Aug. 1-2

Friday

Three Wise Fools

Magnolia Arts Center will present "Three Wise Fools" by Austin Strong at 8 p.m. Aug. 1-2 and Aug. 8-9 and 2 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Music Academy of Eastern Carolina, 1400 Red Banks Road. The play is about three old men who have their lives transformed when a young woman comes to live with them. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Call (888) MAC-EVNT.

Saturday

Umbrella market

Uptown Greenville will hold its monthly Umbrella Market from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 2 along Evans Street. Enjoy arts and crafts, produce, antique vendors and music. Call 561.8400..

Aug. 3-9

Sunday

Sunday in the Park

Molasses Creek will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 3 at Greenville Recreation and Parks' Sunday in the Park concert series. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket to enjoy the free concert on the Town Common. In the event of rain, the concert is canceled. Call 329-4567.

Friendly fire

Goose Creek State Park, 2190 Camp Leach Road, Washington, N.C., will hold a "Friendly Forest Fire" program at 3 p.m. Aug. 3 for all ages. With the fire in the Pocosin Wildlife Refuge burning into its third month and more than 300 fires in California, how can we say that forest fires are friendly? The hour-long program, will discuss the issues that arise from wildfires and examine current issues at Goose Creek. Free. Call 923-2191.

Tuesday

Night out

The Greenville Police Department will hold a National Night Out Against Crime event from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 5 on the Town Common. America's Night Out is designed to heighten awareness of crime-and-drug prevention. Join the community for an evening involving law enforcement, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations, local officials and more. Enjoy free food, great activities, vendors, music, games and step dancers. Free. Call 329-4158.

Thursday

Opening reception

City Art Gallery, 511 Red Banks Road, will hold an opening reception for its exhibit "A Day at the Beach," including new works by James Kerr, Kevin LePrince and Mike Rooney. An opening reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 7 and will include a wine tasting by Finnelli's Cafe. Rooney will also give a painting demonstration. Free. Call 353-7000.

Friday

Worshipfest

6:22 Ministries will hold Worshipfest, a 24-hour event including music and speakers, beginning at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W. Greenville Blvd. This event is also the finale to the New Beginnings Tour that the 6:22 Band has been on since January. Musicians include The 6:22 Band, Jonathan David Helser, Stephen Roach, Brandon Willett, The Edge Ministries, Vision City, Worship 103, Beaty Bass, Scott Hobbs & Higher Place Ministries and Mark Mathis. Free. Visit www.worshipfestgreenville.org.

Opening reception

The Greenville Museum of Art, 802 S. Evans St., will hold an opening reception for its Artist Association Juried Show from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 8. Free. Call 758-1946.

Aug. 10-16

Sunday

Anniversary

Tavern on 4th Street, 110 E. Fourth St., will celebrate its first anniversary at 9 p.m. Aug. 10 with live music from the Whiz Kids and drink specials. Visit www.myspace.com/tavernon4th.

Monday

Audition

Auditions will be held for a production of Karen Brody's play "Birth" from 4-6 p.m. Aug. 10 and 7-9 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregration of Greenville, 131 Oakmont Drive. Roles are available for eight women. Birth will be performed at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation Sept. 5-7.

WEDNESDAY

Romantic comedy

"TwoLives" a new romantic comedy by Anthony Holsten, will presented at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 and Aug. 17 at New Bern Civic Theatre, 412 Pollock St. This is a co-production between the Carolinian Shakespeare Festival and the Greenville Theatre Project. Admission is free. Donations are accepted.

Thursday

Benefit concert

The band Refried Beans will hold three benefit concerts for the five volunteer fire departments from Hyde, Washington and Tyrrell counties that are involved in the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Fire. Concerts will be held at 8 p.m. Aug. 14 at River Forest Manor in Belhaven, 4 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Dock House in Beaufort and 4 p.m. Aug. 16 at Bluewater in Wrightsville Beach.

Friday

mixer night

Live!, Bell's Fork Square, N.C. 43, will host mixer night Aug. 16 from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. The event will include live music by Stairwell, food from Harris Teeter, giveaways and prizes. Admission is $3 for members and $5 for others. Call 756-8474.

Meet the Pirates

The 14th Annual Meet the Pirates Night will be held from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 16 at Dowdly-Ficklen Stadium. Along with inflatable rides and games, fans can also meet the ECU cheerleaders, take photos, visit the Dowdy Student Store souvenir booth, get autographs from the football players and enjoy entertainment by Captain Jim the Pirate. No tickets will be sold for this event. Fans are asked to enter through Gate 7. Call 328-4500.

Back to school

Fall semester classes for Pitt Community College begin Aug. 15.

Aug. 17-23

Sunday

Audition

Ayden Community Theatre will hold auditions for "The Diviners," a drama by Jim Leonard Jr., from 3-5 p.m. Aug. 17 and 7-9 p.m. Aug. 18 at Ayden Community Center, 4354 Lee Street, Ayden. The play is the story of a disturbed young man and his friendship with a disenchanted preacher in Southern Indiana in the early 1930s. Those auditioning will be asked to do a cold reading from the script with some improvisation. Women should be prepared to sing one verse from "Rock of Ages" or "Shall We Gather at the River." Production dates are set for Oct. 10-11 and Oct. 17-18. Call 746-7002.

Wednesday

Back to school

Time to stock up on pens and paper. Fall semester classes for East Carolina University begin Aug. 20.

Thursday

Pirate Palooza

The ECU Division of Academic and Student Affairs will kick off the 2008-2009 Academic Year with Pirate Palooza 2008 from 7-10 p.m. Aug. 21. Games include the annual Walk the Plank, Slide for Tuition, Velcro Wall, Sports Arena, Mini Hoops and a bungee run,. Students can take pictures with Pee Dee and take home food, t-shirts and prizes. ECU OneCard is required. No guests or children allowed. Call 328-4700.

Watermelon Festival

The 23rd annual Winterville Watermelon Festival will be held Aug. 21-23. The festival includes rides, food, watermelon, live music. A final concert with the stars will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 with Jack Ingram and Bucky Covington at the A.G. Cox Athletic Complex. The gates will open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. Visit www.watermelonfest.com. For a complete schedule of events, see page 8.

Save-a-Tail auction

The Marley Fund will hold its Save-a-Tail auction at 6 p.m. Aug. 21 at the American Legion Building, 406 St. Andrews Drive. Tickets include dinner provided by Olive Garden and beverages provided by Coastal Beverage Company. Musician Nicky Harris will perform. Tickets are $20. Call 215-0925.

Stargazing

Carolina Skies Astronomy Club will hold a free, public stargaze at 8 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Bradford Creek Soccer Complex, 4523 Old Pactolus Road in Greenville. A brief program on "Galaxies Beyond our Milky Way" followed by an evening of observing through telescopes. Bring your own telescope or use one provided by our club members. Call 916-1545 or visit http://csac.weseestars.org.

Aug. 24-31

Saturday

ECU Football

East Carolina University will play its first game of the season against Virginia Tech at noon Aug. 30 in Charlotte. The game will be televised on ESPN. Gather some friends and head out to your favorite watering hole to catch the game.

Mixed martial arts

Amateur Fight League will present "Fight to the Finish II" at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W. Greenville Blvd. This is a mixed martial arts event that will be televised. A ring girl and model search contest will also be held. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $24.95-$64.95 or $500 for a ring-side table. Call 339-7518.

Sunday

Fashion show

Moxie Clothing store will hold a Back to School fashion show at 8 p.m. Aug. 31 at Starlight Cafe, 104 W. Fifth St. The show will feature fashions from the Backdoor Skatepark clothing and music by the Spirit Molecule. Call 758-7400.