Beach Ball is May 10
A Beach Ball to benefit the Johnston County Partnership for Children will be held from 7 till 11 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Agricultural Center, 2376 N.C. 210, Smithfield. The Embers will perform. Tickets are $50 and include heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverages and shag lessons. To purchase tickets, call the Partnership for Children at 938-2411, Ext. 101, or e-mail hberge@pfcjc.org.

‘Broadway’ in Clayton
The Johnston County Chorale will present “A New Generation of Broadway” at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at The Clayton Center, 111 E. 2nd St., Clayton. For tickets, or for more information, call 553-1737.

Bluegrass at bookstore
Orchard House Booksellers will feature live music from 7 till 11 p.m. Friday, May 2. John Allen and Friends and David Hamlet of the Bluegrass Horsemen will perform. Admission is free. The bookstore is at 117 N. 3rd St. in Smithfield.

Music in Selma
The next Country Tonight music show is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Friday, May 2, at the Ice House Theatre, 112 N. Webb St., Selma. Nancy and Tammy Dail and the Country Roads band will perform. Comedian Tater Roads will join them. Reserved seating is $12. All other seats are $10. For reservations, call (252) 237-6199.

Artwork in Clayton
Artwork by Clayton High School students will be on display May 1-30 at The Clayton Center, 111 E. 2nd St., Clayton. A reception for the artists will be held from 6 till 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8.

American Music Jubilee
Here are the May dates for the American Music Jubilee, a variety show at the Rudy Theatre in Selma: May 3, 17, 22, 24 and 31. Matinees are at 1:40 p.m. Evening shows are at 7:40. For ticket prices and availability, call 202-9927.

Kickin’ Back
Kickin’ Back at the Vineyard is scheduled from noon till 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Hinnant Family Vineyards, 826 Pine Level-Micro Road, Pine Level. The festival will feature arts and crafts, wine tasting, raffles, door prizes and music by Kickin Grass, Digger Foot and the Flat Mountain Dulcimers. For more information, call 941-0530.

Lecture in Smithfield
The Johnston County Arts Council will present “Sincere Forms of Flattery: Blacks, Whites and American Popular Music” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield, 305 E. Market St., Smithfield. In this 45-minute lecture, Billy Stevens will speak on how historic interactions between African-Americans and European-Americans shaped the evolution of American popular music. For more information, call 553-1930.

Eddie Miles in Selma
Eddie Miles will perform his tribute to Elvis at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at The Rudy Theatre, 300 N. Raiford St., Selma. For ticket information, call 202-9927.

Piano lessons
The Selma Parks and Recreation Department will offer individual piano lessons this summer. The cost is $60 for four lessons. Class times are flexible. For more information, call 975-1411.

Bridge in Smithfield
The Smithfield Parks and Recreation Department offers a bridge club that meets from 7:30 till 11 p.m. Tuesdays at the Smithfield Operations Center, 230 Hospital Road, Smithfield. Drop-ins are welcome.

Summer art camp
The Selma Parks and Recreation Department will offer summer art camps for children ages 5-12. One camp will run June 23-27; the other will run July 28 through Aug. 4. Both will meet from 1:30 till 3:30 p.m. daily. The cost is $100. For more information, call 975-1411.