It’s finally August! All the best things in Maine happen in August: the Rotary Auction, the Perseid Meteor Showers, a dramatic reenactment of the first woman to enlist in the Revolutionary War ... and the kids going back to school. We’ll consider these events alphabetically, because this is a library column.

Perseid Meteor Shower: I can’t overstate how much I love this event. It occurs every year when the Earth passes through the dusty trail left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle (this trail is kind of like the comet’s wake, if we want to talk in nautical terms).

This wake trail is pretty wide, and you can see shooting stars from it in late July through late August, but they’re the brightest and most intense during the second week of August. This year, astronomers are telling us that the nights of Saturday, Aug. 11 and Sunday, Aug. 12 will be the best.

So find yourself a spot where you can look up and see as much sky as possible, plant yourself on a lounge chair or blanket, and give yourself a good hour to just watch. Consider checking out our telescope too — not to see the meteors (it won’t help with that), but to check out Mars and Venus while you wait.

Last year I checked out one of our GoPros and tried to set it up to catch a time-lapse of the night sky during the meteor shower. I failed miserably, but maybe you’ll have better luck. We have two of those, and you can reserve one by coming on down to the library.

The next highlight is the Rotary Auction, and it occurs on the first Saturday of August every year. It’s a behemoth effort organized entirely by the good people of the Rotary Club, and all proceeds are used to support the wonderful things those folks do.

After you check out the Rotary Auction and score some amazing deals, join us on the Library Lawn for a Revolutionary War reenactment. Saturday, Aug. 4, at 2 p.m., Judith Kaolora from “History at Play” will present: A Revolution of Her Own,  the story of Deborah Sampson, the first woman to enlist in, serve for, and be honorably discharged from the American military. A schoolmarm and farmhand, Sampson wanted to fight for American freedom from British rule, so she cut her hair, bound up her chest, threw on an old uniform, and got to battle.

The Disney cartoon “Mulan” tells a similar story, so we’re showing that on Friday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m.

Finally, school starts back up on Wednesday, Aug. 29, which means Minecraft Club is back too! Minecraft Club is open to kids age 8 and up (younger kids are welcome if they’re accompanied by adults). Call or drop by to register your child today!

Upcoming events

Storytime Picnic: Thursdays, Harold Clifford Playground, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Friday Story Hour: Hear a story, make a craft, and sing a song with Miss Harolyn. 10:15 a.m., ages birth to 5.

Fair Weather Films: Friday, Aug. 3, 8 p.m. “Mulan.”

A Revolution of Her Own: Saturday, Aug. 4, 2-3 p.m., Library Lawn. Judith Kalaora’s one-woman performance of the story of Deborah Sampson. Suitable for all ages.

Live music with Ragtime Jack: Friday, Aug. 17, 6-7 p.m., Library lawn.

One-on-One Tech Help: Tuesdays, 2-4 p.m., Wednesdays 6-7 p.m., and Saturdays 1-2 p.m. Call 633-3112 or email desiree@bbhlibrary.org to make an appointment.