There's a lot happening in Dartmouth on any given weekend. Visit DartmouthVillageSoup.com for your itinerary.

Friday, September 8

Celebrate Dartmouth’s rural charm.

The Dartmouth Grange Rural Community Fair kicks off from 4-9 p.m. at the Grange Hall, 1133 Fisher Road. Friday's festivities will include a fiddle performance at 5 p.m., a pie eating contest at 6:30 p.m., and a magic show at 7 p.m. The event continues on Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. Demonstrations will be held all Saturday afternoon in areas including smocking, antique hand tools, beekeeping, quilting, and wool spinning. Admission is free. Visit dartmouthgrange.org for a complete schedule.

Cheer on the home team

The Dartmouth High football team plays at home for its regular season opener against Central Catholic. The game begins at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

Saturday, September 9

Volunteer for a cause.

The Salvation Army and Mobile Ministries will host a day-long Serve-A-Thon across the South Coast. In Dartmouth, volunteer sessions will be held at the YMCA farm from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and from 1-4 p.m. The Salvation Army and Mobile Ministries will also collect donations for their organizations. Visit lift-in-love.org for more information.

Grind those gears.

As part of the Rural Community Fair, Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust will open up Allens Mill, located at 109 Slades Corner Road, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The mill’s history will be detailed during the open house. DNRT staff will also lead a hike through Destruction Brook Woods starting at 11 a.m. Meet at the Grange Hall and look for Land Steward Leah Howard for the hike.

Go back in time.

The Dartmouth Historical and Arts Society will host its "Come Back in Time" celebration at its 1205 Russells Mills Road headquarters as part of the Rural Community Fair, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Activities include learning how to do laundry by hand, basket and hat making, tool demonstrations, and presentations on coins and paper money.

Catch butterflies.

Allen’s Pond Wildlife Sanctuary will be having their Annual Butterfly Census event from 10 a.m. to noon at its 1280 Horseneck Road location. The event will be led and hosted the Massachusetts Butterfly Club. Attendees will be split into teams to search the sanctuary for butterflies and identify them. Attendees are suggested to wear long pants, sunscreen and bring water and a snack. The event is free for all ages. For more information, visit massaudubon.org.

Sunday, September 10

Celebrate visiting nurses.

The Southcoast Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) will host its sixth annual Hope Takes Flight fundraising brunch and butterfly release at 11 a.m. at Rachel's Lakeside. All proceeds benefit the VNA's Supportive Care Services, which includes palliative care, hospice, and grief support. Tickets are $45 for adults and $20 for children under 12. Visit southcoastvna.org or call (508) 973-3470 for more information or to order tickets.

Learn about local history.

Mark Procknic will be the featured guest at a Dartmouth Historical and Arts Society lecture beginning at 6:30 p.m. at 1205 Russells Mills Road. The New Bedford Whaling Museum librarian will discuss the museum’s collection of Old Dartmouth Historical Society materials, which includes more than 18,000 books, 750,000 photographs, and other documents relating to the region’s whaling history. A questions and answers session will follow the presentation. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free to attend, but there is a suggested donation of $5 at the door.

Monday, September 11

Set sail into the sunset.

The Lloyd Center will lead a kayak tour of the Slcoum River during sunset, starting at 6 p.m. at the center's 430 Potomska Road property. Beginners are welcome. The cost is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Visit lloydcenter.org or call (508) 990-0505 x10 for more information and to pre-register.