Best Bets: A new kids' book from Maggie Smith, festival fun and a tribute to Nirvana

Festival season doesn't officially begin until the warmer months, but despite the chill nipping at your noses, Jack Frost has a couple of celebrations up his sleeve this weekend.

For the 21 and older crowd, the return of the Winter Wine Festival will offer attendees more than two dozen wines to sample and their very own commemorative glass to take home. If free family fun is more your speed, the Community Lantern Festival on Sunday will feature dance performances, games, craftmaking and other activities celebrating Chinese culture.

At another free kid-friendly event on Sunday, Bexley author Maggie Smith will debut her children's picture book, "My Thoughts Have Wings."

If you're in a musical mood, there's a variety of styles to satisfy your needs, including the grungy teen spirit of Chicago's Smells Like Nirvana.

So bundle up warmly to get out and enjoy these and other events listed below. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.

Tribute band to conjure up Nirvana's spirit

If you're a fan of distortion-filled, riff-based rock and angsty, introspective lyrics, then "Come As You Are" to The King of Clubs, 6252 Busch Blvd., for a night of grunge when Smells Like Nirvana takes the stage at 7 p.m. Friday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Billed as "Chicago's grungiest tribute to Nirvana," the trio features Paul Wandtke (vocals/guitar), Mike Petrasek (bass) and Joe Babiak (drums). Standing floor tickets cost $20, plus a service fee. There is a 10-ticket limit per customer. (tkoc.live)

Rise Up to parody Broadway hits

Experience the Great White Way in a whole new way with Rise Up Arts Alliance's production of "Forbidden Broadway's Greatest Hits." With hilarious lyrics, this entertaining, loving tribute to some of theater's biggest stars and songwriters satirizes musicals including "Chicago," "Phantom of the Opera," "Fiddler on the Roof" and others. Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and March 1-2; and 1 p.m. Sunday and March 3 at the Lancaster Masonic Temple, 224 S. High St., Lancaster. Ticket prices start at $10 general admission and $8 for senior citizens and military, depending on seating. (riseuparts.ludus.com/200446878)

Winter Wine Festival back from 2020

After a successful debut in 2020, the Columbus Winter Wine Festival is back by popular demand! Set to take place on Saturday in two sessions — noon to 4 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. — at Brewmasters Gate, 495 S. Front St., the fest will feature more than 30 wines plus food trucks and artisan vendors. Advance tickets cost $30 per session; tickets at the gate will be $35 per session. Each admission includes 10 wine sampling tickets and a commemorative wine glass. Additional wine tasting tickets can be purchased on-site. Attendees must be 21 or older with valid government-issued ID. (columbuswinefest.com)

New York quartet coming to Columbus

Chamber Music Columbus invites you to hear an ensemble with a mission of "approaching the established as if it were brand new, and the new as if it were firmly established." The Isidore String Quartet, winners of the 14th Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2022, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St. The foursome's program will include works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Benjamin Britten, among others. Ticket prices start at $35.24. Children 17 and younger can receive discounted tickets for all Chamber Music Columbus performances by calling 614-469-0939 or at the CBUSArts Ticket Center. 39 E. State St. (cbusarts.com)

Historical musical to set up 'Camp'

Community Arts Network, a Black-owned nonprofit devoted to empowering the next generation of performing artists, will give theatergoers a look at the Civil War from a different perspective — that of a Black soldier heading off to fight against slavery — in "Camp Delaware." The historical musical will be performed at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Ohio Wesleyan University Chappelear Drama Center, 45 Rowland Ave., Delaware. Tickets cost $20 general admission and $10 for students, available online or at the door. Proceeds will go toward scholarships for Black graduates pursuing higher education in the performing arts. (campdelawareusct.org)

Six String to present musical storyteller

Richard Shindell, whose songs range from lighthearted ballads to diatribes skewering politics, prejudice, war and religion, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Agnes Jeffrey Shedd Theater at Columbus School for Girls, 56 S. Columbia Ave, Bexley. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for this show presented by Six String Concerts. Shindell has opened for Joan Baez, who also has covered several of his songs. General admission tickets cost $35 online. Youth tickets cost $5 for ages 17 and younger and can be reserved by emailing info@sixstring.org; payment can be made at the door. (sixstring.org)

Dawes to host Maple Syrup Days

Learn about the history and process of maple sugaring by taking a guided walking tour during Maple Syrup Days at The Dawes Arboretum, 7770 Jacksontown Road, Newark. The tours, which last about 45 minutes each, will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with the final tour beginning at 2:45 p.m. At the end of the Maple Syrup Trail, guests will visit the arboretum's log cabin, where they can sample the sweet, all-natural treat. Tours are first-come, first-served and included in admission, which is free to members, $10 for those 16 and older and $5 for children 5 to 15. Children younger than 5 are admitted free. (dawesarb.org)

'Bach & Friends' on ProMusica program

ProMusica Chamber Orchestra will present the program “Bach & Friends” as part of its Neighborhood Series at 7 p.m. Saturday at Worthington United Methodist Church, 600 High St., Worthington, and at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary Catholic Church, 700 S. 3^rd St. Doors will open an hour before the concert start time. In addition to Bach's "Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin" and "Brandenburg Concerto No. 5," the program will include works by Mendelssohn and Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov. Tickets cost $32 general admission and $12 for students. (promusicacolumbus.org)

Maggie Smith to discuss children's book

New York Times bestselling author and hometown poet Maggie Smith will present her first children's picture book, "My Thoughts Have Wings," during a family-friendly event from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Bexley Public Library, 2411 E. Main St. Describe as "lyrical" and "perfect for calming active minds at bedtime (or anytime)," the book will be available at the event. The library has partnered with Gramercy Books of Bexley for this free program. Online registration is required to attend. (bexley.libnet.info/event/9519721)

Festivities to celebrate Chinese culture

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with colorful performances, learning about Chinese traditions, games and making your own dumplings and crafts at the annual Community Lantern Festival to take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Hubbard Elementary School, 104 W. Hubbard Ave. As part of the school's language curriculum, students study Mandarin and the festival serves to reinforce their understanding of Chinese culture. A highlight will be the lion and dragon dances, which combine music, art, history and martial arts. Food trucks from Capital Ramen and Ninja Bowl will be parked in the Hubbard parking lot during the event. (614-365-5564)

bpaschal@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 things to do in Columbus this weekend