With busy schedules and jam-packed weekends, Rhode Islanders may find a few Providence Arts and Entertainment District events enjoyable over the next few days.

Thursday, May 20th is Gallery Night in Providence. From 5-9pm, art enthusiasts can stroll through twenty-one different galleries, museums and historic sites for free. Leaving from One Regency Plaza every half hour, there are five different guided tours, the first departing at 5:30pm.

Last week, Providence Performing Arts Center welcomed Jersey Boys to their stage. Running until June 6th from Tuesday to Sunday every week. The reasonable ticket prices (starting at $28) make this off Broadway performance a must see.

Saturday, May 22nd, from 11am-5pm, Westminster Street shops in Providence will be opening their doors and bringing their artistic inventory on the sidewalks for the Spring Sidewalk Sale. Shops on Westminster Street include Craftland, Heir Antiques, Symposium Books, Oop!, Clover and more.

Joining the Spring Sidewalk Sale, on May 22nd, is the Rock’n'Roll Yard Sale at Grant’s Block. Treasures can be found in the form of vintage records, t-shirts, and jewelry, to name a few.

If you are still reeling from your St. Patrick’s Day celebration, take heart that it kicks off the start of the new season. Many of the winter activities are ending, such as Ice Skating at Bank of American City Center, which ends March 20. The opportunities to get out in Providence and have some fun are just starting to fill the events calendars. This Saturday is the first official day of Spring, but the weather implies it’s beginning much earlier in the week.

I discovered on RIMonthly.com‘s Social Datebook that Saturday will be Providence’s official St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  This very green parade will start at noon and will proceed east down Smith St. towards the Statehouse. They won’t tell us where it starts, but I think Patrick’s Pub has something to do with it. There will be many post parade celebrations all over town. The St. Pat’s 5k race is on the same route, so get out and encourage those energetic souls.

However, before that comes the return of Gallery Night, on Thursday, March 18, 2010. There will be a kick off party starting at 5pm at One Regency Plaza, celebrating the 14th season! Look forward to sample refreshments from local restaurants including United BBQ, Seven Stars, and Nancy’s Fancies, along with entertainment provided by Big Nazo. A Celebrity Guided Tour starts at 5:30pm with Karen Adams, an award winning anchor from Eyewitness News.

New this year at Gallery Night, you can hop on one of five art buses at Regency and visit Historic/Traditional Galleries, University East or West/Educational Galleries, International/Contemporary Galleries, Contemporary/Emerging Galleries, or Artisan Shops. The buses will depart from One Regency Plaza at 5:30pm, 6:00pm, 6:30pm, and 7:00pm. This is a great way to see the city and experience some of the talent from Rhode Island. Gallery Night will operate on March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, and November 18 of this year.

Go spend some time outdoors in a city that thrives on the arts.

What’s better during recession time than a free night out?

Gallery Night Providence offers just this.  Every third Thursday from March-November, galleries throughout Providence open their doors to the public.  The event offers free parking at 7 locations, “Art Bus” tours, and a central information booth which recently relocated to Regency Plaza on Greene Street.

Gallery tours cover Downtown, the East Side, West Side and Wickenden Street (home to our Providence office).  The next gallery night is June 12th.  For your first time, catch the Art Bus at Regency Plaza.  The bus runs from 5 to 9 p.m., with the final run at 8:40 p.m.

See you at Gallery Night!