With gas being the lowest we’ve seen in years and it being peak foliage season, you’d be seriously missing out if you don’t take a road trip these next two weekends. But try to make it back for Saturday’s events and come back for Sunday’s vampire weekend. (No, not the band)

Want to know where to go for happy hour every day of the week? Check out our Guide To Midcoast’s Happy Hours.

Thursday, Oct. 16

· As always, the Open Mic at The Highlands Coffee House promises some great talent in the Midcoast and beyond! Drink and food specials. Sign up is at 6 p.m. and goes from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

· One of the nicest authors I’ve ever met, Tess Gerritsen, will be at the Vose Library in Union for the Soup and Suspense mystery author program. She will read from and talk about the latest book in her Rizzoli and Isles mystery series, Die Again, coming in December, and answer questions from the audience. There’s an $8 suggested donation that supports the library and you also get homemade soup! Starts at 7 p.m. For more information, call Vose Library at 785-4733.

· Ever hear of the Wailin’ Jennys? New York-based singer-songwriter Heather Masse, a member of the Canadian trio The Wailin' Jennys, will perform solo on the Strand Theatre stage at 7:30 p.m. She has appeared regularly on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" and has also performed with the bluegrass band the Wayfaring Strangers on NPR's "World Cafe," and at Boston's Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Tickets are $20 for general admission. To purchase tickets, visit rocklandstrand.com, stop by the box office, or call 594-0070, ext. 3.

Friday Oct. 17

· If you are one of those adults who gets as psyched for Halloween as other people get for Christmas, Fright at The Fort’s “What’s Bugging You” kicks off tonight! Visitors are led through the dark passageways of Fort Knox where indescribable things lurk in the shadows, creating screams of fright. Admission is $10 per person ($5 for those 12 and under) Additional information on Fright at the Fort 2013, may be found on the fortknox.maineguide.com The haunted fort tour goes all weekend, next weekend and the bonus Friday night (Halloween) on the 31st. Pro-tip: Don’t arrive any later than 8:30 p.m. and buy your tickets online to avoid the long lines.

· New! The 10th annual Belfast Poetry Festival is taking place Friday and Saturday all around Belfast  and everything’s free, except the workshops. To find out the lowdown on individual events go to: www.belfastpoetry.com

· New! The fifth and final Twin Villages (Damariscotta/Newcastle) Artwalk is taking place tonight at 4-7 p.m. And hey if the rain is still lingering, a free trolley loops through the Artwalk area, allowing riders to hop on and off. Cheap Date!

Saturday Oct. 18

· Another brewery in Midcoast? Yaaaasssss! Liberty Craft Brewing is having a Grand Opening from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., 7 Coon Mountain, Liberty. Taste the Queen Bee Honey Lager or Haystack Extra Pale Ale while you look over the Camden Hills, then buy a growler or six-pack for home. FMI: 322-7663.

· New!  Rockland is hosting an Open Studio tour in the South End. Thirteen (oooo) artists will open their studios and welcome visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info on where to find the studios visit: Studio Tour.

· New! Beer lovers, this is your weekend! Marshall Wharf’s 7th year of Mussels and Beer is happening tonight from 5-11 p.m. And the Toughcats are playing–whoo! Free in-town shuttles. $30 admission/$10 non-beer drinkers. Food trucks will also be on hand if you don’t get enough of the Pemaquid mussels and yummy frites!

· If you like the blues, Raised By Wolves will be playing at The Speakeasy from 8 p.m.-midnight, with only a $5 cover which is waived when you dine at the Chowder House.

Sunday, Oct. 19

· New! Cappy’s Chowder House is hosting its restaurant for The Jim Laurita Fund. All proceeds from diners’ sales will be donated to the Laurita Fund.

· The Strand Theatre is hosting Vampires of New England at 7 p.m. OK, I just finished watching the original Nosferatu (1922) an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, and apparently there was quite a bit of copyright drama around what is considered the first original horror movie and the estate of Bram Stoker. Copresented by Historical Haunts, the evening includes a screening of The Tillinghast Nightmare vampire documentary by Rhode Island Director Alec Asten, and presentation from guest speaker, Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker. The Tillinghast Nightmare explores the facts and folklore of vampire exorcism in New England in an effort to shed light on this gruesome practice. Tickets $15/General Admission.

If you have an arts and entertainment event that fits within the adult scope of fun and cool things to do for Weekend Picks, contact Kay Stephens at news@penbaypilot.com