Celebrate 80 years of women in flight, and more this week
SWEETWATER — The National WASP WWII Museum kick off its 80th anniversary celebration Friday with a ball and dinner starting at 6 p.m. in Hangar 2 at Avenger Field, with patrons invited to dress in 1940s-inspired formal wear.
Celebrations will continue with a fly-in from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Avenger Field, welcoming all pilots and aircraft. Events include reenactments, meet the pilots, an authors' hour and children's activities.
For information, go to waspmuseum.org.
Superhero Fun Run
Big Country CASA will present its annual annual Superhero 5K Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Williams Performing Arts Center at Abilene Christian University, with runners encouraged to dress in costume.
Registration is $25 for adults and free for children. To register, or for information, go to BigCountryCASA.org.
'The Sandlot'
As part of the Family Film Series, a showing of "The Sandlot," rated PG, will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St.
All tickets are $2. For tickets or information, go to paramountabilene.com.
Zoobilation
The annual Zoobilation dinner benefiting the Abilene Zoological Society will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Abilene Zoo, with a theme of "The Roaring 20's." A bar will be open, and encounters with animals including a kangaroo, red-tailed boa and two-toed sloth will be available.
Tickets are $150, and are available at abilenezoo.org.
'The Little Mermaid'
As part of the Children's Performing Arts Series, Panto Company USA will present a stage production of "The Little Mermaid" at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St.
Tickets are $10. For tickets or information, go to cpasabilene.org.
Tales of Abilene history
Historian Jay Moore will present "Abilene in the '20s and '30s: Little Known Tales of Our Hometown" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St.
Admission is free, and concessions will be open.
Sci-fi films
The Paramount Theatre will kick off a science fiction weekend with a showing of "The Fifth Element" at 7:30 p.m. May 6, followed by the 2021 version of "Dune" at 7:30 p.m. May 7.
Tickets for each film are $7 for adults and $6 for students, seniors, military and children. For tickets or information, go to paramountabilene.com.
Philharmonic concert
The Abilene Philharmonic will present its "Masterworks IV" concert, featuring Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," at 7:30 p.m. May 7 at the Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. Sixth St., with guest artist Faith Fang, an ATEMS graduate, performing on the violin.
For tickets or information, go to abilenephilharmonic.org.
Salvation Army fundraiser
The Salvation Army will present its "Doing the Most Good" fundraiser event, featuring NFL hall-of-famer Drew Pearson, at 7 p.m. May 10 at 201 Mesquite Event Center, 201 Mesquite St.
All proceeds will go to shelter expansion project to support veterans, elderly and disabled. For tickets or information, go to salvationarmytexas.org/abilene.
Spring choir concert
Celebration Singers will celebrate the choir's 25th anniversary with a spring show, "The Wonderful World of Animals," at 7 p.m. May 10 at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St., presented in collaboration with the Abilene Zoo's "Zoobilation."
Admission is free. For information, go to celebrationsingersabilene.com.
And more ...
► Big Country Master Gardeners will present a free workshop, "Fowl Play in the Garden," from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Taylor County Extension Office, 1982 Lytle Way, featuring information on raising backyard chickens. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. For information, go to bcmgtx.org or call 325-672-6048.
► A program on "Understanding Life Insurance" will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mockingbird Lane banch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane.
► Bill Wright will sign copies of his book "Across the Border and Back: Music in the Big Bend" from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Texas Star Trading Co., 174 Cypress St. A portion of the day's sales will go to Abilene Gives. For information, call 325-672-9696.
► In celebration of Dia de los Ninos, Cultura Local ABI will conduct a festival, "Together with Dia," from 2-5 p.m. Saturday at Rose Park, 2601 S. Seventh St. Dancing, reading and children's activities will be presented, and food trucks will be open.
► The Abilene Garden Club will present its annual flower show from 3-5 p.m. Saturday at its club headquarters, 300 Westwood Drive. The show will feature themes on local attractions. Admission is free to the public.
► A Cinco de Mayo festival will begin with a parade at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Sears Park, 2250 Ambler Ave. Parade lineup will begin at St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church. Mariachi and Ballet Folklorico will perform.
► A program on "Understanding Social Security" will begin at 10 a.m. May 7 at the Mockingbird Lane branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane.
► A free showing of "The Great Mouse Detective" will begin at 2 p.m. May 7 at the Mockingbird Lane branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane.
► The first Bunco for Babies, benefiting the March of Dimes, will begin at 6 p.m. May 10 at Lytle Bend Pavilion, 2302 Potosi Road, featuring a live auction and raffles. Registration is $30. For reservations, call 325-660-2446.
► OLD GLORY — A country music dance will begin at 7 p.m. May 10 at the Old Glory Community Center. A live band will perform, and a potluck meal will be served. For information, call 940-989-2816.
► A line dancing class for beginners will begin at 2 p.m. May 12 at the Mockingbird Lane branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane.
► Abilene Parks and Recreation will present its annual Mother Son Dance at 7 p.m. May 13 at the Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. Tickets are $12, and must be purchased in advance at 633 Walnut St. or abilenetx.gov/signup. For photo information, call 325-695-8140.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Celebrate 80 years of women in flight, and more this week
