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Knoxvillians are known for liking a lot of things - the arts, sports, community, an abundance of worship houses, our beautiful public parks, and our concentration on restoring the City. We need a break from all that hard work sometimes, and that's where celebrations come in. We just finished Dogwood, and Mother's Day weekend is Vestival.. fitting perfectly between the two is the beloved "Rossini Festival." Taste food from all over the place - from delicious Delta barbecue to Mediterranean goodies (my personal rule is to always leave with a piece of bak lava.. or five), and from pizza to fresh-squeezed lemonade. Browse the booths full of original artwork, sculpture, jewelry, textiles and other gifts. Enjoy the beautiful Spring weather that we're finally getting! Most importantly of all, come celebrate both the diversity and unity that downtown has to offer. Brand-new to this year's Rossini Festival are two chances to see one of the most popular operas in the world performed right before your eyes.

A performance of Carmen, live at the Tennessee Theatre, kicks off the festival on Friday night at 8 p.m. Saturday promises two parades featuring the Toreros, Chorus and Actors featured in Carmen; three stages featuring local and national musicians and performers, including Wendel Werner (1pm, Cumberland Stage), The East TN Jazz Orchestra (3-4pm, Wall St. Stage), and expert body-moving from Alexia and her Middle Eastern Dancers (6pm, Cumberland Stage) and Circle Modern Dance (7pm, Wall St. Stage). From noon until 9ish, there will be an Opera Stage set up, where folks will perform everything from .. well, opera.. to Broadway favorites and acted-out scenes from various works. Afterward, a prize drawing and entertainment by Roy Smith, a tenor for New York City's Metropolitan Opera. Start your Domenica (Sunday, in Italian) at 11am in First Presbyterian church, where you'll be graced with a choral concert that honors Rossini with "Petite Messe Sollenelle" ("poor little Mass"), which was the last of what the great composer called "my sins of old age." Whatever that might mean... there's free admission. The party winds down Sunday afternoon with the final performance of Carmen.

As far as after-partying, there's an abundance of great live music this weekend - where you go is totally up to you. Friday night, a band riding high on a brand-new CD release, 1220, is playing Barley's; Mic Harrison and The High Score are opening for punk-country favorites, The Gourds; or for a more mellow (but still rockin') atmosphere, head down to Pilot Light to see Dixie Dirt and Judson Claiborne (of Low Skies). You could wind up your day this Saturday by previewing the latest Bjork CD at World Grotto's 9pm listening party, or further indulge your love for drama and music by checking out Oodles/Uncorked, where Sara Schwabe and Her Yankee Jass Band will be performing. If you're a West Townie, stop by Judy's on Middlebrook Pike and get a taste of local yokels, Kitty Wampus. As far as Sunday goes, we highly recommend checking out Brandy Robinson and Michael Glabicki (of Rusted Root fame) at 10pm at World Grotto. After that, you're allowed to go home and recover from all that fun.

Who says you gotta go Mexican on Cinco, hm? Make plans for your Cinco de Mayo weekend now - head downtown for the Rossini Festival. As always, admission to the Rossini Festival is free! For a full event schedule and more info, check out The Knoxville Opera's website.