Things are going to get ugly when I judge a school-aged battle of the bands this Sunday. As regular Penguin readers already know, Simon Cowell ain’t got shit on me.

At least my time spent berating the future of music gives the Silver Spring (Fighting) Penguins a break. The rookie baseball team still needs work running the base paths, but they’ll probably do better without me breathing down their necks like George Steinbrenner.

In case you don’t hold sway over young, malleable minds, check out these events:

Friday

2:00 p.m. The Old Blair Auditorium Project offers an hour-long guided tour of the 1,200-seat auditorium. The tour group convenes next to the Sligo Creek Elementary School (313 Wayne Ave). This event is free and open to the public.

8:00 p.m. The Art Stream theatre company presents the political satire “Mission: Environment” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets are $10 each.

8:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the comedy “Communicating Doors”. Tickets are $15 to $18 each.

Saturday

9:00 a.m. The Freshfarm farmers market takes place until 1:00 p.m. on Ellsworth Drive, between Fenton Street and Georgia Avenue. There is no admission for this event.

10:00 a.m. The Silver Spring Historical Society holds an open house at its 1945 Baltimore & Ohio rail station (8100 Georgia Ave) until 3:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

3:00 p.m. The Art Stream theatre company presents the political satire “Mission: Environment” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets are $10 each.

5:00 p.m. Pyramid Atlantic Art Center (8230 Georgia Ave) hosts a reception for Esther K Smith, artist and author of “How to Make Books”. This event is free and open to the public.

6:00 p.m. Gateway Heliport Gallery (8001 Kennett St) hosts a reception for Ethiopian-born artists Matewos Legesse and Solomon Asfaw. This event is free and open to the public.

7:00 p.m. Montgomery College’s planetarium (7651 Fenton St) hosts a discussion on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. This event is free and open to the public.

8:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the comedy “Communicating Doors”. Tickets are $15 to $18 each.

Sunday

1:00 p.m. Penguin editor Jennifer Deseo, DC101’s Travis Bagwell and musician Ross Hurt judge the Back to Rock Music School’s battle of the bands. This event takes place at Nightclub 9:30 (815 V St NW, The District) and costs $5 per person.

2:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the comedy “Communicating Doors”. Tickets are $13 to $15 each.

3:00 p.m. The Art Stream theatre company presents the political satire “Mission: Environment” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets are $10 each.

Lead photo: Simon Cowell, of “American Idol” fame (or infamy). Courtesy of Fox Entertainment.