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Winona’s Great River Shakespeare Festival opens its fifth anniversary season productions of “The Merchant of Venice” and “The Taming of the Shrew” this weekend amidst an array of celebratory traditions and events.

GRSF’s production of “The Merchant of Venice” directed by Paul Barnes, opens Friday, June 27, at 8 p.m. A free prelude concert featuring area musician Chris Kendall will precede the performance at 6:30 p.m. on the Green outside Winona State University’s Performing Arts Center.

The traditional opening night reception at Winona National Bank on Main Street will immediately follow the performance.

The festival’s production of “The Taming of the Shrew,” directed by Alec Wild, opens Saturday, June 28, at 7 p.m., and will be followed by a candlelight walk from Winona State University’s Performing Arts Center to Levee Park where Chicago-based rhythm and blues artist James Armstrong will play a free concert for the community and the opening night audience, at 10 p.m.

For GRSF tickets, call the box office at (507) 474-7900 or log onto www.grsf.org.