Good morning, Portland.

On Saturday, Kids Con New England held an event at the South Portland DoubleTree where kids met TV characters like Pikachu, Mickey Mouse and Dr. Who.

The sixth-year event featured magic shows, Jedi training and storytelling — it drew nearly 1000 attendees and offered workshops to spark young imaginations.

Maine restaurant owners say high housing costs make it hard to hire workers because many cannot find affordable homes—forcing some restaurants to cut hours or close.

Economic experts warn the trend could continue as rising rents limit staffing and growth in the hospitality industry.

The Portland Dirt is a year-old handcrafted art newspaper that is distributed in local shops by editors G Ferragamo-Gilbert and Benjamine Sapp.

The zine is made by cutting and pasting articles and is tied in red twine, and its seventh issue, dedicated to the Portland Poets Society, has drawn about 70 submissions.

On Saturday, two concerts are set in Portland—The Crane Wives perform at the State Theatre at 609 Congress St. at 7:30 p.m. with tickets costing $28 in advance and $35 at the door—while The Wailin’ Jennys play at Merrill Auditorium at 20 Myrtle St. with tickets from $98 to $132 and a 50% discount for Maine educators to benefit Lives in the Balance.

Portland held an event on World Day of Remembrance to honor road traffic victims and call for stronger safety policies—429 white flags marked crashes and lives lost, and community members gathered near the India and Fore Street intersection to remember Joe Lewis, who died in January. Officials said the event supports the Vision Zero plan to make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Maine public health officials said that this flu season could be more severe because the vaccine may not match the H3N2 strain—raising concerns about severe illness—and urged everyone to get vaccinated.

Clinics and pharmacies offer both flu and COVID-19 shots and advise staying home when sick and practicing good hand hygiene.

Tyler Huck scored twice on Sunday as Bowdoin beat UMass Boston 3-2 in Brunswick—advancing the Polar Bears into the NCAA Division III tournament third round; they will face NESCAC rival Connecticut College next after their 1-1 tie on Sept.

13.

In Cambridge, MIT defeated Colby 1-0 in the NCAA Division III women’s soccer second-round game on Sunday when Natalie Barnouw scored a penalty kick in the 25th minute.

Colby ended its season at 11-5-3 while MIT posted a 22-2-1 record and held slight advantages in shots on goal—5 to 4—and in corner kicks—5 to 3.

Maine’s winter sports teams are offering a range of family-friendly events this season—Portland’s Mariners will host a teddy bear toss on Dec.

6 and the Celtics will hold autograph sessions on Dec. 14 while teams in Lewiston, Auburn, and Biddeford plan games with giveaways and meet-and-greet sessions in the coming weeks.

Maine men’s basketball coach Chris Markwood said the team is learning to play better after a 70-64 loss to Quinnipiac on Sunday as 11 newcomers work to find their roles.

The Black Bears played strong defense but had trouble scoring and will work on rebounds and turnovers — key to boosting their play before America East games begin in January.

Bess Jacques & The Strays Live Performance

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Blue Portland Maine — Check for tickets — Experience an eclectic mix of jazz, Americana, and more with lush vocal ballads and vibrant tunes.

2025 The Polar Express Train Ride

4 PM — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — Standard pricing — Experience a magical journey to the North Pole on a festive train ride with storytelling and treats.

The Polar Express Train Ride

4 PM — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — Standard Pricing — Experience a magical train journey to the North Pole with hot chocolate, cookies, and a visit from Santa.

Maine Mariners vs Norfolk Admirals

3:00-4:30 p.m. — Cross Insurance Arena — $10 tickets — Enjoy an exciting hockey game with fun activities for all ages.

PMP Certification 4-Day Classroom Training

9 a.m.–5 p.m. — Portland Maine — $1599 — Comprehensive PMP certification training offering real-world examples and lifetime access to recordings.

Thanksgiving Celebration at Westin Portland Harborview

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — The Westin Portland Harborview — No refunds — Celebrate Thanksgiving with a festive buffet of holiday favorites and desserts.

Disney On Ice: Road Trip Adventures

12:00 – 1:30 PM — Cross Insurance Arena — Ticket prices vary — Embark on a magical journey with beloved Disney characters in an ice show extravaganza.

2025 The Polar Express Train Ride

2:45 p.m. — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — Non-refundable tickets available — Experience a magical ride to the North Pole with hot chocolate, cookies, and holiday cheer.

Tom Rush Concert

8-11 p.m. — One Longfellow Square — Ticket prices vary — Experience the legendary sounds of Tom Rush, a pioneer of American folk music.

Jim Gaffigan - Everything is Wonderful Tour

7-9 p.m. — Cross Insurance Arena — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a night of laughter with Grammy-nominated comedian Jim Gaffigan as he brings his unique observations on life to Portland.