MUCH BETTER THAN A FLEA CIRCUS: Sure, you can stay at home with Rover this weekend, but wouldn’t you both rather check out STAR 94’S PETAPALOOZA? The pet-friendly festival takes place from noon to 9 p.m. today at Town Center Park in Suwanee, with dog agility and frisbee shows and an appearance from Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald of Animal Planet’s “Emergency Vets.” And yes, pets are welcome at this free event. For more information, visit www.star94.com.

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON: And spring just happens to be the time for home tours and festivals. Explore another intown neighborhood during the KIRKWOOD SPRING FLING AND TOUR OF HOMES. The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today only at Bessie Branham Park, while homes are open for the tour from noon to 6 p.m. May 17 and 18. The fest is free; tour tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour. www.kirkwoodfling.com.

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? By which we mean, have you ever been to the SOCO MUSIC EXPERIENCE? The annual summer music festival, brought to you by the folks at Southern Comfort, returns to Atlanta today with headliners Against Me! accompanied by the Supersuckers, Ghostland Observatory, Ryan Shaw and Bang Camaro. There’s also food, drinks, vendors and something called the Soco & Lime Dome, all at Centennial Olympic Park. The event is free, but you’ve gotta be 21 or older to get in. For more information, visit www.southerncomfort.com/scmxatl.

If you’re a fan of modern country music, it doesn’t get any better than the lineup at the 11th annual COUNTRY FAIR at Lakewood Amphitheatre. The two-day extravaganza, sponsored by local radio station Kicks the Big 101.5 (WKHX-FM), offers some of the smartest acts in today’s country scene tonight as Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley take the main stage; Saturday features Clay Walker, Pat Green and Georgia’s own Travis Tritt. For bands playing pre-concert shows on the Honky Tonk stage and other information, visit www.wkhx.com.

DANCING ON TAP: The world’s most famous Irish dance sensation is back, as RIVERDANCE makes the rounds for what’s being billed as its farewell tour. See the show once last time at the Fox Theatre tonight through Sunday, May 18. Ticket prices range from $25 to $62. 404-817-8700. www.foxtheatre.org.

A SWELL EVENING: Probably still basking in the afterglow of their Academy Award for Best Original Song back in February, THE SWELL SEASON (aka musicians Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová) perform tonight at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Rent their utterly charming movie “Once” beforehand to acquaint yourself with some of your new favorite songs. 404-249-6400. www.cobbenergycentre.com. 

And if anybody could, it would probably be the ATLANTA BOY CHOIR, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. For the last five decades, the choir has performed for presidents, heads of state and the Pope while visiting more than 30 states and 20 countries. The group’s anniversary concert starts at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center. Tickets are $10, $25 and $50. 404-733-5000. www.woodruffcentertickets.org.

After two previous cancellations, VAN HALEN is scheduled to finally hit the stage at the Arena at Gwinnett Center this Sunday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. Let’s hope we’re “Jump”-ing for joy that David Lee Roth, Eddie and Co. do actually show up. Otherwise, Gwinnett will be a “House of Pain.” 404-249-6400. www.gwinnettcenter.com.

Hundreds of motorcyclists from across Georgia will be gunning their engines on Saturday, May 10 for the 14th annual RIDE TO LIVE benefit for the American Diabetes Association, taking off from the Hooters on Gwinnett Place Drive. Get in gear for the big event tonight with a KICK-OFF PARTY at Wild Bill’s, featuring SKID ROW and ROCKETS TO RUIN. Tickets are $14 in advance, $20 at the door; VIP tickets range from $25-$100. 678-473-1000. www.wildbillsatlanta.com.

Celebrate the opening of the new VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATRE AT ENCORE PARK with an inaugural concert by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The program includes music by Bernstein, Copland, Gershwin, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. The Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra and marching bands from Alpharetta and Milton high schools join the ASO for the finale performance of “1812 Overture.” The show starts at 8 p.m. this Saturday, May 10 at the new amphitheatre in Alpharetta. Ticket prices range from $21 to $75. 404-249-6400. www.vzwamp.com.

Say what you will about Atlanta-born rapper and producer KANYE WEST, you can’t blame the guy for being too subtle. Case in point: his GLOW IN THE DARK TOUR, which pulls into the Arena at Gwinnett Center tonight.

West’s storied ego is apparently healthy enough that he doesn’t fear being upstaged by hot young superstar RIHANNA, rapper LUPE FIASCO or the eclectic collective N.E.R.D. (the musical side project of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, aka hitmaking production duo the Neptunes). www.gwinnettcenter.com.

If you’re like us, you just can’t get enough of the ’80s. Celebrate the era at ’80s NIGHT, featuring a performance by Atlanta’s own pop purveyors THE PRODUCERS at the Concourse Athletic Club at 8 Concourse Parkway in Atlanta. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m tonight. Tickets are $15. 770-698-1650. www.concourseclub.com.

You loved the catchy hard rock of the early ’80s, and the pop-metal Springsteen era of “Slippery When Wet” and “New Jersey.” Basically, you’ve been a BON JOVI disciple through the good times and even the not-so-great ones, all the way through to a smash-hit collaboration with Jennifer Nettles and last year’s surprisingly sturdy, semi-country “Lost Highway.”

So you’re sure to be in the audience tonight or tomorrow (or both) for the band’s two-night stand at Philips Arena, with special guest Daughtry. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. 404-249-6400. www.philipsarena.com.