Priority list: Celeb-spotting at the 500 Festival Parade, a free concert on the lawn

Yes, there's a big race this week. There are also lots of A&E events in town both related and unrelated to the 500. Here's a starter list.

500 Festival Parade

Spirited survivor Emma Stumpf, who founded Emma’s Art Cart while fighting an inoperable brain tumor, is the grand marshal for this year’s parade featuring the competitors in this year’s 500. Included among the celebs hitting the road with them: pop group Walk Off the Earth, “The Voice” winner Josh Kauffman, comedian Drew Lynch, Olympic diver David Boudia, actor Kevin Sorbo, actress Florence Henderson, and racing legends Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, and Rick Mears.

May 28  Downtown Details

“Crescendo”

General admission is free for this Indianapolis Opera/Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra event that samples operatic classics in the first act and Broadway and other popular tunes in the second. Plus, prepare for a “Back Home Again in Indiana” sing-along. Eric Barry, Emily Fons, Allison Nicholas and Darren Stokes, along with the Indianapolis Opera Chorus, lend their voices.

May 27 White River State Park  Details

“Assassins”

The community theater that likes to challenge itself with difficult and/or rarely done musicals has a go at Stephen Sondheim’s non-linear concept musical about the gallery of real-life characters who have attempted to assassinate U.S. presidents.

May 27-June 12  Buck Creek Players  Details

Also this week

Journey plays the Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 27. Blake Shelton follows on May 28.

Hilbert Circle Theatre reverts to its former life as a movie house for $5 screenings of “Talladega Nights” (May 27) “Cars,” and “Turbo” (both May 28).

The Concerts on the Canal series at the Indiana Historical Society kicks off May 26 with Cool City Band featuring Shannon Forsell, Jimmy Guilford and Laney Wilson.

My Morning Jacket plays the Lawn at White River State Park May 26.

Comedian Tony Roberts brings his act to the Murat May 28.