Patuxent High School will present its Pre-Festival Concert today featuring the school’s Wind Ensemble and the bands from Mill Creek and Southern Middle Schools. The event is free and open to the public. Contact the Band Office at 410-535-7806 for more information.

LHS Band Dinner & Auction

The Leonardtown High School Band Dinner and Silent Auction will be Saturday, 6 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and tickets are $10 per person. Contact Band Director J.C. Guy at 301-475-0200 for more information.

Animal Welfare Events

The St. Mary’s Animal Welfare League will hold an adoption event March 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Petco in California, Md. For more information about SMAWL events, call 410-474-2958.

BECA Scholarship Dinner

The St. Mary’s County Business, Education and Community Alliance will hold its Annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner tomorrow, 6-9 p.m. at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. It will also include both a silent and live auction. Cost is $30 per person. Call 301-475-2068 for more information.

Hospice Bereavement Programs

Calvert Hospice is offering three bereavement programs. ‘‘Bridges” is an eight-week program, March 16-May 6, designed to address the needs of families grieving the loss of a loved one. It will be Thursday evenings, 7-8:30 p.m. at Trinity Methodist Church in Prince Frederick. ‘‘Time to Heal — Death of a Parent” is a series of specialized support groups for adults. They are Tuesdays through April 27, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Calvert Hospice office in Prince Frederick. ‘‘Time to Heal — Death of a Spouse” is Tuesdays, through May 4, 1-2:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church. Call 410-535-0892 for more information or to register for any of the programs.

Traditional Music and Dance

The Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance Association will sponsor a Contra Dance Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Chaptico. Admission is $6 for members, $8 for non-members. An ice cream social will follow the dance.

Meet Marie Antoinette

Christine Trent, author of The Queen’s Dollmaker and other historical fiction, will present the life of Marie Antoinette at Calvert Library Prince Frederick on March 22 at 7 p.m. For more information, call Calvert Library Prince Frederick at 410-535-0291 or 301-855-1862.

Ballroom and Swing Lesson and Dance

Learn beginning swing and ballroom steps and then dance the night away at Little Flower School, Route 5, Great Mills. Couples and singles welcome. Bring a snack to share; soft drinks are provided. Ballroom lesson: 7-8 p.m. Dance 8-11 p.m. Admission $8⁄person, $15⁄couple, $5⁄seniors and students. For more information call 301-645-8509.

Co-Ed Adult Kickball League Meeting

Gear up for the 2010 Adult Kickball season through St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks. Informational meeting May 17 at 7 p.m., at Leonard Hall Recreation center in Leonardtown; games start Saturday afternoons at Dorsey Park on June 19. Teams of up to 20 players pay an entry fee of $200. Call Kenny Sothoron at 301-475-4200 X1830 for information.

Safety Awareness Day

Mechanicsville Elementary School will hold its Safety Awareness Day March 20, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the school. For more details, call the school office at 301-472-4800.

Ganz Recital

Brian Ganz will present a recital of works by Chopin and Beethoven tomorrow at noon in the Auerbach Auditorium of St. Mary’s Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

Family to Family Class

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southern Maryland is hosting a Family to Family course for anyone with a loved one struggling with serious mental illness. Learn the facts and get the support you need from trained educators who share your experience. The free, 12-week class starts March 22, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park. Call Joe at 301-481-5733 for information or to register.