Polka your dupa off at this entertaining ethnic fest, running at downtown’s Clinton Square on Friday, June 11, 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, June 12, noon to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, June 13, noon to 6 p.m. Expect the usual tasty treats ranging from kielbasa to pierogies, plus crafts, dancers, Polish brewskis and the annual Sunday crowning of the teenage Miss Polonia. Music also abounds at the fest, as audiences will bid “Witamy!” to acts such as the Salt City Brass and Krewz on Friday, and Fritz’s Polka Band, Ashley Cox and the ever-popular Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra checking in on Saturday. Admission is free. Call 687-1086. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTOS

The CNY Jazz Central organization spearheaded by Larry Luttinger kicks off this inaugural event on Sunday, June 13, 5 p.m., at Anyela’s Vineyards, West Lake Road, Skaneateles. Salt City veterans readily know the legacy of Jimmy Van Heusen (1913-1990), the former Central New Yorker who vaulted to fame as a Hollywood songwriter in the 1940s and 1950s and enjoyed the swinging high life with boozing buddies like Frank Sinatra. Interpreting Van Heusen’s many standards (think “Come Fly With Me,” “Call Me Irresponsible” and “My Kind of Town”) will be Cindy Miller (pictured at left, with her muse above her), who has warbled for the Gap Mangione Orchestra. Admission is $25. Call 685-3405 for reservations; for CNY Jazz Central information, dial 479-JAZZ.

The Syracuse Cinephile Society ends its spring season of oldies but goodies with this 1936 moppet musical starring Shirley Temple, 20th Century Fox’s biggest box-office attraction during the Depression. Shirley gets hooked up with some radio vaudevillians along the way (played by Jack Haley and Alice Faye, pictured), thus ensuring lots of comedy, dance and musical numbers that include the climactic “Military Man” tap routine. The movie screens at the Spaghetti Warehouse, 680 N. Clinton St., with food available from the venue’s menu. Admission is $3, with members getting in for $2.50. For Spaghetti Warehouse details, call 475-1807.

It’s a solemn title, to be sure, especially for such a fun event, in which thousands of multicolored (get the symbolism?) rubber duckies are unleashed into Onondaga Creek for a series of racing heats. The 2010 edition, presented by Community Wide Dialogue to End Racism and InterFaith Works of Central New York, gets wet and wild on Saturday, June 12, noon to 4 p.m., at the Syracuse Inner Harbor, West Kirkpatrick and Solar streets. The race is free, with duck sponsorships available for $5. For information, call 449-3552. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

It’s hard to believe that this hot-air hoedown has been taking flight since 1980, as this durable event goes up again on Friday, June 11, 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, June 12, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 13, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Jamesville Beach Park, 4110 W. Shore Manor. Upward of 40,000 people might be on hand over the weekend to witness the balloonatics, who are slated for high times (weather permitting) on Friday, 6 to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 6 a.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Balloon rides are $125 for morning jaunts, $150 for evenings; call 727-9000 for reservations. Meanwhile, landlubbers can enjoy arts and crafts, amusement rides, food and drink and music from a mix of local and national performers. Friday’s entertainers include Kane (7 p.m.) and John Waite (8:30 p.m.), Saturday features The Mike Estep Band (2 p.m.), Dirty Speaker (3:15 p.m.), The Reissues (4:30 p.m.), Under the Gun (6 p.m.) and April Wine (8 p.m.), and Sunday wraps with The Farewell Drifters (1:30 p.m.), Professional Victims (2:45 p.m.), Custom Taylor Band (3:45 p.m.), Aylyst (5:15 p.m.) and Taylor Hicks (6:45 p.m.) Admission is $7, with children 10 and younger getting in free. For details, call 703-9620. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

The Syracuse edition of this national favorite rolls down the 2100 block of South Geddes Street on Saturday, June 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids from ages 8 to 17 get their shot in this local heat to qualify for moving on to the July 24 All-American Soap Box Derby at–where else?–Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio. The Salt City’s derby got into gear in 2005 after a too-long absence of 35 years;’ more than 25,000 people turned up for the 1946 derby at Schiller Park. Spectators can enjoy the event for free. Call 382-7629 for information. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

Director Stanley Donen’s memorable Hitchcock-styled comedy-thriller from 1963 features Audrey Hepburn as a freshly widowed spouse in Paris, with a gaggle of tough guys (including James Coburn, Ned Glass and a hook-handed George Kennedy) on her trail who think she knows about some riches hidden by her murdered husband. Also in the mix: Walter Matthau as a CIA operative and Cary Grant (pictured with Hepburn) as a suave mystery man who has his own secrets. Blessed with a terrific score by Henry Mancini and plenty of clever twists and witty dialogue, Charade will be screened in a 35mm Technicolor print on Saturday, June 5, 7 p.m., at Rome’s Capitol Theatre, 220 W. Dominick St. Admission is $5.50 for adults, $1.50 for children. For details, call 337-6453.

Whenever a southern-fried yukster from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour performs at Verona’s Turning Stone Resort and Casino, Thruway Exit 33, sellouts are usually a given. That probably explains why Ron “Tater Salad” White will command the 5,000-seat Event Center on Saturday, June 5, 8 p.m. The cigar-puffing, Scotch-swilling Texan funnyman, who even makes a cameo in the femme-centric Sex and the City 2 movie, started honing his redneck riffs nearly two decades ago. Now White specializes in George Carlin-level personal observations and he’ll be bringing his raunchy A-game to Verona, which means you have to be older than 18 to attend. Tickets are $60, $75 and $90. Call 361-SHOW for information.

The annual event in memory of Paige Yeomans Arnold, a Baldwinsville second-grader who succumbed to leukemia in 1994, will take place on Saturday, June 5, starting at downtown’s Federal Building, 100 S. Clinton St., prior to that day’s Taste of Syracuse activities. A 5K run begins at 9 a.m., with a 40-foot caterpillar crawl for children ages 5 and younger at 9:45 a.m., and a 3K fun run-fitness walk at 10 a.m.  Registration fees are $30 for one person, $25 for the next family member after initial registration, and free for the caterpillar crawl. Proceeds from the run will benefit the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Contact paigesrun@twcny.rr.com.

This Rhode Island rockin’ octet checks into the Earlville Opera House, 18 E. Main St., Earlville, for an 8 p.m. gig on Saturday, June 5. The jump-blues band will surely swing to tracks from their recent CD Raisin’ a Ruckus (Alligator), and it’s hard to believe that an outfit with a 30-year history can still sound dewy fresh and downright dynamic. Tickets are $20, $25 and $30. For details, call 691-3550.