CALENDAR, April 11+: Books, outdoor fest, plays, more

(NEW) Books and Beer:  5 p.m. to 8 p.m., April 12, Bay Street Biergarten, East Bay Street, Charleston.  The restaurant is teaming with Charleston County Friends of the Library to build friendship and fellowship — and to collect gently used books in return for a free beer (root beer for children).  There also will be some book sales.  More.

Charleston Outdoor Festival: April 15-17, James Island County Park. The 26th annual festival celebrates paddlesports and outdoor recreation. This year, the event will host the Polynesian Voyaging Society and crew members from the legendary Hōkūleʻa, a breathtaking double-hulled Polynesian voyaging canoe will be in Charleston as part of its ongoing worldwide voyage. Some of the ship’s crew will speak 8 p.m. April 16 at Edisto Hall during the festival. More: CharlestonCountyParks.com.

(NEW) Footlight’s new play:  Ten shows from April 22 to May 8 by the Footlight Players of “Lend Me a Tenor,” a Tony Award-winning play by Ken Ludwig.  Location:  20 Queen Street.  Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors/military and $20 for students. Order tickets online at footlightplayers.net or by calling the box office at 843-722-4487.

(NEW) Water parks to open:  Charleston County’s three waterparks — Slash Zone on James Island, Splash Island in Mount Pleasant and Whirlin’ Waters in North Charleston — open for weekends on May 7 until Memorial Day, when they will open daily through August 12.  More.

Gibbes Museum to reopen: May 28. After being shut for months, the art museum on Meeting Street in Charleston will reopen to showcase a $13.5 million renovation expected to improve experiences by visitors. More.

Bird walks: 8:30 a.m. to noon, every Wednesday and Saturday. This is the time of year that a great variety of migrating birds fly through the Lowcountry so what better time to take part in one of the regular early morning bird walks at Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel. Pre-registration is suggested. Cost is $10. Walks also are conducted on James Island and Folly Beach. Learn more online.

If you have an event to list on our calendar, please send it to editor@charlestoncurrents.com for consideration.  The calendar is updated weekly on Mondays.