Friday evening, the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra presents the last concert of the 2013-2014 season. Jeans ‘n Classics promises to be “an ensemble and orchestra extravaganza” featuring classics from Blood, Sweat, & Tears, Earth, Wind, & Fire, and Chicago. London, Ontario-based Jeans ‘n Classics collaborates with orchestras all across the United States and Canada to create classical concerts blended with classic rock. 7:30 p.m. at Northern Arizona University’s Ardrey Auditorium. Tickets available for all budgets – $20 – $70.
On Saturday evening, the Flagstaff Arts Council invites you to the Coconino Center for the Arts for the Local : Color Exhibition Opening Reception, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The exhibition will feature artwork by 24 artists, including Tom Alexander (photography), Greg Mason (found object assemblage), Bahe Whitethorne, Jr., (painting), Jen Holt (ceramics), Julie Williams (printmaking), and Darcy Falk (fabric). Enjoy live music, good food, wine and beer, and meet many of the artists. Admission is free.
Mars Week at Lowell Observatory culminates this weekend on Friday and Saturday. Celebrate the Red Planet each night from 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. with special hands-on Mars activities. Friday is also Second Friday Science Night, featuring the Electromagnetic Spectrum through Gamma Rays. See demonstrations abut the longer wavelengths of light at 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.
Saturday kicks off the Flagstaff Shop Indie EGGstravaganza. To promote shopping locally, the Flagstaff Independent Business Alliance (FIBA) is having an Easter Egg Hunt for seven days leading up to Easter. Multiple eggs will be hidden by FIBA and Local First Arizona in the historic downtown area that contain prizes and $20 gift certificates to local Flagstaff businesses. Free and fun for all ages. The event lasts as long as eggs remain “unfound” each day. Learn more at the Flagstaff Shop Indie Facebook page.
It’s the final weekend for the Theatrikos Theatre Company’s production, Boeing, Boeing — Friday and Saturday evenings (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (2:00 p.m.). This 1960s French farce adapted for the English-speaking stage features self-styled Parisian Lothario Bernard, who has French, German and American fiancés, each beautiful airline hostesses with frequent “layovers.” He keeps “one up, one down and one pending” until unexpected schedule changes bring all three to Paris and Bernard’s apartment at the same time. Doris Harper-White Playhouse. Theatrikos box office: (928) 774-1662.
In honor of the Week of the Young Child, families with young children are invited to Play, Learn and Grow, at the 4th Annual Early Childhood Fair, Saturday at Mount Elden Middle School, (3223 N. Fourth Street), 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The event is a multi-agency collaboration with resource booths, interactive activities, music and dancing with Flagstaff Young, free dental screenings, healthy snacks, door prizes, free books and more! Free.
Join all of the schools in the Flagstaff Unified School District for a showcase of the fantastic Sights and Sounds of FUSD at the Flagstaff Mall on Saturday. Over 60 displays of art, STEM projects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and FUSD programs, as well as musical performances from several elementary schools. It’s an opportunity to see a martial arts demonstrations by Killip Elementary School students, and the CocoNuts new robot! 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Get fit while having lots of fun at Tribal Bellydance Fitness. Each Sunday in April, feel good in your body with the ancient movements of belly dance. Center for Indigenous Music and Culture (213 S. San Francisco St.), 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat. $12 for drop-ins.
If you want to head out of town for a bit on Sunday, the NAU Shrine of the Ages Choir Performs in Concert at the Church of the Red Rocks (54 Bowstring Dr., Sedona) at 2:00 p.m. Free. This is the year-end concert by the NAU School of Music’s premier auditioned mixed concert choir. Shrine was first founded over 80 years ago. Hear traditional and contemporary works by Ravel, Bruckner, Forrest, and Guillaume. Also featured will be works sung in Bulgarian and Turkish, as well as a set of American folk songs and spirituals. The Shrine of the Ages Choir brings it home to Flagstaff on Monday evening, 7:30 p.m., at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (1601 N. San Francisco St.), Free.
Bet you didn’t know: The Shrine of the Ages Choir was founded in 1933 under the direction of Dr. Eldon Ardrey, bringing tremendous exposure to NAU through its annual participation in the Easter Sunrise Service at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The service was broadcast nationally over NBC radio affiliate stations until 1968, including broadcasts overseas to servicemen during WWII. My aunt in Iowa used to talk about how wonderful the broadcast was!
Other Flagstaff weekend entertainment picks: A longtime Flagstaff favorite, musician Jimmy Deblois entertains at Altitudes Bar & Grill (2 S. Beaver St.) on Friday evening, 7:00 p.m.