature 30+ crafters from throughout New England with all original work in myriad mediums, refreshments also available; 426-2122.

Sunday, May 25

Open House & Demonstration at Matthew Curtiss House, 1-4 pm, 44 Main Street, free, demonstrations in art of shoemaking by Greg Geiger, also tours of home that serves as headquarters for Newtown Historical Society; 426-5937.