Things to do in Paradise/Downtown, Sept. 18-24

The Sweet Potatoes are slated to perform a free concert from noon to 1 p.m. Friday in the jury assembly room at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Visit artslasvegas.org.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra plans to perform "Beethoven and Dvorak" at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 in the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, military personnel and students. Visit pac.unlv.edu.

Wings over the Springs is back at the Springs Preserve with owls, falcons, hawks and ravens flying overhead in two live shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekends and select school holidays through Feb. 24. New to the show are the Harris hawk, peregrine falcon, yellow vulture, African augur buzzard, common buzzard and a pair of yellow-billed black kites native to Southern Africa and the Middle East. The two female kites are said to be the only members of this species in the U.S. The flight shows are free with Springs Preserve membership or paid admission. For $10, guests can upgrade to a backstage pass that allows direct interaction with the birds after the show. The Springs Preserve's Fall Plant Sale is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Preserve members are invited to a pre-sale scheduled from 7 to 8 a.m. Admission to the outdoor sale is free. Regular prices apply for admission to museums. Visit springspreseve.org.

The National Atomic Testing Museum, 755 E. Flamingo Road, plans to present "Military UFOs: Secrets Revealed" at 6 p.m. Saturday as part of the Area 51 Lecture Series. Tickets are $20 for members and $35 for nonmembers. Reservations are required. Call 794-5150 or visit nationalatomictestingmuseum.org.

The Children's Heart Foundation plans to present its fourth annual Cards for Kids Under the Stars Casino Night from 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday at the Rumor Boutique Hotel, 455 E. Harmon Ave. The free event is set to feature blackjack games, live and silent auctions, a raffle, live entertainment, food and beverages. Attendees must be 21 or older. Call
967-3522 or visit chfn.org.

The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society plans to open its 50th anniversary season with "Songs of Our Politics" at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. The program, featuring the 22-voice Musical Arts Singers and instrumental ensemble, under the direction of Douglas R. Peterson, is set to bring to life more than 200 years of presidential campaign music. John Hanks is to provide historical narration. Keyboard accompaniment will be provided by Eric Eichorst. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Visit snmas.com or call 451-6672.

The Sandstone Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 221 S. Lorenzi St., plans to host a family history jamboree from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The free event is set to feature classes on genealogy and a complimentary lunch. Call 474-0906 or visit tinyurl.com/familyjamboree.

Keith Brantley plans to host a Poets' Corner event for local talent at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Call 229-4800.

Kids 6 to 11 are invited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of International Talk Like a Pirate Day with stories and songs about pirates and a pirate craft from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave. Call
507-3760.

Harriet Smith fell in love with Africa on her first photographic safari in 1995. A photo exhibit capturing the Summerlin artist's journey through South and Eastern Africa's national parks is scheduled to be on display today through Dec. 4 in the gallery at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Visit lvccld.org.

The All-Star Experience dance workshop, featuring choreographers from the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance," is scheduled for Friday to Sunday at The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The event is slated to feature classes, showcases for solos and group dances and a meet-and-greet opportunity with celebrities from the TV show. Admission starts at $200 and is open for those ages 13 to 17. Call 791-7111 or visit tinyurl.com/allstarexperience.

For information on shows scheduled at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., call
749-2000 or visit thesmithcenter.com. The musical "Wicked" is scheduled to run through Oct. 7. The informal monthly Composers Showcase of Las Vegas, a pet project of "Jersey Boys" conductor Keith Thompson, is scheduled at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $21.50. Local cabaret singer/songwriter Ashton Zyer is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. Saturday. Steve Solomon's one-man show "My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm In Therapy" is scheduled at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 and 29 and 3 p.m. Sept. 29 and 30.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Nevada Conservatory Theatre plans to present Eric Overmyer's "On the Verge" at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Black Box Theatre, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13.50 for those younger than 18. Visit pac.unlv.edu.

Guatemalan-born artist Sergio Valenzuela studied in Paris and has work on display in private collections in Spain, Norway, Nicaragua, El Salvador and the United States. Thanks to the the Honorary Vice Consul of Guatemala, Aldo Aguirre, Valenzuela's work is scheduled to be on display in the gallery at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, through Jan. 2.

The Brett Wesley Gallery, 1112 S. Casino Center Blvd., plans exhibit "LUSH" by Chris Bauder through Sept. 29. Visit brettwesleygallery.com.

Ronald Dizon's photographs taken during his time as a relief specialist and photographer in the Operation Help Program are scheduled to be on display in an exhibit titled "War on Hunger, Peace Corps Afghanistan 1971-1973" through Nov. 4 at the Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave. Visit lvccld.org or call 507-3760.

Table 8 Productions plans to present "Hamlet" at 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave. Tickets are $15. Call 732-7225 or visit onyxtheatre.com.

Vermont painter Daniel Gottsegen's exhibit "Mountains and Valleys Without End" is scheduled to be on display through Dec. 8 at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 Brush St. Visit artslasvegas.org.

The Contemporary Arts Center inside The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., plans to show Aaron Nemic's participatory audio and video project "Less Popular Music" through Oct. 27. Visit lasvegascac.org or call 382-3886.

The Rotunda Gallery inside the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, plans to show "Inner Sanctum" by Troy Gillett through October. The show is constructed from reclaimed Las Vegas doors in various states of decay. Gillet is scheduled to talk about this work at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4. Visit clarkcountynv.gov/parks.

An exhibition filled with Springs Preserve Photo Contest winners is scheduled to be on display through Oct. 7 in the Big Springs Gallery at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. This year's theme was "Las Vegas at Work." Admission is included with Springs Preserve admission. Visit springspreserve.org or call 822-7700.

Rich Little's one-man show "Jimmy Stewart & Friends" is scheduled to continue through Oct. 3 at the Shimmer Cabaret in the Las Vegas Hotel. A two-for-one ticket offer is available for a limited time. Tickets start at $53.90. Visit thelvh.com or call 732-5755.

The intimate Crazy Horse Paris show at MGM Grand is scheduled to close after it's final performance Oct. 1. Until then, locals can get two-for-one tickets. Tickets start at $50.50. Guests must be 18 or older. Visit mgmgrand.com or call 891-7777.

The Lied Discovery Children's Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, plans to showcase the exhibit "Torn From Home: My Life as a Refugee" through Dec. 16. The exhibit features photographs and interactive elements depicting refugee families from Columbia, Afghanistan, Republic of Congo and more. Call 382-3445 or visit ldcm.org.

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.