5 Things: Lobster Bake and Straw Poll

Here are five things you should know as you start your weekend.

1. Blood Drive. The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive at St. James United Methodist Church today as part of the effort to address a critical need for blood and platelet donations. All blood types are needed. American Red Cross blood collections were significantly disrupted by the severe storms that hit the midwest and mid-Atlantic areas this month. The severe weather impacted the Red Cross's ability to get the blood supply back to where it needs to be. Blood supplies were already at emergency levels with June blood donations coming in at 50,000 fewer than expected. If you are able, stop by St. James, 646 Daniel Webster Highway, today between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for more information or visit redcrossblood.org to find additional blood drives in your area.

2. Labor Day. Monday is Labor Day, which means a long weekend for most. It also means a number of services and public offices and institutions are closed Monday. Check our list of what's closed over the weekend and have a great "last weekend of summer."

3. Lobster Bake and straw poll. Join the New Hampshire Young Republicans & NH House Speaker Bill O'Brien for a fun day of food, rides, attractions and politics Saturday, Sept. 1, from 10a.m.-6 p.m. at the Aquaboggan Water Park. Tickets are $35 and they include a lobster meal, parking, park access and all day rides! Children under age 12 will be admitted for free with a paying adult. Take part in the Young Republicans straw poll. Reserve your tickets online. Aquaboggin is at 980 Portland Road, Saco, Maine.

4. Clydesdale Camera Day. The Anheuser-Busch Merrimack brewery offers guests the opportunity to bring a camera and pose for photos with a world-famous Budweiser Clydesdale. Guests who are 21 or older may try a sample of the brewery's featured beer: Beck’s Oktoberfest. Clydesdale Camera Day is Saturday, Sept. 1, from 1-3 p.m. at Anheuser-Busch Merrimack Brewery Tour Center, 221 Daniel Webster Highway.

5. Weekend weather. According to the National Weather Service, it's going to be a very nice long weekend.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Friday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Saturday night: Patchy fog after 4 a.m. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 55.

Sunday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Labor Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Monday night: A chance of showers. Patchy fog after 1 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.