Arts briefs: Banjo player Béla Fleck featured in Stillwater Music Festival Finale

Some say Béla Fleck is the premiere banjo player in the world. With 14 Grammy Awards and 30 nominations to his credit, it might be hard to argue with them.

Fleck, who just released his most recent project, "Across the Imaginary Divide," will take the stage with the acclaimed local quartet Brooklyn Rider in the finale of the 2012 Stillwater Music Festival. The featured work will be Felix Mendelssohn's Quartet in E Major, Op. 12.

Fleck's appearance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Historic Courthouse at 101 W. Pine St. in Stillwater continues a summer tradition in which the quartet of violinists Jonathan Gandelsman and Colin Jacobsen, violist Nicholas Cords and cellist Eric Jacobsen have collaborated with some of the nation's and world's top musicians.

Brooklyn Rider also will give a free 45-minute performance at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on the rooftop of the Stillwater Public Library.

For more information, call 651-587-3518.

Ski Otters present season's final showsWith time on their hands due to summer vacation, a group of computer geeks decide to try out for the Ski Extreme Team, only to find it's harder than it looks.

That's the plot of the "Ski Otter's Water Ski Team 2012" show, "SkiVenge of the Nerds," featuring skiers of all ages doing flips and other maneuvers.

Gala will feature a collage of dancesIt's a night of dances under the stars as Ballet Jubilate presents its annual Summer Gala at 7 p.m. Friday at Pioneer Park, 2nd and Laurel Streets.

The free performance will include numbers from classical ballet and feature dancers from Ballet Jubilate, a non-profit youth ballet company, and advanced dancers from the St. Croix Ballet.

Graffiti artist holds book signingScape Martinze, author of "Graffiti: The Art & Technique of Graffiti" will appear from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Valley Bookseller, 217 N. Main St. For more information, call 651-430-3385.

Funfest is fundraiser for fallen officersLaw Enforcement United and Concerns of Police Survivors will team up to sponsor the second annual Kids and Family Funfest in honor of officers who have been killed in the line of duty and raise money for their survivors.

Festivities on Sunday begin with a kids fun run at 9 a.m., followed by a 5K For the Fallen and a 10K run at 9:20 a.m. Names of fallen officers will line both routes.

Most activities, which run until 2 p.m., will be free. See www .kidsandfamilyfunfest.org.

TIM HARLOW