Friday, Sept. 27-Saturday, Sept. 28

The Grammy Award-winning comic Lewis is touring again: “The Rant is Due.” It is, indeed. Well known for his acerbic wit and a delivery style that might be called abrasive, Black has something to say on every political maneuver, celebrity stunt and mindless trend (as fans of his “Back in Black” segments on the “Daily Show with Jon Stewart” are aware). Catch the rant first at Rose State Performing Arts Center, 6420 S.E. 15th St., in Midwest City at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27. Tickets are $39.50-$59.50 at www.myticketoffice.com. Tulsa can find him at the Osage Event Center at Osage Casino, 951 W. 36th St. Black takes the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. Tickets are $40 each and available at www.osagecasinos.com.

Friday, Sept. 27-Sunday, Sept. 29

Following a season that lost three of its veteran dancers (Ma Cong, Alexandra Bergman and Alfonso Martin), Tulsa Ballet has lost no time in reordering its company. When “Rite of Spring” comes to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center’s Chapman Music Hall stage this weekend, audiences are sure to be astounded again by the symphony of music, dance and disciplined talent. The night features Paul Taylor’s 1940s-inspired big band dream “Company B” along with the Oklahoma premiere of “One/End/One” by in-demand choreographer Jorma Elo and the program’s namesake – Adam Hougland’s contemporary staging of the groundbreaking Vaslav Nijinksy piece from 1913 set to Stravinsky’s savage score. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27-Saturday, Sept. 28, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. Tickets are $20-$99, available at www.myticketoffice.com. Read more about Tulsa Ballet’s new season at www.tulsaballet.org.

Friday, Sept. 27, 6:30-9 p.m.

If animals could speak, they’d tell you to go to the Oklahoma City Zoo for ZooBrew V, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27. The annual soiree will be held outdoors at the zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th St., with festivities, great food to sample from the city’s most original restaurants and artisan beers from local breweries and distributors to sample. Be a part of the silent auction to further help the zoo. This event is for ages 21 and older only, so please leave the little ones at home. Tickets to the event and are $30 for ZooFriends members and $35 for non-members. If you’re a designated driver, it’s only $10 to get in. Tickets, however, are limited to only 750 guests, and the event always sells out. Get them before 5 p.m. Thursday. Read more at www.zoofriends.org.

Saturday, Sept. 28, 6 a.m.

The race is on Saturday, Sept. 28, at ONEOK Field, 201 N. Elgin, in Tulsa for the annual event bringing breast cancer survivors and supporters together. Komen Race for the Cure Tulsa begins with registration and packet pick-up at 6 a.m. followed by the survivor breakfast at 6:30 a.m. The timed 5k run starts at 7:30 a.m. with other events (including the survivor parade and ceremony, the untimed 5k, kids’ run events and 1-mile fun run and walk rounding out the morning. The course goes through downtown Tulsa and the Brady Arts District. Registration ranges from $15 (youth)-$40 (adult timed 5k) for individuals, but team registration is also available. Join the team, and find out more at www.komentulsa.org.

Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m.

Tulsans with a palate for lush flavors and flowers always keep their calendars open for An Evening of Wine & Roses, Tulsa Garden Center’s annual toast to fall. This year’s wine tasting event with food in the heart of the rose garden takes place Friday, Sept. 27. The night begins with the sponsor tasting from 6-7:30 p.m. The garden tasting event takes place from 7-9:30 p.m. With an assortment of decadent appetizers and desserts plus wines from some of Tulsa’s finest vintners, Wine & Roses is a signature event in itself. Tickets are $65 (garden center members) to $80. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. The Tulsa Garden Center is located at 2435 S. Peoria Ave. For more, visit www.tulsagardencenter.com.

Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m.

Fans of a good concerto need wait no longer as the Oklahoma City Philharmonic returns with a new season of shows featuring great concert soloist and timeless compositions. For its big “Opening Night” show, 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, conductor Joel Levine leads the Phil in three works – Saint-Saens’s Symphony No. 3 (“Organ Symphony”), Wolf-Ferrari’s Overture to “The Secret of Suzanne” and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Even better, OKC Phil welcomes international concert pianist Andrew Von Oeyen to an exciting night of classics. Tickets are $15-$53 at www.myticketoffice.com, and the concert will be at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. For more, visit www.okcphilharmonic.org.

Sunday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m-4 p.m.

We’re not entirely sure what to expect at the first ever BaconFest Tulsa, Sunday, Sept. 29. According to www.facebook.com/baconfesttulsa, this outdoor event will feature the area’s finest and most creative chefs, bakers and baristas all working with our favorite breakfast staple – bacon – and competing to be crowned Boss Hog of BaconFest. The Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth St., in Tulsa’s Pearl District wants to fill your plate with gourmet bites and desserts from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. There will also be an amateur bacon cooking contest, bacon haiku contest and a bacon look-a-like contest. It’s the Nightingale, which has brought tales strange, true and esoteric to its stage for more than a decade, so we’re know it will be unlike any other benefit we’ve seen. Advance tickets are $20, but tickets at the gate are $25. Price coveres sampling and goodie bags. Proceeds will fund capital improvements of the theater. Go online for more details.

Thursday, Sept. 19-Saturday, Sept. 21

The Gateway Foundation in Broken Arrow celebrates 50 years of opening opportunities to people with developmental disabilities with the annual celebration of sky-high wonder. The Gatesway Balloon Festival kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Gatesway Foundation headquarters at 1217 E. College, in Broken Arrow. Hot air balloons lift off and light up the night’s sky to honor the client’s served by the organization. On Friday, Sept. 20, the fun moves north to Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs, 16305 Oklahoma 20, in Claremore with such activities as tethered balloon rides, children’s play area and more beginning at 4 p.m. The festival continues through Saturday with balloon flight competitions, live entertainment and more scheduled. Admission and parking is free. For more, visit www.gatesway.org.

Friday, Sept. 20-Saturday, Sept. 21

Rodeo action and cowboy music are the big stars of the Oklahoma State Fair this weekend. Look for the PRCA’s Xtreme Bulls Tour & Concert to stop at Oklahoma State Fair Park, 3001 General Pershing Blvd. The fiercest bulls in the circuit get ready to face the sports biggest names at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, in the park’s Jim Norick Arena. When the dust settles, the Eli Young Band steps up to entertain. The next night, look for more bull busters followed by Clay Walker in concert. Tickets are $18-$25 each night, available online at www.okstatefair.com. While you’re there, check out what else the fair has in store for its final weekend.

Saturday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.

Signature Symphony Classics makes “The French Connection” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, as it marks the 100th anniversary of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Barry Epperley and the Signature Symphony play sections of the composition that sparked a small riot in Paris when it was introduced in 1913. Along with its choreography by Vaslav Nijinksy and set and costume designs, The Rite of Spring was unlike anything that had been heard before and was reviled by many. Eventually, the composition would be exonerated as one of the most important of the 20th century. Guest pianist Thomas Lanners joins in this evening that also includes work by Ravel at the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education at Tulsa Community College, U.S. 169 and 81st St., Tulsa. “The French Connection” opens Epperley’s final season as artistic director with Signature Symphony. Tickets are $25-$35, available at www.signaturesymphony.org.