Hayley Benton

hbenton@citizen-times.com

Alright, Asheville event-goers. While LEAF is the obvious choice for this weekend's most prominent parties, passes to the popular annual festival, which this year centers on world music with a dash of Cuban spice, are quickly running low. So for all of those last-minute planners who joined the party a little too late, here's a list of alternatives to satisfy your senses on another branch of the tree.

1. Unleash your inner child at Dancing Bear Toys and Highland Brewing's adult coloring night.

Think coloring is just for preschoolers? Guess again. With the rise in popularity of adult coloring books, a collaboration between Dancing Bear Toys, Highland Brewery and artist Phil Cheney was born. The May 16 event will be the toy store's first grown-up books-and-brews celebration — because, you know what? Adulting is stressful, and sometimes we need to color outside the lines. Cheney will provide pages from his new crowd-funded coloring book, Dancing Bear will provide the vibrant utensils and Highland will serve up the sauce. The free event runs 4-8 p.m. at Highland Brewing Company.

2. Win prizes and defend your diploma at The Millroom for a team trivia benefit.

Are you smarter than a 10-year-old? Well, we hope so — though you might be a little rusty on your state capitals. When you're done coloring at the brewery, graduate to big-kid status with local nonprofit Children First for the fifth annual "Are You Smarter Than an Elementary Student?" pub-style trivia benefit. Teams compete for the chance to win a number of high-dollar prizes from sponsors, but all participants will receive complimentary gift-bags just for joining in the fun. Registration for a four- to six-person trivia team is $300 (split among the members of the group) and includes the gift bag, dinner and a drink. To attend the event as an audience member, tickets are $30 and include dinner and a commemorative pint glass. The games begin on May 19 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at conta.cc/1RdMLXZ.

3. Get ready to get down with Josh Ritter at the Orange Peel.

On May 18, head out to The Peel for some folk-rock with a distinct alt-country feel. Josh Ritter's newest album, "Sermon on the Rocks," serves up some small-town sensations, sounding, vocally, at times like a mid-'70s Bob Dylan, if Bob Dylan had recorded a pop-country album with indie-rock influences. Opening up the night is mountain music quartet The Steel Wheels, a band that might sound familiar to some around town. You're not having a deja vu moment: The Steel Wheels played the Grey Eagle just last month, and now they're back, on tour with Ritter in the U.S. and Canada. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 the day of the show and can be purchased at theorangepeel.net. The show starts at 9 p.m.

4. Sway to Yeasayer at the Orange Peel. Alt-country not your thing? No problem. Let's try again. Yeasayer's other-worldly pop hooks and digital breakdowns offer a totally different, almost alien sound. The band's new album, "Amen & Goodbye," was released on April 1 — but, we promise, it's no joke. The album's electronic elements offer danceable beats that'll have the room jumping on May 19. The spaceship lands at 9 p.m., starting with alternative dream-pop band Young Magic. Tickets are $20 in advance (at theorangepeel.net) and $23 the day of the show.

5. Pop in to ZaPow to see space-themed parody art. Speaking of outer-space, ZaPow's new gallery, Space POP!, is sure to send you over the moon. Though it opened last week (with an amazing reception), that doesn't mean you can't still pop in to see some pop culture parodies. ZaPow artists have created more than 70 parodies of famous movies, TV shows and cultural icons to showcase Hollywood's love affair with space. Pieces include "Darth Predator," by Lee Davis; Jill Coleman's parody of "The Martian," starring Matt Damon; an Ancient Aliens parody by Alex Stevens and payloads more. The gallery will be up until July 4. ZaPow opens at noon and closes at 6 p.m. on Sundays, 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The gallery is closed on Tuesdays. For more information, head over to zapow.com.