May 5–8 Portland’s festival season gets its unofficial christening from the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta. The celebration of Hispanic heritage pairs a bustling carnival midway with music, dance, and other performance, ranging from the “high-tempo Latin rhythm” of Los Gallos Rumba to the Hood River norteño band Amigos de la Sierra. cincodemayo.org

May 6 Global financial post-mortems have filled bookshelves and snagged Oscars. Paul Volcker, former Fed chairman, offers his “take no prisoners” take (obviously, since no financier this side of Bernie Madoff goes to jail) on our system and its future. worldoregon.org

May 7 She may have invented rockabilly. Allegedly, she dated Elvis. Now, Wanda Jackson, fresh from one of Jack White’s patented makeovers, will unleash her unmistakable wail. Not bad for 73. roselandpdx.com

May 14 Who’s not ready for a little hedonism this time of year? The Portland Indie Wine & Food Festival unites a jury-selected squadron of 40 independent wineries, 15 local restaurant-scene players, and as much culinary chatter, debate, and schmoozing as one person can handle in an evening. indiewinefestival.com