Ticket purchase and contact information for select Twin Counties venues are at the bottom of this file.

Events

Contributed photo (ENLARGE)

Astronomy Day runs Saturday at the Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center. Details, see CHILDREN listing.

HERE THIS WEEKEND The following events from the Coming Attractions calendar take place this weekend in the Twin Counties: The Nashville Blooming Festival runs today through Saturday in the town's downtown. "Talley's Folly" runs Friday and Saturday nights at the Rocky Mount Community Theatre. Gary Vick plays Friday night at Via Cappuccino, Rocky Mount. Glen Jones plays Friday night at Lighthouse Sports Bar and Banquet Hall, Rocky Mount. The Tar River Piecemakers Quilting Guild meets Saturday morning at the Rocky Mount Arts Center. The Via Cappuccino Chess Club meets Saturday morning. Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments will be held Saturday morning and afternoon at Books-A-Million, Rocky Mount. Six art exhibits will be on display Saturday and on Sunday afternoon at the Rocky Mount Arts Center. Two exhibits and three planetarium shows run Saturday and Sunday at the Rocky Mount ChildrenÕs Museum and Science Center. Astronomy Day runs Saturday afternoon at the Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center. "Sweet Dreams" runs Saturday night at the Dunn Center, Rocky Mount. USA Dance holds a chapter dance Saturday night at the Rocky Mount Arts Center. Ryan Armstrong plays Saturday night at Via Cappuccino. Tim Wall plays Saturday night at Westridge Grill, Rocky Mount. USA Dance holds practice sessions Sunday afternoon at CrystalÕs Elite Dance Studio.

Nashville Blooming Festival: Downtown Nashville; Jo Anne Cooper, 459-7101.

Today – Carnival from 5:30 p.m. at Nash County Courthhouse.

Friday – Carnival at Nash County Courthouse and street fair along West Washington Street from 6 p.m.

Saturday – 5-kilometer road race at 8 a.m. from Alston Avenue and West Washington Street; parade at 11:30 a.m.; street fair and concerts by When Stars Fall, Nancy and Tammy Dail and The County Roads Band, David Dyer and The Crooked Smile Band and The Craig Woolard Band on West Washington Street following parade; featured concert by The Holiday Band from 8 p.m.

Happening on the Common: May 17; Tarboro Town Common; annual performance, arts and crafts exhibition; admission free; Carol Banks, 823-4159,edge

combearts@embarqmail.com.

USA Dance: Promotes ballroom dancing and educates the public regarding its physical, mental and social benefits; Vince Tesoro, 212-5525.

Chapter social dance – 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday Rocky Mount Arts Center; short class on the dance of the month included before the social dance begins; members $5, others $7.

Practice sessions – 4-6 p.m. Sundays; Crystal's Elite Dance Studio, 3040 Zebulon Road, Rocky Mount; $5; lessons on wide variety of dances also available for groups.

Arts and crafts guilds: Imperial Centre (unless specified); Jennifer Rankin, 972-1632, jennifer.rankin@rockymountnc.gov.

Tar River Piecemakers Quilting Guild – 9 a.m. Saturday; works on fabric, design and art, including donations made to various charitable organizations.

Embroiderer's Guild of America – 7 p.m. Tuesday; meetings offer workshops, exhibits, stitch-ins, social activities.

Tar River Basketweavers – 7 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month; Battleboro Community Center, 280 W. Battleboro Ave., Rocky Mount; basketweaving taught through shared experience and knowledge.

Galleries, Museums

Rocky Mount Art Center exhibits: Catherine Coulter; 972-1175, catherine.coulter@rockymountnc.gov.

Roy Revels – Through Sunday; works created from found objects, recycled materials and personal opinions.

"Bottomlands" – Through Sunday; charcoal and graphite drawings by Kelly Adams concerning environmental and water-related issues.

"Variations on Raku" – Through May 18; ceramics by Steven Forbes-deSoule using vibrant color and flowing forms; Forbes will present a raku glazing and firing workshop in conjunction with the exhibition.

"Handcrafted" – Through May 25; center's annual national juried craft exhibition.

Tim Lazure – Through May 25; small metal jewelry works and large wood and metal sculptures.

Permanent collection and new acquisitions – Through July 20; selections from the center's permanent collection, which includes sculptures, paintings, ceramics, encaustics, weavings, wood furnishings and multimedia works.

"Eye gumbo: revisited": Through Friday; Mims Gallery, N.C. Wesleyan College; outsider collection including media assemblages, sculptures, drawings and paintings; free opening reception 7-9 p.m. Friday.

Children

Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center exhibits: Through Dec. 31; adults $4, seniors and children 3 to 16 years old $3, children 2 and younger free; all admitted free 2-5 p.m. Wednesdays.

"Microbes: Invisible Invaders, Amazing Allies" – Interactive journey through the hidden world of microbes.

"Maze Mania" – Interactive exhibit with mazes of varying types and levels of difficulty.

Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center planetarium programs: Steve Schmidt, 972-1586, steve.schmidt@rockymountnc.gov.

Astronomy Day – Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday; astronomical viewings of the sun and moon, measurement of Earth's rotation, display of remotely-guided Earth Rover; free with paid admission to museum; planetarium and laser shows also available at regular admission; open to all ages.

Exploring the Spring Sky – 7 p.m. June 5; all-ages introduction to stars, constellations and astronomical events; children 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult; per session, city residents $8, others $9.

Family Astronomy – 2 p.m. July 9; family-oriented opportunity for children to be introduced to astronomy; children 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult; city residents $8, others $9.

Exploring the Summer Sky – 7 p.m. Aug. 7; all-ages introduction to stars, constellations and astronomical events; children 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult; per session, city residents $8, others $9.

KinderScience: 10 a.m. first Wednesday of each month; Rocky Mount Children's Museum; children ages 3 to 5 introduced to science; preregistration required; city residents $8 per class, others $9 (includes paid admission to museum for child and accompanying adult).

June 4 – Flower Power; introduction of science using flowers.

Aug. 6 – Color-Rama; colors introduced through mixing the hues of the rainbow.

Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center summer camps and workshops: Fees must be paid in advance; Candy Madrid, 972-1167.

Summer Ed-venture Science Camp – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 9-27 and Jul 7-Aug. 22; children ages 7 to 12 explore scientific topics through experiments, field trips, and museum experiences; per session $1,000 city residents, $1,200 others,

Botanical Bonanza – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 9-13; children ages 7 to 12 explore science through horticulture; city residents $120, others $145.

Rocketry and Spacecraft – 10 a.m.-1p.m. June 10-12; children ages 8 to 15 study rockets and build and fly their own powered model rockets; city residents $55, others $66.

Chemical Concoctions – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 16-20; children ages 7 to 12 create chemical concoctions from slime to ice cream; city residents $120, others $145.

Can You Dig It? – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 23-27; children ages 7 to 12 explore the Earth through geology and paleontology; city residents $120, others $145.

Invention Convention – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 7-11; children ages 7 to 12 experiment with different inventions and build their own scientific contraption; city residents $120, others $145.

Junior Curators – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 14-18; children ages 7 to 12 study biology by working with and caring for the museum's animal gallery; city residents $120, others $145.

Let's Get Physic-al – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 21-25; children ages 7 to 12 study physics through experiments with forces, motion, electricity, magnetism; city residents $120, others $145.

Anthropology 101 – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 4-8; children ages 7 to 12 use anthropology to study people and cultures; city residents $120, others $145. Eco-Edventure – 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 11-15; children ages 7 to 12 study environmental science through field study, health checks of plants and animals and other indoor and outdoor experiments, activities and projects; city residents $120, others $145.

Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays for players 10 and younger and 2-4 p.m. Saturdays for those 11 and older; Books-A-Million (in Golden East Crossing mall), 1100 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount; free; 442-4585.

Area Movies

Premiere Theatres: 821 Benvenue Road, Rocky Mount; 446-6500; films run Friday through Thursday unless noted; "Baby Mama," "Deception," "88 Minutes," "The Forbidden Kingdom," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay," "Iron Man," "Made of Honor," "Nim's Island," "Prom Night," "Speed Racer" and "What Happens in Vegas."

Carmike 10: Parkwood Mall, Wilson; 252-265-5538; films run Friday through Thursday unless noted; "Baby Mama," "Iron Man," "Made of Honor," "Prom Night," "Speed Racer," "Under the Same Moon" and "What Happens in Vegas."

Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center planetarium: $3.50 per person per show, plus admission to the museum; special showings can be scheduled for groups; now showing:

"Microcosm": – Full dome video and 3D computer graphics show of a microbe-perspective trip through the human body; 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

"Astronaut" – Exploration of outer space and its effects on the human body; 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

"Laser Beatles" – Laser show set to the music of The Beatles; 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays and 8 p.m. first Thursday of each month.

"Seasonal Stargazing" – Brief guided tour of the night sky; included with all other planetarium shows.

Clubs

Via Cappuccino: 3002 Sunset Ave. (in Englewood Square Shopping Center), Rocky Mount; shows run from 8-9:30 p.m. unless specified; Via Cappuccino is smoke- and alcohol-free; 937-0004; vccoffee.com; free admission.

Friday – Gary Vick, playing acoustic originals.

Saturday – Ryan Armstrong, playing acoustic originals and covers.

May 16 – Jason Sessoms, playing acoustic originals/cover tunes.

May 23 – Will West, playing acoustic folk/blues.

May 30 – Chris Titchner, playing acoustic originals.

10 a.m. Saturdays – Via Cappuccino Chess Club; free.

7 p.m. Mondays – Tar River Gamers, playing board games; free.

Lighthouse Sports Bar and Banquet Hall: 349 Falls Road, Rocky Mount; 446-1355.

10 p.m. Friday – Glen Jones, performing R&B; advance $15, at door $20.

Westridge Grill: 3639 Sunset Ave. (in Westridge Shopping Center), Rocky Mount; 937-7299; shows run 8-11 p.m. unless noted.

Saturday – Tim Wall.

May 24 – Adam Stone.

June 7 – Justin Hunt.

June 21 – Adam Stone.

July 26 – Adam Stone.

R.A. Fountain General Store and Internet Cafe: 6754 E. Wilson St., Fountain; 252-749-3228; rafountain.com.

7:30 p.m. Friday – Roby Huffman and The Bluegrass Cutups; reserved seats $10, others $8; robyhuffman.com.

7:30 p.m. Saturday – Steve Creech Septet featuring Pat Tutino, playing jazz; reserved seats $10, others $8; home.earthlink.net/~cscreech.

3 p.m. Sunday – Melody Brown and Brien Barbour, playing gospel, folk and country; free.

7:30 p.m. May 16 – Curtis Lee, playing Southeastern fiddle music; $8.

7:30 p.m. May 17 – Unshackled, playing bluegrass gospel; $5; www.unshackled.us.

3 p.m. May 18 – Take 2 and Ramblin' Rose, playing bluegrass and bluegrass gospel; free.

7:30 p.m. May 24 – Coyote Ridge, playing traditional bluegrass; $8; crbluegrass.com.

8 p.m. May 30 – Lightnin' Wellls, playing blues; $5; lightninwells.com.

8 p.m. May 31 – Claude Bourbon, playing blues; $5; myspace.com/claudebourbon.

PERFORMANCE

Rocky Mount Community Theatre productions

"Talley's Folly": 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and May 16-17 and 2 p.m. May 18; Rocky Mount Arts Center; a romantic comedy with serious overtones set in Missouri in the 1940s, an accountant tries to woo the daughter of the town's richest family, gradually winning her over; adults $8, seniors $7 students and children $6; Lars Tatom, 972-1164.

"The Art of Dining": auditions 7 p.m. Aug. 6-7; performances 8 p.m. Sept. 12-13 and 19-20 and 2 p.m. Sept. 21; a man and woman who co-own a small, elegant restaurant comically clash over how to run the eatery as their diners act out their own private dramas.

Dunn Center for the Performing Arts concerts: Showtimes 8 p.m. except as noted; N.C. Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount; adults $20, seniors and students $15 except as noted.

Saturday – "Sweet Dreams" tribute show honoring Patsy Cline.

Tar River ensembles concerts: 7:30 p.m., Dunn Center for the Performing Arts, Rocky Mount, except as noted; adults $15, students free; abouttroc.org.

7 p.m. May 17 – Tar River Orchestra, featuring Bill Leslie and Lorica; program includes light classical, folk and patriotic music.

Keihin Auditorium concerts: Edgecombe Community College, 2009 W. Wilson St., Tarboro; 823-5166, ext. 187; edgecombe.edu.

7 p.m. May 18 – Percy Sledge and The Aces Band, playing rock and pop; adults $30, seniors $25, students and children $15; psledge.com.

Country, gospel and bluegrass sing: 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays; Temperance Hall Opry, 3799 Temperance Hall Road; performances by local musicians; $3 donation requested; Carlene Smith, 972-3331.

Lakeland Theatre Co. productions: 411 Mosby Ave., Littleton; Wally Hurst 877-330-0574; lakelandtheatrenc.org.

"South Pacific" – 8 p.m. May 30-31 and June 1, 6-7 and 14 and 2:30 p.m. June 1 and 15; Broadway musical about love and tragedy amid World War II in the South Pacific; adults $15, children and students $8.

Roanoke Rapids Theatre: Shows start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted; 500 Wallace Fork Road, Roanoke Rapids; 877-672-7866, rrtheatre.com.

Friday – Doug Stone, playing country; opening act, Jerusalem Ridge Band; $24.50, $29.50, $34.50, $44.50.

Saturday – Sammy Kershaw, playing country; opening act, Jerusalem Ridge Band; $24.50, $29.50, $34.50, $44.50.

7 p.m. May 14 – Mark Blackwood and Blackwood Quartet; $15, $18.50, $22.50 and $25.

May 16 – Earl Thomas Conley, playing country; opening act, Jerusalem Ridge Band; $24.50, $29.50, $39.50, $44.50.

May 30 – Ralph Stanley, playing bluegrass; opening act, Jerusalem Ridge Band; $27.50, $32.50, $42.50, $48.

June 21 – Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers, playing country; opening act, Jerusalem Ridge Band; $37.50, $42.50, $47.50 and $52.50.

Burning Coal Theatre Co.; 224 Polk Street, Raleigh; Simmie Kastner, 919-834-4001; burningcoal.org.

Scene study class – 7-10 p.m. Mondays from June 9-July 28; class taught by troupe artistic director Jerome Davis based on Uta Hagen text "Respect for Acting": $200.

Season auditions – 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 14; call or visit Web site to schedule audition; plays to be performed are "The Prisoner's Dilemma" by David Edgar, "Hysteria" by Terry Johnson, "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare, "Way to Heaven" by Juan Mayorga and "1960" by Ian Finley; candidates should bring two copies of their picture and resume (if available) and prepare two one-minute monologues (one classical, one contemporary). VENUES

Braswell Memorial Library -- 727 N. Grace St., Rocky Mount; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 442-1951; braswell-library.org

Dunn Center for the Performing Arts -- N.C. Wesleyan College, 3500 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount; box office hours -- 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; director, 985-5248; box office, 985-5197; dunncenter.com

Edgecombe ARTS -- 130 Bridgers St., Tarboro; gallery hours -- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. weekends; edgecombearts.org; 823-4159

Four Sisters Gallery -- Pearsall Building, N.C. Wesleyan College, 3500 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount; gallery hours -- 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday; 985-5268; ncwc.edu/arts/foursisters/

Keihin Auditorium -- on the campus of Edgecombe Community College, 2009 W. Wilson St., Tarboro; box office hours -- 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; 823-5166, ext. 187; edgecombe.cc.nc.us/a,c&t/act.htm

Mims Gallery and Civic Gallery -- In the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts, N.C. Wesleyan College, 2500 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount; gallery hours -- 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; the galleries also are open during evening performances at the Dunn Center; 985-5268; ncwc.edu/arts/mims

Nash Arts Center --100 E. Washington St., Nashville; gallery hours -- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays; 459-4734; nasharts.org

Rocky Mount Community Theatre --270 Gay St.; ci.rocky-mount .nc.us/artscenter/theatre.html; 972-1266