TODAY

"The Real and Imagined Pasts Behind 'The Da Vinci Code'"

This lecture kicks off a series that seeks to capitalize on all the "Da Vinci Code" hysteria and hopefully debunk some of the myths, which sounds pretty nifty. This week: "The Book that Started it All: What's Dan Brown Trying to Do?" Free. 7 p.m. 1020 Torgerson Hall, Virginia Tech. 231-6551, idst.vt.edu/medren/calendar.

Cole Brothers Circus of the Stars

The circus comes to town with clowns, Can-Can Dogs, aerial acrobats, human cannonballs and more. $15, adults; $10, children and seniors. 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Shelor Motor Mile, Radford. (800) 796-5672, gotothecircus.com.

Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection

The exhibit "Manta Wiru: Paintings from Amata" ends Saturday. While you're at it, swing on by "Radiance: Seeing the Divine in Aboriginal Art." It's gonna be there until December, but you've already trekked out to Charlottesville. You might as well take a gander. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 400 Worrell Drive, Peter Jefferson Place, Charlottesville. (434) 244-0234.

THURSDAY

"Boston Marriage"

The Virginia Tech department of theatre arts presents this comedy of errors written by David Mamet. 7:30 p.m. Squires Studio Theatre, Virginia Tech. 231-5615.

Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival

You know what? Maybe you should just pack an overnight bag. Between the aboriginal art collection and this event, which features international musicians performing selections from Mozart, Schubert and more, you just need to go camp out at UVa and make a long weekend of it. Tickets are $22 and $26. 8 p.m. Old Cabell Hall, UVa (434) 295-5395, cvillechambermusic.org.