FRIDAY, APRIL 24

Yaarab Shrine Circus and Carnival

Circus acts from around the world and carnival rides, what more could a kid — or a kid at heart — want?

• April 24-May 3, Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta. $7; ages 5 and younger free; $1 per ride; $3 parking. 800-360-5818, www.circus2009.org

Alice Walker

The Pulitzer-winning author, whose personal archives are on display at Emory through Sept. 27, speaks.

• 8-9 p.m., Glenn Memorial Auditorium, 1652 N. Decatur Road, Atlanta. Free; tickets required. 404-727-2515, arts.emory.edu

Joe Sample Trio

Smooth yet soulful fusion of jazz and R&B gets extra oomph from the soulful voice of Howard Hewett.

• 8 p.m., Ferst Center for the Arts, 349 Ferst Drive N.W., Georgia Tech, Atlanta. $40-$50. 404-894-9600, www.ferstcenter.org

Heidi Newfield

Former Trick Pony vocalist is now a successful solo artist, with the No. 11 country hit “Johnny and June.”

• 10:30 p.m., Cowboys, 1750 N. Roberts Road, Kennesaw. $15-$30. 770-426-5006, www.cowboysatl.com

“Del Shores: The Storyteller”

Writer, director and producer shares the real stories behind “Sordid Lives” in this unscripted one-man show.

11 p.m., Actor’s Express at King Plow Arts Center, 887 W. Marietta St. N.W., Suite J-107, Atlanta. $25. 404-875-1606, www.actors-express.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

Smyrna Spring Jonquil Festival 2009

Arts and crafts, food, live entertainment and children’s activities are blooming in downtown Smyrna.

• 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 25; noon-5 p.m. April 26; Smyrna Village Green, 2800 King St., Smyrna. Free admission. 770-434-1330, www.jrmmanagement.com

“The Flying Dutchman”

Atlanta Opera tackles Wagner’s opus about a mariner condemned to sail the seas until love can redeem him.

• 8 p.m. April 25 and May 1; 7:30 p.m. April 28; 3 p.m. May 3. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. $25-$130. 404-881-8801, www.atlantaopera.org

“A Raisin in the Sun”

Lorraine Hansberry’s play explores an African-American family struggling with poverty and racism.

• Through May 10. The Renaissance Project, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. $18: $15 advance. 404-243-6937, www.renaissanceproject.info

Garden Faire 2009

A plant sale, bake sale and lecture-demos, including one on Southern cuisine by chef Linton Hopkins.

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Ave., Roswell. Free. 770-992-1731, www.bullochhall.org

“Let’s Go Fly a Kite”

Kite enthusiasts demonstrate their talents. Bring your own or make a kite ($3). Registration required.

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Shorty Howell Park, 2750 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth. Free. 770-814-4914, www.gwinnettcounty.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 26

Feria Latina 2009

Latin-themed festival including rides, food, entertainment and a laser show. On the Memorial Lawn.

• 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Drive, Stone Mountain. $8 parking. Admission is free. 404-321-0663, www.ferialatinaonline.com

Taste of Marietta 2009

Sample from 50 restaurants and caterers — along with live music and cooking demos.

• 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Marietta Square, 4 N. Park Square, Marietta. Free admission; food tickets 50 cents to $4. 770-429-1115, www.tasteofmarietta.com

“Tradin’ Paint”

A comedy about racing and romance — and good fried chicken.

• April 26-June 7, Theatre in the Square, 11 Whitlock Ave., Marietta. $11-$33. 770-422-8369, www.theatreinthesquare.com

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

The Boss, who spends a lot of time recording in Atlanta, returns to raise the roof at Philips Arena.

• 7:30 p.m., Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive N.W., Atlanta. $69-$99; $99 standing floor. 404-878-3000, www.philipsarena.com

George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic

The outrageous living embodiment of funk, Clinton lands his mothership in our midst.

• 7:30 p.m., Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. $30; $27.50 advance. 404-521-1786, www.variety-playhouse.com