9 essential Atlanta arts events this weekend

Each week, ArtsATL curates a selection of the most exciting arts and culture events happening in Atlanta this weekend, highlighting nine must-see experiences. 

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Thursday

Italian Holiday 

Take a musical trip to Italy without ever leaving Atlanta, as Italian conductor Jader Bignamini makes his Atlanta Symphony Orchestra debut with Respighi’s Pines of Rome and Fountains of Rome. Joining Bignamini is Italian violin sensation Giuseppe Gibboni, winner of the Paganini International Violin Competition and the soloist for the Paganini Violin Concerto No. 1. Performances are at 8 p.m. on May 1 and May 3.

AAFTA: Unifying U.S. Through Art

AAFTA: Unifying U.S. Through Art (Art Brings People Together in the U.S.) opens with a reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 1 at The Gallery at Callanwolde. The exhibition is presented by African-Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit arts advocacy organization whose goal is to educate and promote diversity in the arts community. The show will be on view through May 29.

Trick! The Musical

Out Front Theatre stages the world premiere of Trick! The Musical, based on a 1999 queer romcom about an attempted one-night stand that encounters numerous obstacles. The book was written by original screenwriter Jason Schafer. It opens May 1 and runs through May 17.

Friday

Atlanta Master Chorale

Spend an evening with the Atlanta Master Chorale as they perform Mozart’s Requiem and the Coronation Mass at Emory University’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Concerts are at 8 p.m. on May 2 and May 3.

The Little Shop of Stories Children’s Book Festival

This inaugural Festival takes place alongside the Decatur Arts Festival. Meet authors and illustrators of children’s picture books, explore middle-grade literature and graphic novels and check out the young adult stage. The inaugural event gets underway on May 2 with the keynote speaker, and there will be vendor booths and author tables on May 3 and May 4, along with author talks held throughout the weekend on the Decatur Square. Find out more about this year’s Decatur Arts Festival, happening May 2 through May 4.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

City Springs Theatre Company presents this beloved jukebox musical that chronicles the career of the woman born Carole Klein, who became one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of the 20th century. From her early days as one of the ’60s most successful songwriters to finding her voice as a performer with the massive 1971 album Tapestry, the show is packed with familiar songs that have deservedly become undeniable classics.

Saturday

Chopin Society of Atlanta

Under the direction of conductor John Thomas Dodson, pianists Piotr and Eliza Folkert will perform works by Chopin and Górecki with the Chopin Academy Chamber Orchestra. The concert is presented by the Chopin Society of Atlanta at Spivey Hall at 3 p.m. on May 3.

The Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade

The Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade brings its magic to the Southwest Trail on May 3. Creator Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons will lead the colorful celebration with the parade beginning at 8:35 p.m. and wrapping up with music and other performances in the Lee + White Food Hall parking lot. Food trucks and vendors will be on hand starting at 4 p.m., and there will be lantern-making stations at the Atlanta Beltline Marketplace @ Allene (1089 Allene Ave. SW) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday

Steve Carse

A Cappella Books welcomes the entrepreneur, author and King of Pops founder for a special afternoon talk and book signing in honor of his book, Work Is Fun: Seven Ways a Successful Ice Pop Company Makes Work Meaningful and How You Can Too. The event happens at 3 p.m. on May 4 and is free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

More things to do this weekend and beyond

This weekend brings a batch of brilliantly diverse music to town, including Bartees Strange (at Terminal West on May 2), LCD Soundsystem (at the Coca-Cola Roxy on May 3), Atlanta’s own Puma Blue (at Eddie’s Attic on April 30 and May 1) and Rhiannon Giddens (at the Eastern on May 3) … Atlanta native and Spelman College grad Kathleen Bertrand is a beloved local jazz institution. She’ll perform at 7 p.m. May 2 as part of the First Friday at First series of jazz concerts at the Commons at First Congregational Church. Future shows in the series include Lavahi (June 6), Wycliffe Gordon (July 11) and Jason Marsalis (August 1) … XPT: Experimental Puppetry Theatre is back with an evening of puppet-centric performances aimed at adults. It’s happening at the Center for Puppetry Arts now through May 4 … The High Museum of Art’s Family Saturday offers arts programming for everyone. From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., experiment, play and make art in studio workshops and learn about art on view through gallery tours. Among the events scheduled on May 3 are Toddler Saturday, Studio Sessions and Teen Art Afternoon … Stroll through Marietta’s Glover Park while enjoying two days of arts, crafts, music and more at the 47th annual May-retta Daze 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 3 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 4 … Comedian and actor Eugene Mirman, who you might recognize as the voice of Gene Belcher on Bob’s Burgers, will be at Terminal West on May 3 … The Jazz Legacy Project will present a Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald at Eddie Owen Presents at the Red Clay Music Foundry in downtown Duluth. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. May 7. On future dates, they’ll pay tribute to Art Blakey (June 4), Charlie Parker (July 2), Cannonball Adderley (August 6) and Billy Strayhorn (September 3).