May events calendar

These May events offer music, theater and family fun for Greenville-area residents. Here is a sampling.

‘The Great Gatsby’

Farmville Community Arts Council will present “The Great Gatsby” at 3 and 7 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Sunday at Paramount Theatre, 3723 N. Main St., Farmville. Tickets are $15-$20 for members and $20-$25 for others. Visit showtix4u.com/events/23142 or facebook.com/FarmvilleArts.

Derby Dash Bash

Rocking Horse Ranch will host the 20th annual Derby Dash Bash at 4 p.m. today at 1721 Blue Banks Farm Road. The event will include cocktails, dinner, live entertainment, a silent auction, a ladies hat contest, parade of horses and a celebration of the therapeutic riding center’s programs. Tickets are $85. Contact info@rhr.com.

‘The Lion King Jr.’

The E.B. Aycock Middle School Theatre Club will present Disney’s “The Lion King Jr.” at 2 and 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday at South Central High School auditorium, 570 Forlines Road, Winterville. Tickets are $10 in advance at the Aycock school office,1325 Red Banks Road, or $15 at the door.

Barbecue, Blues & Brews

A Barbecue, Blues & Brews Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Wildwood Park, 3020 Blue Heron, Greenville. This outdoor community event will feature BBQ vendors, live music, a beer garden and bounce houses. Admission is free.

Mother’s Day market

Eastern Carolina Village & Farm Museum will host an herb sale and Mother’s Day Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at 4570 County Home Road, Greenville. Free admission and parking.

Reptile expo

The Mid-Atlantic Reptile Expo will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W. Greenville Blvd. It is a sales and educational event geared toward reptile and amphibian enthusiasts. Enjoy a day immersed with others who share your passions for exotics including snakes, lizards, frogs, spiders and more. Chat with the experienced hobbyists and breeders. Admission is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and younger.

Paint in the Park

The City of Greenville Recreation and Parks Department and the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge will host Paint in the Park from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the Town Common, 105 E. First St. The bi-annual, plein air paint event is free. Artists are able to come up to the stage at 3 p.m. to show off their creations. Visit emergegallery.com.

Kayak demo

Greenville Recreation and Parks Department will host an evening kayak demo from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at River Park North, 1000 Mumford Road. Free. Call 329-4560 or email bwilliams@GreenvilleNC.gov.

Concert on the Common

The Concert on the Common series will present The Stranger: Billy Joel Tribute at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Town Common, 105 E. First St. Captain Mike: Shipwrecked — A Tribute to Jimmy Buffet will be featured at 6 p.m. May 23. The series will feature a half dozen shows through July. Events will feature food trucks and other vendors, along with adult beverages. Pets are welcome. No coolers or glass containers are allowed. Visit concertonthecommon.org.

African-American Music Series

Emerge Gallery and Art Center, 404 Evans St., will host the final African-American Music Series concert of the season at 7 p.m. Friday, May 10. The free concert will feature Carroll V. Dashiell Jr. Visit emergegallery.com.

Plant walk

The Pitt County Arboretum will host its next Northside Plant Walk from noon to 1 p.m. Friday This month’s topic is “Plants With Historic or Cultural Significance.” The educational garden tours utilize the arboretum and the Northside Walking Trail to tell a unique story with each tour. Attendance is free but visitors should pre-register for each event at pitt.ces.ncsu.edu/the-pitt-county-arboretum/northside-plant-walks/.

Mayfest

First Presbyterian Church will host Mayfest for community outreach from 7-11 a.m. May 11 at the corner of Elm and 14th streets. The event will include indoor and outdoor second-hand sales, a baked goods sale, garden shop, silent auction and prize drawings. A hot dog lunch sale will be held from 10 a.m.-noon. Cost is $6, and advance orders are recommended due to limited quantities. Proceeds from the event will benefit local charities. Contact kristiewooten1@gmail.com.

Outdoor concert

Farmville Community Arts Council will present Trusted Mic Live from 5-7 p.m. May 11 at 3732 W. Wilson St. The outdoor event will feature GLRYA, The Rakiem Walker Project and Jamal Peoples Music. The concert is free. Food will be available for purchase. Visit facebook.com/FarmvilleArts.

Bath fest

Art meets history at Bath Fest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 11 at Bonner’s Point on Main Street in Bath. It features pirate living history, arts and crafts, a street fair, student art show and live musical entertainment, The Beaufort County 4-H chicken and rabbit show also are part of the day’s events. For more information, go to www.bathfest.com.

Mother’s Day boating

Greenville Recreation and Parks Department will make kayaks and peddle boats available free for Mother’s Day from 1-5 p.m. May 12 at River Park North, 1000 Mumford Road. Call 329-4560 or email awimsatt@GreenvilleNC.gov.

‘The 39 Steps’

Magnolia Arts Center, 1703 E. 14th St., will present “The 39 Steps” at 2 p.m. May 12 and 7:30 p.m. May 15-19, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. May 18-19 The play centers is a fast-paced whodunit spoof featuring a small cast portraying numerous characters. Tickets are $20 for the general public and $15 for students, seniors and members of the military. Visit magnoliaartscenter.com.

Art of Eastern North Carolina

City Art Gallery, 511 Red Banks Road, will host the Art of Eastern North Carolina celebration from 6-8 p.m. May 16. The event will feature the work of artists Ben Knight, Jaquelin Perry, Fen Rascoe, Hunter Stephenson and Juliet Barrus. Visit www.CityArtGreenville.com.

Fun Fair

Koinonia Christian Center will hold its Differently Abled Fun Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W Greenville Blvd. The event is free and open to families caring for individuals with severe and profound mental and physical disabilities. Activities with a Wild West theme will include crafts, dancing, picture stations with characters, rides, games, live performances and more. Early registration at mykoinonia.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/882/responses/new.

Plant sale

The Pitt County Master Gardeners and the Pitt County County Arboretum will host a plant sale from 10 a.m. to noon May 18 at the arboretum, 403 Government Circle, Greenville. The event will take place rain or shine. Purchases can be made with cash or check only. A preview sale for Friends of the Arboretum will begin at 9 a.m. Friends memberships can be purchased at the gate.

Pops concert

Community Pops Singers will present “Singing Through the Decades,” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19th at Christ Presbyterian Church, 4889 Old Tar Road, Winterville. There is no admission charge.

‘Kings of Q’

The Kings of Q Double BBQ Cookoff will be held May 18 in downtown Ayden. The event will an artisan village, a chance to watch cook teams in action and a barbecue sales from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Whole-hog competition awards are held at 10 a.m., following by a “Kings of Q” ceremony at 5 p.m. A street dance, featuring the Chairmen of the Board, will be held from 7-10 p.m. Visit aydenbbq.org.

New Carolina Sinfonia

S. Rudolph Alexander Performing Arts Series will present the New Carolina Sinfonia in concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 25, in Wright Auditorium on the ECU campus. This professional orchestra gathers ECU faculty members, alumni, and other regional professionals under the baton of Jorge Richter. Tickets are $50 for the general public, $40 for groups and $15 for students. Visit artscomm.ecu.edu/alexander-series.