CALENDAR, Aug. 29+: Music, plays, food, turtles, more

Jazz Fest:  Sept. 2-4, North Charleston Performing Arts Center, North Charleston.  You can enjoy three days of jazz at the 8^th Greater Charleston Lowcountry Jazz Festival featuring Brian Culbertson, Dave Koz and David Sanborn on Sept. 2, Nick Colionne, Avery Sunshine and Will Downing on Sept. 3 and Selina Albright, Jackie M. Joyner, Jazz Funk Soul and Peabo Bryson on Sept. 4.  More:  lowcountryjazzfest.com.

Hairspray:  Sept. 7-25, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston.  Charleston Stage will open its 39^th season Sept. 7 with the hilarious musical award-winning “Hairspray.”  Adult tickets start as low as $30.  For performance times and more, go to: CharlestonStage.com.

Charleston Restaurant Week:  Sept. 7-18, all over Charleston.  You can get all sorts of dining deals during the 12 days of Restaurant Week. Check for more online at:  CharlestonRestaurantAssociation.com

(NEW) Liberty film screening: 5:30 p.m., Sept. 8, Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St., Charleston.  “Liberty and Slavery: The Paradox of America’s Founding Fathers” will highlight America’s early search for answers in the paradox of liberty-loving founding fathers who owned slaves.  The film will be introduced by Drayton Hall CEO Carter C. Hudgins and filmmaker Troy Thomas.  Free.

(NEW) Turtle Trek 5K:  6:30 p.m., Sept. 10, Isle of Palms County Park, Isle of Palms, S.C.  Join the S.C. Aquarium for its inaugural sunset beach run/walk to support construction of its new Sea Turtle Recovery exhibit.  The event begins with a pre-run beach sweep with the Charleston chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, followed by a kids’ run at 6 p.m.  An after-party will be at the Windjammer.  Cost:  $40 for the 5K; $20 for the kids’ fun.  Registration and more info is here.

Tuesday Brewsdays:  5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 11, Sept. 27 and Oct. 11, Old Towne Creek County Park, 1400 Old Towne Road, Charleston.  Craft beers, food trucks and live music will be available on these three Tuesdays  as well as a free yoga presentation.  Tickets are $15 at the gate. More.

Distinguished fall speakers:  Three accomplished speakers will speak at the S.C. Society Hall, 72 Meeting Street, Charleston, in the fall as part of the Drayton Hall Distinguished Speakers Series.  On Sept. 15, archaeologist Sarah Stroud Clark of the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust will discuss what lies beneath Drayton Hall.  On Oct. 20, curator William M. Kelso of Historic Jamestowne will discuss “The Buried Truth” at the Virginia attraction.  On Nov. 17, historian David S. Shields of the University of South Carolina will discuss “Creating the World Orchard.”  Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with presentations an hour later.  Free.

Repticon:  Sept. 17-18, Commercial Exhibit Building, Ladson Exchange Park, Ladson, S.C.  Vendors, breeders and educators of reptile and exotic animals will be in the Charleston area for its annual expo and world-class seminars by industry experts.  Doors open each day at 10 a.m..  Tickets are $10 for adults and half for children.  More info.

Wine, Women & Shoes: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 25, Francis Marion Hotel, Charleston.  This fourth annual fund-raiser for the Florence Crittenton Programs of South Carolina will feature designer shopping, savory food, wine tastings, a fashion show and more.  General admission tickets are $100 per person.  More.

Wild Side:  Oct. 8, Hobcaw Barony, Georgetown, S.C.  There’s food, fun, birding and boat rides at the seventh annual Wild Side to support the S.C. Environmental Law Project.  Hundreds attend this great event.  This year’s speaker is Jim Elliott, founder and executive director of the Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw.  To learn more and get tickets, go to:  https://scelp.org/wildside

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.