Looking to dance those winter blues away? Or, perhaps you're longing to just sit by the fire and enjoy a tasty meal. Well, this weekend is the perfect opportunity for both with square dancing, wine tastings and a cooking class on the menu.

Here's a look at some of the exciting events happening this weekend in Portsmouth:

Friday

• The Portsmouth Town Howlers, the oldest square dance club in New England, celebrating 60 years this October, will kick up their heels this Friday at 8 p.m. at the Senior Center. This Friday, the club will hold a Glow Worm Dance. Participants are asked to bring flashlights. Admission is $7 per person. The club caller is Jim Schell. Club cuers are Anna MacDougall and Mike Alexander.

Saturday

• The Friends of the Glen Ridge Alpaca Farm will host a benefit on Saturday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Sakonnet Sportsman's Club, 145 Sakonnet Drive. There will be raffles, a silent auction, cash bar and hors d'oeuvres. Tickets are $15 per person or $40 per family. Tickets are limited and donations are welcome. Please contact Lisa Whittier at 368-3852 or Pam Mandler at 682-1532 for tickets, donations or further information. All proceeds will help with the Glen Ridge legal fund.

• Come to Portsmouth Free Public Library, 2658 East Main Road, Portsmouth, on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. for a casual wine tasting hosted by Bob Neville, sales representative for World Wide Wines. Be prepared for a fun, informative and interactive conversation about the wines of Italy. Affordable Italian wines covering many regions of the country will be presented. Cheese and crackers will accompany the samples of wine. This library fundraiser is open to the public and costs $10. You must be age 21 or older to attend. Seating is limited, so please call the library at 683-9457 or stop by to register.

Sunday

• Custom House Coffee will hold an open mic this Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the coffee house. Open mic night happens every Sunday. Featured performers will take the stage from 3 to 3:45 p.m.

Monday

• As part of the Newport County celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, "A Day On, Not a Day Off," a torch run ceremony will take place at the First Rhode Island Regiment monument at Patriots Park, the intersection of Route 24 and 114. The public is welcome to come out and attend this event.

Elsewhere on Aquidneck Island:

• Newport Cooks! will be held this Sunday in Newport. This fun and social cooking class is for people who love to cook and enjoy preparing a meal together. Chef Sophie Plowright will coach attendees through creating and preparing a fabulous meal – Butternut Squash and Mushroom Wellington, Chicken and Vegetable Ribbons en Papillote with Lemon Beurre Blanc and Pumpkin Roulade with Ginger Buttercream. The cost to attend is $50 per person. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/NewportCooks, call 293-0740 or e-mail info@newportcooks.com.