Top Tampa Bay events March 11-17: St. Patrick’s Day, renaissance festival, Tim McGraw
Bazzar: Through break dancing, live music, teeter board, slack line, balancing acts, bicycles, spinning wheels, aerial work, fire and more, colorfully dressed Cirque du Soleil characters bring the “Bazzar” world together as one. Runs through March 24. $42 and up. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday (March 13-15), 3:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday (March 16), 1 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday (March 17). Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. 877-924-7783.
River O’Green Fest: Hillsborough River is transformed into a bright shade of green for a celebration of Irish heritage with food, beer, games, music and family-friendly activities, followed by a parade that steps off at 5 p.m. Free. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday (March 16). Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa. 813-221-3686.
Giant St. Patrick’s Day Party: Lucky Dill parties for an entire week with seven days of live music by the Irish Remblers, Gemma Bagpipes, North of Argyll, Black Velvet, Celtic Conundrum, MacTier, Paddy O’Furniture, Lucid Druid and Leify Green. There will also be Teeling Irish Whiskey samplings (4-6 p.m. Saturday and 2-4 p.m. Sunday), two bars, an outdoor tent, 10,000 pounds of corned beef and cabbage, an Irish menu, tons of green beer and giveaways. No cover. 11 a.m. daily (March 11-17). Lucky Dill Deli, 33180 U.S. 19 N., Palm Harbor. 727-789-5574.
Paddy Fest St. Pete: Enjoy two full days of Irish dancing, bounce houses, giant slides, lawn games, an obstacle course, more than 40 food vendors, beer, family activities, Celtic games exhibition and entertainment by the Dunedin Pipe Band, the Gilleoghan Irish Step Dancers, Drunken Shrubbery, Chad McDonald and Sean Patrick Walsh. No cover. Noon- 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (March 16-17) Williams Park, Fourth Street and First Avenue North, St. Petersburg. 727-490-9835.
Bay Area Renaissance Festival: Shout “huzzah” to the king and queen at the 45th annual festival. New this year are the Capture the Magic Photo Experience, Fairy Tale Tea Party, House of Dragons Pub, Barbie Princess, Barrel Ride and Mermaid Cove. This week’s theme is “Shamrocks and Shenanigans.” Celebrate all things Irish with jigs, Irish dance competitions, Irish fare, tug-of-war and kilt and leprechaun costume contests. $12.95-$20.95. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (March 16-17). 12838 Auton Road, Dade City. 352-999-5946.
Chasco Fiesta: There will be nine days of family fun including live entertainment, shows, street and boat parades, a Native American festival, sports, a Latin celebration, food, auto shows and headline performances runs through March 23. This week, the Marshall Tucker Band with special guest the Georgia Thunderbolts perform Friday (March 15) ($20-$79) and Maddie and Tae with special guest Wiley Fox on Saturday (March 16) ($20-$50). Concert ticket applies Friday-Saturday (March 15-16); $5 Sunday (March 17). 1-10 p.m. Friday (March 15), 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday (March 16), 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday (March 17). Sims Park, 5547 Main St., New Port Richey. 727-777-5446.
Tim McGraw: The three-time Grammy Award winner appears with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Carly Pearce. $35.75-$185.75. 7:30 p.m. Friday (March 15). Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. 813-301-6500.
50 Cent: Rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who has also found success in television and film, performs. $50 and up. 11 a.m. Sunday (March 17). Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa. 813-627-7625.
Florida Orchestra: Rick Steves: Celebrity travel expert Rick Steves joins the Florida Orchestra and music director Michael Francis on stage as a personal guide to some of the sights and sounds of Europe. $35-$100. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday (March 15-16). Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-892-3337.
Colin Hay: This show features Hay and his band of L.A.-based musicians playing songs from both the Grammy-winning Men at Work catalog and his solo catalog. $39.50-$89.50. 8 p.m. Friday (March 15). Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. 727-791-7400.
Godsmack: The Grammy-nominated band, which was named Billboard Music Award’s Rock Artist of the Year in 2001 and has sold over 20 million records worldwide, performs. $56.50-$136.50. 8 p.m. Friday (March 15). Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-300-2000.
St. Pete Opera: Puccini’s Turandot: St. Petersburg Opera presents Puccini’s story in which Princess Turandot shows no mercy to those who seek her hand in marriage. Suitors travel from distant lands only to face three impossible riddles, with failure meaning death. Sung in Italian with English translations above the stage. $15-$95. 8 p.m. Friday (March 15), 2 p.m. Sunday (March 17). Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-822-3590.
Trashy Treasures: Tampa Bay’s biggest art garage sale features art, art supplies, frames, books and more. Benefits education and exhibition programming at the Dunedin Fine Art Center. No cover. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday (March 16). Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd. 727-298-3322.
Andrew Schulz: Schulz explores current events, politics and the beautiful chaos of creating life during his comedic performance. $68-$83. 7 and 10 p.m. Thursday (March 14). Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-300-2000.
Pi Day: Celebrate Albert Einstein’s birthday and Pi Day with a giant pie fight in Curtis Hixon Park. Join him for a messy celebration. Free. 3:14 p.m. Thursday (March 14). Glazer Children’s Museum, 110 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. 813-443-3861.
Sing Out Tampa Bay: The public is invited to “belt one out” and sing along with the Florida Orchestra, under the direction of Michael Francis. Pay what you can at the door. 7 p.m. Wednesday (March 13). Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-300-2000.
Spring Festival: Welcome springtime at the third annual festival with local vendors and artisans, environmental organizations, entertainment and green-focused activities for all ages. Benefits the West Klosterman Preserve. Free. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday (March 16). Wilcox Nursery and Landscape, 12501 Indian Rocks Road, Largo. 727-295-2885.
Arts Unite Us: This family-friendly, multicultural experience of visual and musical arts represents diverse traditions. Refreshments, a free light buffet, interactive artist conversations and music follow. Catered dinner available for purchase ($22). Free. 1-5 p.m. Saturday (March 16). Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater, 2470 Nursery Road. 813-546-1113.
Bach Birthday Bash: The Tampa Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents the 23rd annual celebration of Johann Sebastian Bach with local organists, church musicians and scholarship students performing the music of Bach. Donations benefit the Margaret Smith McAlister Scholarship Fund for organ students. Free. 4-6 p.m. Sunday (March 17). Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 500 W. Platt St., Tampa. 813-857-8800. ago-tampa.org.
Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Expo: Vendors and other experts in the hair care field feature products and general health tips geared for textured hair with curls, coils and kinks. $15, $50 VIP. Noon-7 p.m. Sunday (March 17). Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-893-7465.
Reggae Rise Up: See the biggest names in reggae music including Lupe Fiasco, Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid, Stephen Marley and more. Single day $80, multiday pass $135 and up. Gates open 4 p.m. Thursday (March 14) and at noon Friday through Sunday (March 15-17). Vinoy Park, 701 Bayshore Drive NE, St. Petersburg. ReggaeRiseUpFlorida.com.
