The Week Ahead: Folklife and Sasquatch festivals are arts highlights

Movies

'Mother and Child'

Rodrigo García's superbly cast and acted drama concerns three women (Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington) and their very different experiences with pregnancy and/or adoption. Now playing at the Metro and Meridian. For showtimes, see Page H7. For John Hartl's recent 3-star review, go to www.seattletimes.com/movies.

Festivals

Northwest Folklife

One of Seattle's best festivals. Why? It's massive, it's inclusive and it's free. Seattle Center bubbles for four days with music, dance and folk arts. Don't miss it. Friday-May 31 at Seattle Center; free (206-684-7300 or www.nwfolklife.org).

TV

Season (and series) finales

The very last episodes are here for both "24 (Fox) and "Law & Order" (NBC) on Monday, as well as season finales for all four CBS comedies; "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC), both "NCIS" shows and "The Good Wife" (CBS) and "The Biggest Loser" and "Parenthood" (NBC) end their seasons on Tuesday; while on Wednesday "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: NY" (CBS) close their seasons on CBS, and "American Idol" wraps up its ninth season (the last with judge Simon Cowell) Wednesday on Fox.

Pop music

Sasquatch!

In-the-know music lovers are gushing about this year's lineup at the annual Memorial Day Weekend festival at the Gorge. A few highlights: Pavement, My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, Public Enemy, MGMT, plus locals Shabazz Palaces and Fresh Espresso. Not surprisingly, all three days are sold out, but at last look, there were plenty of ticket-holders unloading tickets on the secondary market. Look for a Seattle Times preview Friday in Ticket or now at www.seattletimes.com/matsononmusic. Info: www.sasquatchfestival.com.

Theater

'Candide'

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents a Broadway musical comedy inspired by Voltaire's satirical novel, with a book by Lillian Hellman and a score by Leonard Bernstein. Revived for the citywide Bernstein celebration, the show is about a young man's passage from innocence to disillusionment. Opens Tuesday and runs through June 13, 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle; $22-$100 (206-625-1900 or www.5thavenue.org).

Classical music

American String Project

Lovers of violins, violas, cellos and all things stringy have one more chance to catch the American String Project at Benaroya Hall. The program includes works by Verdi, Brahms, Beethoven and others. 2 p.m. Sunday, 200 University St., Seattle; $20-$30 (206-215-4747 or www.seattlesymphony.org).

Literary arts

Robert Dugoni

Best-selling author signs his book "Bodily Harm," a courtroom drama, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Parkplace Books, 348 Parkplace Center, Kirkland; free (425-828-6546); noon Thursday, Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., Seattle; free (206-587-5737 or www.seattlemystery.com); and 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Tin Room Bar & Grill, 923 S.W. 152nd St., Burien; free (206-242-8040).

Visual arts

'Speak for the Trees'

A showcase of 50 artists featured in the book "Speak for the Trees" is in its final days at Friesen Gallery. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 1200 Second Ave., Seattle (206-628-9501 or www.friesengallery.com).