NATURE THINKERS The Adams National Park hosts “John Quincy Adams, Alexander von Humboldt and Ansel Adams: the Phenomena of Nature.” Phyllis Levin, author of “The Remarkable Education of John Quincy Adams,” discusses how Adams informed the world of “the magnificent phenomena of physical nature.” Andrea Wulf, author of “The Invention of Nature” speaks on how Humboldt’s views influenced Darwin. And Mary Street Alinder speaks on her biography of nature photographer Ansel Adams.
Adams Carriage House, 135 Adams St., Quincy, Saturday, May 21, 1-6:30 p.m.; free, light refreshments.
CHAMBER TRIO The Candlelight Concert Series at Old Ship Church presents The Claremont Trio performing music for cello, piano, and violin.
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Old Ship Meeting House, 90 Main St., Hingham, Sunday, May 15, 4 p.m.; donation, www.oldshipchurch.org/candlelight-concerts.html.
CHORAL BENEFIT The Boston Saengerfest Men’s Chorus performs a pops style program of mixed musical genres including traditional folk, Broadway classics, and sea shanties to benefit the Cohasset Education Foundation.
Red Lion Inn, 71 South Main St., Sunday, May 15, 4-6 p.m.; $22, www.cohasseteducation.org.
CONCERTS The Parkway Concert Orchestra performs works by Beethoven (Fifth Symphony) and John Williams at St. Susanna Parish, 262 Needham St., Dedham, Sunday, May 15, 3 p.m. And First Congregational Church, 100 Winter St., Norwood, Sunday, May 22, 3 p.m.; www.parkwayconcertorchestra.org.
FOREST FEST The Pine Fest celebrates the pine barrens ecosystem of Myles Standish State Forest with games, local foods, local lore, and outdoor activities.
Charge Pond Campground, Carver, Saturday, May 21, 10-4; www.pinebarrensalliance.org.
SONG AND STORY Musicians and storytellers Kim and Reggie Harris combine traditional African-American spirituals and freedom songs with original folk compositions.
Universalist Unitarian Church’s Javawocky Coffeehouse, 325 West Elm St., Brockton, Saturday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.; $18, www.javawockyuu.com; also Sunday worship service, May 22, 10 a.m.
SHADOW DANCING Shadows and dance with animations combine to transform human bodies into dragons, castles, and animals in “Catapult: The Art of Shadow Dancing.”
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The Company Theatre for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell, Saturday, May 21, 3 and 8 p.m.; $38, www.companytheatre.com.
SPRINGTIME EXPO The Kingston Lions Club Expo has a new location at the Kingston Collection, at exit 8 off Route 3.
Sunday, May 22, 9-5, in front of the former Sears store.
WORLD WITHOUT US The History Book Group discusses “The World Without Us” by Alan Weisman. Open to new members.
Manomet Branch Library, 12 Strand Ave., Plymouth, Thursday, May 19, 4 p.m.; www.plymouthpubliclibrary.org.
GILDED MANSIONS Peter Gittleman of Historic New England presents a history of the 1878 William Ellery Channing Eustis Estate, one of the state’s oldest gilded mansions at the Milton Historical Society’s annual dinner.
Neighborhood Club of Quincy, 27 Glendale Road, Thursday, May 19, 6 p.m.; $50, $45 members, mail checks to 1370 Canton Ave., Milton, MA 02186.
DRUNKEN PIRATES In 1646 three shiploads of English privateers sailed into Plymouth harbor flush with Spanish gold and rich cargoes seized in the Caribbean. “They drank so much they behaved like madmen,” Governor William Bradford wrote. The New Plimmoth Gard, The Mayflower Society, and pirate reenactors relive this tumultuous encounter.
Plymouth Harbor and downtown; Saturday, May 21; www.newplimmothgard.org.
SUMMER FASHION The Hanover Garden Club hosts “Spring into Summer” with styles from Chico’s at Derby Street Shoppes.
The Elms Clubhouse, 68 American Elms Ave., Thursday, May 19, 1:30 p.m.; $20, www.hanovergardenclub.com/meetings-events.html.
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SAMARITANS FILM The documentary “Samaritans: You are Not Alone” focuses on the lifesaving suicide prevention work by Samaritans Inc.
Mill Wharf Cinemas, Scituate, Monday, May 16, 7:30 p.m.; free.
PASTEL WORKSHOP Pastel artist Gregory Maichack presents an adult hands-on workshop, “Pastel Paint Stunning Still Lifes Like the Masters.”
Rockland Memorial Library, 20 Belmont St., Monday, May 16, 6-8 p.m.; free, call 781-878-1236 to pre-register.
POPULAR PLANTS The Scituate Garden Club celebrates its 100th birthday with a sale of plants grown by club members, including flowering annuals and perennials, herbs, chard, and native heirloom plants.
Mann Farm House, corner of Stockbridge Road and Greenfield Lane, Saturday, May 21, 9-1.
Plant sales may be a growing trend. Holly Hill Farm holds an organic plant sale offering vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings.
236 Jerusalem Road, Cohasset, Saturday-Sunday, May 21-22, May 28-29, 10-4; friendsofhollyhillfarm@gmail.org.
TRADITIONAL IRISH Ceol Corvus, a trio of Boston-area musicians, play traditional Irish tunes and songs on a pleasing combination of instruments at Not Just Another Coffeehouse.
Sharon Unitarian Church, 4 North Main St., Saturday, May 21, 7 p.m.; $15.
MUSICAL BUFFET “Men Who Cook, Women Who Sing” includes a buffet of hearty hot appetizers and finger foods and an eclectic program of folk music, poetry, show tunes, and instrumental selections by area performers.
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Middleborough, 25 South Main St., Saturday, May 21, 6 p.m.; $25, $20 seniors, students.
PANTRY BENEFIT First Parish of Milton hosts a concert of selections from opera, operetta, and musical theater by 10 professional singers to benefit the Milton Food Pantry and Milton Residents Fund.
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535 Canton Ave., Saturday, May 21, 7 p.m.; freewill donation, www.miltoncommunityconcerts.com.
Send information about events at least two weeks in advance to Robert Knox at rc.knox2@gmail.com.