Here’s a list of events and meetings happening around campus during the next week. 

• Friday, April 8: The Stage Company Presents: “Enchanted April,” by Matthew Barber and from the novel by Elizabeth von Arnim and directed by Cara Recine. The production follows the story of four Italian womens’ wanderlust and their husbands’ tendency to crash their “ladies-only” holiday, where each learns a lesson in life, self-discovery, and love. Enchanted April takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. The production will be held at Varsity Center for the Arts, 418 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale.

• Saturday, April 9: The Beautiful Southern Bike Ride will start oat 7 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. at Carbondale Middle School, 1150 E. Grand Ave. The bike ride will feature a popular 75-mile course along with 30- and 62-mile courses. Entry fees are $15 per person or $40 for three or more riders from the same household. Day of event registration fees are $20 and $50. Proceeds from the Rotary Club of Carbondale fundraiser will benefit several organizations throughout the region, including: The Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale, the Carbondale Women’s Center, Youth Scholarships and the Rotary against Polio. 

• Saturday, April 9: The River-to-River Trail Society will hold its fifth guided hike of the spring. The hike begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, at the Shawnee Mart convenience store, on Route 45 in Eddyville. This will be a hike of more than average difficulty, and is intended for people in good physical condition. Boots or sturdy shoes and hiking sticks are strongly recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs are allowed. 

• Saturday, April 9: The Murphysboro Black Alumni Society will host the fourth annual Taste of Soul from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Murphysboro Elks Lodge, 1809 Shoemaker Dr. Tickets are are $20 for adults, which includes two trips through a buffet line, and $7 for children ages 10 and younger, which includes one trip through buffet line. All proceeds from this event will benefit the society’s scholarship.

• Sunday, April 10: The River to River Cooperate Weed Management Area will host the Garlic Mustard Pull: Warm-up to Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month. Volunteers are invited to join the River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area, Shawnee National Forest, The Nature Conservancy’s Southern Illinois Invasive Species Strike Team and other volunteers to work to remove the invasive garlic mustard from the Shawnee National Forest. Volunteers are invited to help hand-pull garlic mustard at this event. Gloves and water will be provided. This event will run from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Leisure City Project Area, Shawnee National Forest.

Diamond Jones can be reached at [email protected]