Go and Do in Mesa

'Church Basement Ladies’

After selling out performances in Chicago and Minneapolis, this musical comedy comes to the Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., through Nov. 22. The play details the lives of the women who work in basement kitchens serving up food for all manner of church events. William Christopher, who played Father Mulcahy on television’s “M*A*S*H*,” also stars.

Tickets are $40.

For more information and showtimes, call (480) 644-6500 or visit www.mesaartscenter.com.

Old West Days Festival

Take a trip back to the Old West in downtown Mesa from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Experience the pioneer history of Mesa at this celebration of frontier times. This free event will have a quick draw competition, historical re-enactments, period crafting demonstrations, food, live music and more.

For more information, visit www.mesaoldwestdays.com.

Nature talks

The Usery Mountain Regional Park will have a day full of events on Saturday. Audubon bird expert Sandy Hornbaker will host “Backyard Birding” at 9 a.m.

Bring a brown-bag lunch and learn about the mysteries of the environment with “Desert Mythbusters” at noon.

Cale Morris, a reptile expert with the Phoenix Herpetological Society, will present “Venomous Reptiles” at 7 p.m.

All of the programs are free, but there is a $6 per vehicle park admission fee.

For more information, call (480) 984-0032 or visit www.maricopa.gov/parks/usery.

Run From the Sun charity race

Feeling energetic or just looking for an excuse to enjoy the cooler fall weather? This charity race has half-marathon, 5K and fun run divisions. The event hopes to increase awareness and raise money to aid in the fight against skin cancer.

The races will begin 7 a.m. Saturday at Hohokam Stadium, 1235 N. Center St.

Registration cost is $75 before Tuesday and $85 after that for the half-marathon, $35 and $40 after Tuesday for the 5K and $20 and $25 after Tuesday for the fun run.

For more information, call (480) 567-4123 or visit www.runfromthesunaz.com.

'Second Friday’ in downtown Mesa

Businesses in downtown Mesa will stay open late on Friday to participate in the monthly “Second Friday” event. A county fair atmosphere will be in the air with this month’s theme of “Harvest Moon.”

Activities will include an organic farmers market, hay rides, games, live music, raffles and more. The festivities will run 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in downtown Mesa, on Main Street between Country Club Drive and Center Street.

For more information, contact (480) 890-2613 or visit www.downtownmesa.com/friday_night.htm.

Salt River Brass concert

This group will pay tribute to the armed forces in the performance “An American Dream,” 3 p.m. today at the Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. The program will include numerous patriotic and rousing songs. Guest musician violinist Peter Wilson will also join the band for this show.

Tickets range from $13 to $20.

For more information, call (480) 644-6500 or visit www.mesaartscenter.com.

Discussion on natural products

Mesa continues the Living Green Lecture series with sustainability consultant Stacy Wilde. She will present “Healthy Home Healthy You: Do Natural Products Make a Difference?” Learn about the effects and benefits of using natural products.

The event will be Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Red Mountain Branch library, 635 N. Power Road.

For more information, call (480) 644-3184 or visit www.mesalibrary.org/Events.

Lunchtime concert

Pack a lunch and enjoy the outdoors along with a free midday musical performance 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St.

That Kool Band will play rock and pop songs from the 1950s and after, including hits by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Neil Diamond and more.

For more information, call (480) 644-6500 or visit www.mesaartscenter.com.

Go and Do events are compiled by Tribune writer Chris Adams. If you have an event that you would like to see listed, send the details via e-mail to getout@evtrib.com.