Things to do in Paradise/Downtown May 22-28

In Your Neighborhood

The Desert Chorale's Memorial Day Extravaganza, directed by its founder Nancy Helm and backed by guests the Nevada Pops, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Artemus Ham Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Admission is free. The Desert Chorale has been a fixture in the Las Vegas arts community for more than 25 years and is committed to bringing high-quality music to residents free of charge. The Memorial Day Extravaganza is sponsored by Bank of Nevada. For more information, visit thedesertchoral.org or call 531-3550.

The Fremont Street Experience, 425 Fremont St., plans to host the Rock of Vegas concert series beginning with Vince Neil, lead singer of Motley Crue, at 9 p.m. Saturday on the Third Street Stage. The free concerts are slated to run through Labor Day weekend and feature musicians such as Warrant, Skid Row, Bret Michaels and Dee Snider, among others. Call 678-5777 or visit vegasexperience.com.

The Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 900 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is slated to host a presentation from author and wildlife photographer "Hurricane" David Jesse McChesney at 11 a.m. Saturday, featuring his photographs of desert animals and plants. Call 384-3466 or visit lvnhm.org.

The city of Las Vegas and the Southern Nevada Old-Time Contra Dancers plan to host a contra dance event at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. A lesson is planned at 6:30 p.m., and social dancing is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for members, students and military personnel and $3 for children. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and footwear. Call 229-6383 or visit lasvegascountry
dance.org.

A public reception and awards ceremony for the 12th annual Celebrating Life! fine arts competition for residents 50 or older is slated from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. The exhibition is scheduled to be displayed Friday through July 11. Award-winning pieces are scheduled to be on display at the City Hall Chamber Gallery July 26 through Sept. 6. Call 229-1012 or 229-4631.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., has a full slate of shows planned. The musical "Mary Poppins" is scheduled today through Sunday. Barbara Cook is set to sing Thursday through Sunday. The Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater plans a five-year anniversary concert May 29. "Desperate Housewives" actress Emily Bergl plans to perform her cabaret show "Kidding on the Square" June 8-9. Idina Menzel is scheduled to perform June 10. Call 982-7805 or visit thesmithcenter.com. Table 8 Productions plans "Turn in Your Hymnal," a comedic play that shows a clash of religions, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Box Office Theatre, 1129 S. Casino Center Blvd. Tickets are $15. Call 423-6366 or visit showtix4u.com.

Kids 7 to 18 are invited to a morning of dance and fun at a University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebel Girls Dance Workshop scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the UNLV Physical Education Complex, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. The fee is $25 for the first dancer and $15 for the second from the same family. Day-of registration begins at 8 a.m. Visit unlvrebelgirlsworkshops.com.

A Downtown Scavenger Hunt featuring games and food challenges is scheduled to kick off with a party at 7 p.m. Friday at Insert Coins, 512 Fremont St. Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door. Visit thehuntlasvegas.com.

Worth a Drive

The Snow Mountain Pow Wow at the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe's Snow Mountain Indian Reservation is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday near U.S. Highway 95 at exit 95. A veterans memorial event is planned for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Daily admission for adults is $5. A weekend pass is $7. Children 12 or younger are admitted free, and parking is free. Visit lvpaiutetribe.com/powwow. For a full feature on the powwow, visit lvrj.com/view.

The Las Vegas Horse Expo is scheduled to feature a family fun festival, horse show and carnival Friday through Sunday at Horseman's Park, 5800 E. Flamingo Road. Gates are set to open at 5 p.m. Friday , 9 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday . Visit lasvegashorseexpo.com.

Southern Highlands has scheduled its 10th annual Memorial Day celebration from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Stonewater Park, in the 3800 block of Stonewater Lane. The event is free and open to the public. The Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard plans to present the colors as the band plays "The Star-Spangled Banner," followed by a military fly-over. A Kids Zone is planned with water slides, bounce houses, carnival games, face painters and field games. Guests can purchase tickets to a barbecue and attend a country-rock concert by Stetzen. The event is set to include a raffle, which will benefit the Nellis Air Force Base charity Operation Warm Hearts. A fireworks display is planned for 8:15 p.m. Visit southernhighlands.com.

"Random Acts," a production from Chaos Theatre, Endless Productions and RagTag Entertainment, is set for 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Studio Theatre at the Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive. Tickets are $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and $10 for students and theater subscribers. Visit lvlt.org or call 362-7996.

The Las Vegas Crafters Guild plans to host its annual Spring Boutique and Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Visit lasvegascraftersguild.com.

Ongoing exhibits

The Brett Wesley Gallery, 1112 S. Casino Center Blvd., plans to showcase "Coming of Age" by Kristine McCallister and "Stabiles" by Robert Arnold through Saturday.

Joel Spencer's "Subtraction" and "Santa Monica" are scheduled to be on display at Trifecta Gallery, inside The Arts Factory,107 E. Charleston Blvd. through Friday.

The Jenny Valdez Inc. Gallery inside The Arts Factory plans to present works revolving around tea from various artists through May.

The City of the World, 1229 S. Casino Center Blvd., plans to present the work of Sean Jones in the main gallery through May.

Tasty Space inside Emergency Arts, 520 Fremont St., plans to show Jelaine Faunce's "The Inevitable Mouth Watering: Small Treats, Big Treats, and Neon Streets" through May.

Counterspace inside Emergency Arts plans to show "Stranger Bond: new work by Yasmina Chavez" through May.

Ongoing Events

The Bet on the Farm! Farmers Market is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Admission is free. Most farmers accept only cash. Visit springspreserve.org or betonthefarm.com or call 822-7700.

The Downtown 3rd Farmers Market is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays at Third Street between Stewart and Ogden avenues in the old downtown transportation hub building. Visit downtown3rd.com.

Happy Hour Improv is scheduled to host a "Jam Session" from 7 to 9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at Theatre7, 1406 S. Third St. For a $10, cash-only fee, audience members will have an opportunity to participate in the improv show. Visit happyhourimprov.com or call 372-3201.

Jest Serendipity Improv is set to perform at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at the Alexis Park Resort, 375 E. Harmon Ave. The show is limited to adults 21 or older, and tickets are $29.95. Visit jestserendipity.com.

Insurgo Theater Movement is set to present "Cannibal The Musical" at 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at the Plaza, 1 S. Main St. Tickets are $29.99 or $19.99 for adults. Splash zone seating is available for an additional $5. Visit insurgotheater.org or call 772-3897.