|  SPECIAL EVENTS  |

APRIL 21 & 28: WEST COAST SWING DANCE LESSONS, beginner West Coast swing at 6:30 p.m., intermediate West Coast swing at 7:30 p.m. $8 per person per class. SandysDance Center, 111 Dalton St., Suite 400, Shreveport. Call 465-4534 or visit www.sandysdance.com.

APRIL 22: BREASTFEEDING: STARTING OUT RIGHT, prenatal class instructs how to breastfeed successfully by a board-certified lactation consultant. Free. 6 p.m. Christus Schumpert, One St. Mary Place, Community Center. Call 681-4600.

APRIL 25: MIKE EPPS, Don’t miss this funny man that you know from his hilarious stand-up comedy as well as his roles in such films as “The Hangover,” “Next Friday” and “Friday After Next”; with special guest, Earthquake. 8 p.m. $41.50-$71. CenturyLink Center, 2000 CenturyLink Drive, Bossier City. Call 747-8501.

APRIL 25-27: ARTBREAK FESTIVAL 30TH ANNIVERSARY, This weeklong celebration of student creativity festival engages more than 25,000 students in 100 schools and 50,000 visitors over the weekend. Free. 5-9 p.m. April 25, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 26, noon-5 p.m. April 27. Shreveport Convention Center.

APRIL 26: TRAILS & TRELLISES, the annual garden tour sponsored by the Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners features the gardens of Denton and Dr. Savanna Culpepper, Mike and Whitney Harper, and Master Gardener Evalyn Cabell and husband Ben. Included also this year is the Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardener Teaching Garden located at the Webster Parish Extension Office. $10 in advance; $12 the day of the tour. Call the Webster Parish Extension Office at 371-1371. 

MAY 3: CINCO DE MAYO FIESTA, The event, a celebration of Hispanic culture, raises funds for academic scholarships benefiting Hispanic students throughout the Ark-La-Tex. The event features food, live entertainment, the Chihuahua Challenge, Mexican dance troupes, a custom car show and more. Free until 5 p.m., $5 after 5 p.m. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Festival Plaza, downtown Shreveport.

MAY 3: CROSS LAKE DANCE CLUB MONTHLY DANCE, featuring dancing to the music of the Bill Bush Combo. $17 per person, dressy casual. 7:30-10:30 p.m. El Karubah Shrine Temple, 6230 South Lakeshore Drive, Shreveport. Call 773-7912 or visit www. crosslakedanceclub.com.

MAY 3: HIGHLAND OPEN STUDIOS TOUR, Seven venues filled with artists, music, food and recycled treasures will be open throughout the Highland Neighborhood Cultural District. Free, with artworks available for purchase. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sites include 436 Topeka St., 444 Olive St., 309 Merrick St., 1173 Louisiana Ave., 424 Dalzell St., 400 block Dalzell Art Installation, and 829 Kirby St., Shreveport. 

MAY 3-4: MELROSE ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL, The premier event for over 40 years, this fine arts and crafts festival is held on the grounds of the historic Melrose Plantation and includes food vendors and home tours. Admission. Located 18 miles south of downtown historic Natchitoches. For information, call 1-800-259-1714 or visit www.aphnatchitoches.net.

MAY 3-4: LE TOURS DES JARDINS, The Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners will hold their annual spring garden tour of six beautiful private gardens in Shreveport and Bossier City. $10 in advance, $12 the days of the tour. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3, 1-5 p.m. May 4. Call 698-0010. 

MAY 5: LSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CAPITAL ONE PILOTS GOLF CLASSIC, the proceeds of which benefit LSU scholarships, programs, projects and services. Sponsorships range from a $250 Fairway Sponsorship to a $700 Titanium Sponsorship to the $3,500 Diamond Sponsorship. Shotgun start at noon. Stonebridge. Call 797-5190 or e-mail alumni@lsus.edu.

MAY 10: CHIMPANZEE DISCOVERY DAYS, Nature, science, education, family and fun all describe Chimp Haven’s Chimpanzee Discovery Days; guests can bring a contribution for the chimps, including fresh or canned fruits and vegetables, unshelled nuts, peanut butter, sugar-free cereals, pretzels, sugar-free gelatin, pudding mixes, juice and syrup and more. Walk through the sanctuary’s naturally wooded trail, visit the enrichment station and the greenhouse exhibit. You can explore Chimp Haven on a 30-minute staff-led hayride tour; adults $10, children, $5. Chimp Chat and Chew dates, featuring lunch, a behind-the-scenes tour of the sanctuary and a presentation by a staff member, are at noon on May 10, June 14, Sept. 13 and Nov. 8; adults $50, children $25, reservations required. Admission: $6 adults, $3 children age 5 and under. 9 a.m. to noon. Chimp Haven, located in the Eddie D. Jones Park, off Highway 789, Keithville. Call 925-9575.

MAY 10: RABIES VACCINE/DIP CLINIC, Dogs and cats are welcome for treatment, but must be on a leash or in a carrier; sponsored by Hand in Paw -- Friends of Bossier City Animal Control. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $5 rabies vaccine, $5 dip, cash only. Bossier City Animal Control, 3217 Shed Road, Bossier City. Call 741-8499.

MAY 10: SANDYSDANCE CENTER SPRING FLING DANCE PARTY, free dance lesson at 7 p.m. dancing to the music of SandysDance Party, 7:30-10:30 p.m. $15 per person, casual attire. SandysDance Center, 11 Dalton St., Suite 400, Shreveport. Call 465-4534 or visit http://www.sandysdance.com/.

MAY 17: THE COLOR RUN, For every volunteer to help out at the Color Run, the Boys and Girls Club will receive a monetary donation. Call Jennifer Stephens at 424-3200, ext. 23 or Paige Smith at 946-8057.

JUNE 21: CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE 5K RUN/WALK, presented by the Ark-La-Tex Crisis Pregnancy Center. Registration 8 a.m., 5K run/walk 9 a.m. Stoner Boat Launch. Call 861-4600.

THROUGH APRIL 19: SCI-PORT’S THIRD ANNUAL TECHNOLOGY EGG-STRAVAGANZA, Stop by Sci-Port for an Easter egg hunt unlike any other; using QR codes, visitors will complete the egg hunt and turn in their answers to win prizes. Admission free with center admission. Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center, 820 Clyde Fant Parkway, Shreveport. Call 424-3466.

THROUGH APRIL 20: HOLIDAY IN DIXIE, The annual celebration features such classic events as the treasure hunt, family fun run and 5K, and the carnival at Festival Plaza. For details, visit www.holidayindixie.com. 

TUESDAYS THROUGH APRIL 29: A PLACE THAT WARMS THE HEART, grief support groups spring session, includes children’s group for ages 5-12; teen group for ages 13-18; significant other group, parents’ group and early infant loss group. Free. 6-30-8:30 p.m. Emmanuel Baptist Church, 5850 Buncombe Road, Shreveport. Call 317-9329. 

TUESDAYS THROUGH MAY 13: EAST COAST SWING LESSONS, presented by USA Dance Shreveport. $8 adults, $7 USA Dance members, $5 students with ID. Beginners, 6:30 p.m.; intermediate, 7:30 p.m. Sandy Tamplin, instructor. SandysDance Center, 111 Dalton St., Suite 400, Shreveport. Call 798-6783 or visit www.usadanceshreveport.org.