Top 5 Things To Do This Weekend 5/17-5/19

1. Audra McDonald at Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra – 5/17

The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra is bringing in one of Broadway’s best this evening for a special encore of its Great Performers in Concert series. Five-time Tony Award winner and Grammy Award winner Audra McDonald will perform alongside the orchestra in the River Center Theatre for the Performing Arts.

2. Storybook Ball – 5/18

Tomorrow evening, twelve storybooks come to life in an enchanted wonderland with activities for the entire family. The Storybook Ball will feature the Jungle Book, Princess and the Frog, Where the Wild Things Are and several others. There will be an activity for children at each storybook, a vintage carriage for photo shoots, raffles, a live auction, music, and fanciful food and drinks. Proceeds go to Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge, which provides a wide range of support services to local families. Cocktail or storybook costume attire.

3. Abita Springs Opry – 5/18

The Abita Springs Opry’s spring series finishes up this month. Come early and join those who’ve made a ritual of enjoying the front porch concerts, food and homemade pastries. It all adds up the good ole’ family atmosphere that the Opry strives for. After the show, head to the Abita Brew Pub for a post-show jam session.

4. Tour of Ponds and Gardens – 5/18-19

The annual Baton Rouge Area Tour of Ponds and Gardens is a paean to the beauty and the pleasures of water-gardening. Presented by Harb’s Oasis and the Deep South Koi and Pond Society, this tour visits the private ponds of homeowners in the Baton Rouge area as they open their backyards to show off their waterscapes. Since the tour’s inception, more than $110,000 has been raised and given back to the community. This year, proceeds will benefit Brave Heart–Children in Need and Yelp!BR.

5. Balloon Artistry – 5/22

It’ll be a veritable balloon bonanza at Bluebonnet Library on Sunday. Bring the kids to watch balloon artist Chris Pierce twist and tie balloons into all sorts of creatures. (By the way, a Google Image search of “balloon animal” yields fairly terrifying results.)