Uncommon birthday

Common Ground, a grassroots race relations initiative, celebrates its fourth anniversary from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday with an evening of music and fun at Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

Grammy Award-winning artist Kirk Whalum is the night’s featured guest — and two lucky guests will get to challenge him in a Memphis version of “Name That Tune.”

Pat Mitchell Worley, director of development and communication for the Memphis Music Foundation, will be the evening’s emcee and special music will be performed by a Rhodes College trio.

Tickets are $55 and available through the YWCA of Greater Memphis, which runs Common Ground.

Started in 2008, Common Ground has taken more than 1,700 area adults through a curriculum that promotes candid conversations around tough topics of race. Go to memphisywca.org/events to buy tickets.

Block party

Overton Square is throwing a public block party on Friday, 37:30 p.m., on Madison Avenue between Cooper and Florence.

There will be live music provided by Star & Micey, street theater, local vendors, family activities and more. The event is to celebrate the revival of Overton Square.

Juneteenth festival

The 2012 Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival will take place Friday through Sunday at Douglass Park. There is no admission fee and the festival is open to the public.

Friday’s events will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and include a kids’ talent show, students’ art show, and live music. On Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., there will be a car and bike show, a comedy show and a fashion show. On Sunday enjoy Praise in the Park, gospel singing, and more music, starting at noon.

For a complete listing of events, go to juneteenthmemphis.org or call (901) 324-5945.

U of M’s Jazz in June

University of Memphis radio station WUMR, “The Jazz Lover,” will present its annual “Jazz in June” event the week of June 17-24. The tribute to jazz will culminate with a concert by jazz great Bill Easley on June 24, 6-8 p.m., at Dancin’ Jimmy’s, 310 Beale, across from the Hard Rock Cafe.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, available for purchase online at wumr.memphis.edu until 4 p.m. on June 23.

Tickets are also available at The Bookseller at Laurelwood, 387 Perkins Extended, until 10 p.m. on June 23. Tickets are not refundable. Proceeds will benefit the Robert McDowell Fund, established in memory of WUMR’s longtime general manager.

WUMR is the only exclusive jazz station in the Mid-South. The 25,000-watt station serves listeners within a 60-mile radius of Memphis and now also streams online, so jazz lovers around the world can tune in. More information is available online at wumr.memphis.edu.

Fairy House workshop

Add some whimsy to your summer with this hands- on workshop at the Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Road. The “Build Your Own Fairy House” workshop will take place June 23 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Fairy House enthusiast Paul Little will guide participants in building their own Fairy House. All supplies provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own accoutrements (sea shells, stones, pods or marbles).

Cost is $5 for MBG members; $10 for nonmembers. Preregistration is required, call (901) 636-4128.