“Barbecue and Blues” is the theme for this year’s Kermess, the annual fundraising party to support the mission of Lincoln County Historical Association. The July 22 event on the grounds of the handsome pre-Revolutionary Pownalborough Court House in Dresden includes dinner, an auction, and toe-tapping entertainment by Maine’s energetic blues band Matt and the Barnburners, starting at 5 p.m.

The Old Bristol Historical Society will be kicking off its summer talk series Sunday, June 24, at 7 p.m. at the Bristol Mills Congregational Church, with a slide show presentation of images taken from the society’s archives. Titled “Down Memory Lane,” the show will be hosted by co-presidents Belinda Osier and Chuck Rand, and will include historical images of people, activities, and of each of Bristol’s villages.

The Bunker Hill community’s 50th annual Strawberry Festival will take place Sunday, July 1 from 4-6 p.m. There will be strawberry shortcake with homemade biscuits, real whipped cream, and Round Top vanilla ice cream. That is how the Bunker Hill community has made its delicious strawberry shortcakes and sundaes for the past 50 years. Members of the public are invited to come and help celebrate the golden anniversary of this event.

The Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick and its sister shelter, Lincoln County Animal Shelter, in Edgecomb, are welcoming more than 50 puppies and dogs from an overcrowded facility in Lucedale, Miss., where the stray dog population vastly outnumbers potential adopters.

Friday, July 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. is when the Boothbay Region Garden Club Home and Garden Tour will take place. One can take in the peaceful surroundings of the grounds of Cape Newagen Alpaca Farm and garden and stop in at the shop to view or purchase some of the lovely items handspun from alpaca fleece.

Budding wine enthusiasts interested in learning more and expanding their wine IQ will likely want to come on Thursday, June 7 from 5-7 p.m. for a fun and informative wine-tasting event at Rising Tide Community Market in Damariscotta. At the end of the event, a bottle of wine will be raffled for one lucky attendee.

Members of the public are invited to join Dr. Heather Leslie, director of the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center, on Saturday, June 16 at 10 a.m. for Coffee with the Director, featuring coffee and a chat about the past, present, and future of Maine’s oyster industry.