Five Free, Fun Things, plus one, at Miami in May
Compiled by Susan Meikle, university news and communications
Miami Matters brings you free, fun things to do at Miami from events listed on the Miami Events and Oxford community calendars. We've highlighted six activities for May on Miami's Oxford, Middletown and Hamilton campuses.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 3, 4 and 5: ARTECHA (Art • Technology • Design)
Free and open to the public, with more than six exhibitions over three days, ARTECHA features architectural project mapping, virtual and augmented reality, immersive soundscapes, electroacoustic music concert, geo-mapping visualization and a pop-up student gallery across Miami’s Oxford campus. Go to www.artecha-miamioh.com for the events schedule.
Saturdays, May 4, 11, 18 and 25: Oxford Guided Historic Walking Tours
10:30 a.m.-noon Different meeting point each week, Oxford
In recognition of National Historic Preservation Month, join tour guides as they explore Oxford's historical architecture. Guided tours are sponsored by Oxford’s Historic and Architectural Preservation Commission, Smith Library of Regional History and the McGuffey House and Museum.
- May 4: Glen Acres. Meet at 311 W. Chestnut St.
- May 11: Wespiser Place. Meet at 6101 Contreras Road.
- May 19: Working-class families. Meet at 230 W. High St.
- May 26: Faculty Families & Bungalows.. Meet at 301 N. Poplar St.
Tuesday, May 7: Wind Ensemble & Symphony Band Together in Concert
7:30 p.m. Hall Auditorium, Oxford
The Miami University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band will join forces to present a program of music by Leonard Bernstein, Yo Goto, John Mackey, Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, John Philip Sousa, Frank Ticheli and other composers. Conductors Gary Speck and Brooke Humfeld welcome guest conductor, Heidi Sarver, director of athletic bands, University of Delaware, and Alexander Cuccuarre (Miami '13), graduate student in music.
Friday, May 10: Sharing Ramadan, Breaking Fast
7:30-9:30 p.m. 212 MacMillan Hall, Oxford
Join the celebration at this new annual event co-sponsored by the Center for American and World Cultures and Miami’s Muslim Student Association.
The celebration includes: introduction to Ramadan around the world; an interactive session with food and cultural traditions; call for Breaking of Fast; Iftar (a free dinner); and Qur'an reading (in Arabic and English).
All are welcome. Women are encouraged to bring a headscarf to wear during the Qur'an reading. Scarves will also be available to borrow on site. Ramadan is celebrated May 5-June 4 this year.
Tuesday, May 14: Square Foot and Pallet Gardening Made Easy – Verity Traditions
6 p.m., Verity Lodge, Middletown
Learn how to grow your own produce in a small space with urban farmer and local food system advocate Alfred Hall. Hall is co-founder of HUGS, Hamilton Urban Garden Systems, which has partnered with Butler County Metro Housing, Health Now and Serve City to install gardens that have brought fresh local produce to low- and moderate-income families.
HUGS has installed dozens of organic urban gardens; managed Hamilton’s Commerce Park Community Garden and the South Front Street Community Garden; and participated in several area farmers’ markets. It was instrumental in getting Hamilton’s Urban Agricultural Ordinance passed.
A light meal is provided for the first 60 attendees.
Wednesday, May 15-Tuesday, May 21: Spring Cleaning or Moving Out? Donate to ShareFest
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Daily drop-off station at Chestnut Fields parking lot, Oxford
Donate your good quality furniture, appliances, housewares, clothing and nonperishable food to ShareFest, the donation drive that occurs in Oxford during Miami’s Move-out Week.
ShareFest is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the collection and redistribution of items donated by Miami students and the Oxford community. Collected items benefit residents in need and social service agencies throughout the region.
Anyone with a 45056 zip code may schedule a donation pickup, or bring it yourself to the drop-off station. ShareFest cannot accept mattresses, pillows, TVs, file cabinets or construction materials. Review the list of items accepted by ShareFest.
