(Tue 5/31)   Local senior adults read to young children and their families during “Story time in The Gardens”.  It's Tuesday afternoon from 4 til 5 at Hopeland Gardens on Dupree Place in Aiken. Blankets, chairs, drinks and snacks are all welcome, and each family in attendance receives a free book. Admission is free.  More information is available on the calendar page at VisitAikenSC.com.

(Tue 5/31 & Wed 6/01)   This week, Ernie, Elmo and Cookie Monster want to dance with YOU! It’s Sesame Street Live “Let’s Dance!” – Tuesday at 6:30pm and 10:30am Wednesday at the Bell Auditorium in downtown Augusta. This family friendly event features favorite Sesame Street stars dancing WITH fans – not just FOR them. Tickets and additional information at AugustaEntertainmentComplex.com.

 (Thu 6/02)   The 5th annual Augusta Jewish Film Series continues with “Rock In the Red Zone”, an intimate portrayal of life in a war-torn Israeli city once known for its prolific rock scene that revolutionized Israeli music. Show time is 7:30pm at The J.S. Hardin Performing Arts Center on Evans Town Center Blvd. More info at AugustaJCC.org.

(Fri 6/03)   Country music superstars Alabama and The Charlie Daniels Band light up the James Brown Arena Friday evening as they make a stop in Augusta on their Southern Drawl Tour. You can catch these legendary bands and their award-winning music this Friday at 7pm. Tickets and info at AugustaEntertainmentComplex.com.

 (Fri 6/03)  Le Chat Noir is hosting another round of Extreme Theatre Games this Friday night.  Its an outlandish night of Improv Comedy staged by the ensemble, “Schrodinger’s Cat”, that takes place every first Friday.  Show time is 8pm.  Le Chat Noir is located at 304 8th Street in Downtown Augusta.  Additional information, including ticket prices, is available at LCNAugusta.com.

(Sun 6/05)   This Sunday afternoon, The Cecilia Ensemble – the resident choral ensemble for Symphony Orchestra Augusta – performs the American premiere of Dobri Hristov’s “Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom”. The Bulgarian composer helped establish a national musical style using Orthodox singing traditions. The performance starts at 4pm. More information is available at TheCeciliaEnsemble.com.

 (Sun 6/05)   Its time for “Sizzling Summer Music”, featuring “Sandy B and The Allstars”.  The concert and dance party is set for Sunday evening at 7, outdoors at The Columbia County Amphitheatre, behind the Evans Main Library.  This “good times show band” performs Motown, Classic Soul and Funk hits. Blankets, coolers and lawn chairs are welcome.  Additional information, including ticket prices, is available on the calendar page at AugustaArts.com.

(Sundays thru August)   June is the perfect time to come downtown to the Augusta Common and join jazz fans in celebrating JAZZ in the city! Every Sunday through August, it’s Candlelight Jazz starting at 7:30pm at the Common. This weekend, it’s the smooth sounds of Augusta’s own Karen Gordon and Garden City Jazz. More info at GardenCityJazz.com.

(Mon 6/06)   The 42nd season of The Hopelands Summer Concert Series Continues. Presented by The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department, show time is Monday from 7 til  10pm on The Windham Performing Arts Stage at Hopelands Gardens on Dupree Place in Aiken.  Blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets are welcome, but alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited.  Admission is free. This week, The Aiken Community Playhouse Youth Wing performs.  More info at CityofAikenSC.gov

(Wed 6/08)   If you love patriotic music and love to sing, here’s your chance to sparkle at this year’s Star-Spangled Concert celebration–July 4th in downtown Augusta, featuring Russell Joel Brown. The Independence Chorus begins weekly rehearsals at Saint Paul’s Church next Wednesday, June 8th, at 7pm–directed by Augusta’s Keith Shafer, Music Director for St. Paul's Church. Those musically and patriotically inclined, please contact Mr. Shafer at 706-722-3463.