At the Old Mansion
The Louisiana Old Governor’s Mansion, 502 North Blvd., will host a performance by the Chuck Wagon Gang at 5:30 p.m. May 20. The performance will celebrate the group’s 90th anniversary.
The Chuck Wagon Gang, led by Shaye Smith, features Melissa Kemper, Josh Garner, Nick Poe and Roger Newman. The group originally was formed in 1936 and has been an integral part of America’s musical landscape for 90 years. A reception will follow the concert.
The Chuck Wagon Gang was originally formed in Lubbock, Texas, by members of the Carter family, including David P. “Dad” Carter and three of his children, Lola (Rose), Effie (Anna), and Ernest (Jim). The group quickly rose in popularity across the South and produced hit songs such as “I’ll Fly Away.” Current bandleader Shaye Smith is the granddaughter of Anna, who was herself the wife of the late Governor Jimmie Davis. Staff of the Old Governor’s Mansion will use this historic opportunity to deliver a tour specifically around artifacts relating to Davis.
Admission is free. For more information, call (225) 342-9778 or visit laogm.org.
At Mid City Civic Theatre
Tickets are on sale for Mid City Civic Theatre’s inaugural production, Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” opening June 12 on its stage at 7155 Florida Blvd.
Tickets are $20-$40. Visit midcitycivic.org.
At Baton Rouge Gallery
Baton Rouge Gallery center for contemporary art, 1515 Dalrymple Drive, is showing exhibits by its artist members Jeremiah Ariaz, Justin Tyler Bryant and Kristine Thompson through May 24.
Admission is free. Visit batonrougegallery.org.
At Playmakers
Tickets are on sale for Playmakers of Baton Rouge’s production of “Newsies Jr.,” opening June 3 in the Reilly Theatre, 10 Tower Drive, LSU campus.
Tickets are $20-$30. Visit playmakersbr.org.
At LSU Museum of Art
The LSU Museum of Art in the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St., will host Free First Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 7, featuring a lecture by artist Edgar Cano at 2 p.m. and art activities inspired by the museum’s “South Arts Southern Prize & State Fellowships for Visual Arts” exhibition. Admission is free. Visit lsumoa.org/calendar-1/2026juneffs.
Also, the museum will host a free summer reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 11 celebrating its exhibits, “South Arts Southern Prize & State Fellowships for Visual Arts” and “ReVision: Women in Photography. Visit lsumoa.org/calendar-1/2026/summerreception.
Call for artists
Build East Baton Rouge is calling for artists to submit designs telling the City of Zachary’s story in a public community mural on the Zachary City Hall Annex, 4650 Main St., Zachary. Submission deadline is May 30.
All materials must be submitted electronically to [email protected] with “Zachary Mural RFP Submission” and artist’s name in the subject line. For requirements, email [email protected]
‘Still Here’
Tickets are on sale for Waco Theatre Center’s “Still Here Lived Experience” June 3-8 at Jolie Salon Grand, 240 Range 12 Blvd., Denham Springs. The immersive experience explores the stigma carried by Black Women with HIV/AIDS.
Visit wacotheatrecenter.com.
‘A Refugee’s Origin’
The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s Shell Gallery will open “A Refugee’s Origin by K.T.Ho” runs through May 29 at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, 233 St. Ferdinand St..
The show is a mixed media exhibit exploring Vietnamese Diaspora, colonial legacy and survival.
Admission is free. Visit artsbr.org/shell-gallery.
At LASM
The Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road,’ will host “Random Acts of Science,” featuring free admission and a $5 unlimited pass for planetarium shows, on its Free First Sunday, June 7.
Also, registration is open for the museum’s NASA Astro Camp for students in the fifth through eighth grades set for July 8-10 at the museum, 100 S. River Road.
Cost is $325. A $75 nonrefundable deposit due at booking. Visit lasm.org.
Presence Fest
Presence Fest, a community-driven arts and worship experience, will take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 30 in Scotlandville Plaza, 8551 Scotland Ave. The Presence Fest brings together live gospel music, visual art and local entrepreneurship in one immersive outdoor environment.
Admission is free. Visit presencefest.com.
At the Old Capitol
Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd., is showing “Bought For A Song: A Young Nation Expands,” featuring the Louisiana Purchase agreement, signed by Napoleon Bonaparte, through July 11. This exhibit is on loan from the National Archives in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
The museum also is showing “Japanese War Brides: Across A Wide Divide,” through June 13, exploring the story of more than 45,000 Japanese women who immigrated to the United States after World War II and how their bold passage reshaped communities across the country.
Admission is free to all events. Visit louisianaoldstatecapitol.org.
Preschool boxes
The Hammond Regional Arts Center is partnering with Prime Time, Inc., and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities to offer Prime Time Preschool Boxes on between 8 a.m. and noon May 23 at the Hammond Farmers Market at 213 SW Railroad Ave. The boxes will be given to families with children between ages 3 and 5.
Visit hammondarts.org or primetimefamily.org.
Acadian exhibit
The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana is supporting Franco Fine Arts Exchange and its upcoming group exhibition, “Acadian Looking Glass,” through May 31 at Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St., Lafayette.
The show features work by more than 15 Acadian artists representing Acadiana, the United States and Canada.
For more information, visit FrancoFAE.org.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.theadvocate.com ’
