Close to Home for March 17-18

A Traditional Irish Breakfast, to be served at 10 a.m. Saturday, will be among the many offerings during Irish Fest Norcross, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. $15/adults, $10/children. Norcross Masonic Lodge, 67 S. Peachtree St., Norcross. Eggs, rasher, black-and-white pudding, beans, grilled tomatoes and toast will be served. Tickets: APlaceToImagine.com.

A Traditional Irish Breakfast, to be served at 10 a.m. Saturday, will be among the many offerings during Irish Fest Norcross, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. $15/adults, $10/children. Norcross Masonic Lodge, 67 S. Peachtree St., Norcross. Eggs, rasher, black-and-white pudding, beans, grilled tomatoes and toast will be served. Tickets: APlaceToImagine.com.

Homeless Drive in Douglasville

Homeless Drive by Rideshare. 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Saturday. Transportation Center, 8800 Dorris Road, Douglasville. Needed donations for hygiene items include deodorant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, combs, hairbrushes and toilet paper. Other donations requested include gently used jackets, socks, tarps, umbrellas, ponchos, bottled water and batteries. Jerie Blackwood at 770-949-7665 or JBlackwood@co.douglas.ga.us.

Marietta 5K Shamrock Shuffle

Marietta 5K Shamrock Shuffle. 6:30-7:45 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. Saturday. $20/ages 12 and under, $30. Marietta Square, 50 N. Park Square, Marietta. Benefiting the Marietta Police Athletic League (PAL), this run-walk event will raise money to support Marietta PAL’s youth athletic programs with needed supplies and equipment. Marietta PAL is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent juvenile crime and violence by providing civic, athletic, recreational and educational opportunities which create trust and build understanding between law enforcement and youths. MariettaPAL.org. Also, prizes will be awarded for dressing in St. Patrick’s Day costumes:

  • Most Spirited St. Patty's Kids (for ages 12 and under) - prizes for the top three
  • Most Convincing Leprechaun
  • Best Wearin' O' the Green
  • Best Dressed Team (groups of three or more)

Spring Sprint 5K/10K in Jonesboro

Spring Sprint 5K/10K Run Walk. 7:30 a.m. registration, 8:30 a.m. event Saturday. $25. Lee Street Park, 140 Smith St., Jonesboro. All proceeds will benefit the Rotary Club of Lake Spivey/Clayton County which, in turn, supports many local programs and organizations such as PolioPlus, Alzheimer’s, Clayton County Public Schools Homeless Ed Program, Rainbow House (abused children’s shelter), House of Dawn (housing and program for homeless teen moms and their babies), American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge, Crossroads Youth Development Center, Arts Clayton and Jackson Elementary with donated books. 770-478-3800, RunSignup.com/Race/GA/Jonesboro/SpringSprint.

Bunny Breakfast in Kennesaw

Bunny Breakfast. 8-11:15 a.m. Saturday. $6 at the door. Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw. Seatings: 8-9:15 a.m. or 10-11:15 a.m. Treat your family to a buffet, including pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh fruit and breakfast sweets. The Easter Bunny will visit each table to greet all of the children. Bring your camera. Tickets: bit.ly/2juzjFV.

Homeschool 5K in Villa Rica

National Homeschool Honor Society 5K Race. 8:30 a.m. Saturday. $30. Clinton Nature Preserve, 8720 Ephesus Church Road, Villa Rica. Funds from the event will be given to the Alzheimer’s Association to help people who have Alzheimer’s as well as funding research for a cure. Andy Ledbetter at 770-652-2905 or ramdrew4@gmail.com. alz.org.

Women’s Self-Defense Class in Cobb

Women’s Self-Defense and Awareness Class by Cobb Sheriff’s Office. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Free. West Cobb Senior Center, 4915 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs. Ladies, ages 17 and older, are invited and girls, ages 14 to 16, if they are accompanied by their mothers. There will be a seminar, demonstrations of all three phases of self-defense and discussions on situational awareness, current statistics and trends. tracy.melton@CobbCounty.org.

Irish Fest Norcross

Irish Fest Norcross. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Free. S. Peachtree St., downtown Norcross. The city’s first St. Patrick’s Day celebration will be held with Taste of Britain and the Drake School of Irish Dance. Downtown merchants will offer Irish-themed activities and fare with music, dancing, face painting, a shamrock chalk etching and hurling demonstrations during this family-friendly event.

  • Traditional Irish Breakfast. 10 a.m. Saturday. $15/adults, $10/children. Norcross Masonic Lodge, 67 S. Peachtree St., Norcross. Enjoy eggs, rasher, black-and-white pudding, beans, grilled tomatoes and toast. Tickets: APlaceToImagine.com.
  • Live music and dancing. 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The Gentry, an Irish trio band. 1-3 p.m. a string quartet. Also watch the world champion river dancers from the Drake School of Irish Dance - all in the middle of S. Peachtree St. Then 2:30-5:30 p.m. Blue-Green Grass musician (Irish-inspired Bluegrass) Sean Bulow at Farmhouse 17, 141 S. Peachtree St., Norcross.

Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade 5K

Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade 5K. 10 a.m. 5K Saturday. $20/ages 12 and under, $35/online, $40/day of race. Beginning and ending at Colony Square Midtown, 14th at Peachtree Streets, Atlanta. 404-504-6884, AtlantaStPats.com/events.

Brookhaven St. Paddy’s Party

Brookhaven St. Paddy’s Block Party. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. $15 day of event. Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub, 705 Town Blvd., Atlanta. This event is cash only with ATMs available. BrookhavenGa.gov.

Atlanta Science Festival

Atlanta Science Festival. Times vary through March 24. Free for many events but some require an admission fee. Various venues around Atlanta. The festival concludes March 24 with the Exploration Expo, an all-day event at Piedmont Park with more than 100 interactive booths, performing experiments and demonstrations. 770-322-4992, AtlantaScienceFestival.org.

Children’s play in Roswell

FamilyStage Series: “Miss Nelson Is Missing!” 11 a.m. Saturday. $10. Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. 770-641-1260, get.org.

Kennesaw Mountain events

March events. Free. 770-427-4686 ext. 0 or nps.gov/kemo.

  • Guided Assault Trail Hike. 11 a.m. to noon. Saturday (depending on weather). Illinois Monument at Cheatham Hill. Parking is at Cheatham Hill Road. Learn more about the fateful Union assault on Cheatham Hill during the American Civil War during this Ranger-led hike. This trail is one mile round trip and classified as moderate to easy.
  • "Civil War Hygiene." 11-11:30 a.m. Sunday. Visitor Center, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, 900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, Kennesaw. Poor hygiene of the average soldier during the Civil War will explore how these conditions led to large casualty rates and widespread diseases.
  • Guided 24-Gun Battery Hike. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday (depending on weather). Visitor Center lobby. Led by a member of the Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club, this guided three-mile hike will focus on the importance of preservation, protection and history within the national parks.

Fish Fry in Douglasville

Fish Fry Fundraiser. Noon-6 p.m. through Saturday. $7 plate; 50 cents each for cake, water, soda. Basket Creek Baptist Church, 7289 Capps Ferry Road, Douglasville. All donations will go towards the building maintenance fund. BasketCreek17289.org.

Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade

Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade. Noon parade Saturday (rain or shine except for dangerous weather). Free but $25 for reserved seat on viewing stands at Colony Square Midtown. 14th at Peachtree Streets, Midtown, Atlanta. For the best seats, arrive by 11 a.m. Before the parade, have your face painted for free. After the parade, enjoy live musical performances with Irish food and drink. 404-504-6884, AtlantaStPats.com/resources.

MacFestivus, 1/2K Race in Roswell

Mac McGee’s MacFestivus & 1/2K Road Race. Noon-midnight Saturday. Free for race registration and entertainment. Around the Heart of Roswell Park, 936 Canton St., Roswell. After noon, parking will be limited. Guests are encouraged to park across the street at City Hall. ShamROCK in the Park will include family-friendly activities, bagpipers, Irish dancers, a balloon artist, a face painter and live bands. MacMcgeePubs.com/event/MacFestivus-2.

  • Howlin': 1-3 p.m.
  • The Good Hand: 3:30-5:30 p.m.
  • The David Wright Band: 6-8 p.m.
  • Hudson Dockett: 9 p.m. to midnight.

Shoupade Park Tours in Smyrna

Shoupade Park Tours. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday. Free. Shoupade Park, 4770 Oakdale Road, Smyrna. As a part of the 2018 Phoenix Flies program, tour Shoupade Park with Civil War historian Michael K. Shaffer who will provide an overview of the Chattahoochee River Line’s significance. The park features two unique Confederate fortifications known as “Shoupades.” riverline.org/pages/ShoupadePark.aspx, AtlantaPreservationCenter.com/2018_phoenix_flies.

Southern Food History in Atlanta

Food History of the South. 1 p.m. Saturday. Free. Southeast Atlanta Library, 1463 Pryor Road, Atlanta. All ages are invited to learn the history of Southern food with tastings. All ages. 404-613-5771, afpls.org.

Georgia Metro Dance Theatre in Marietta

Georgia Metro Dance Theatre: “The Wolf, the Swan and the Princess.” 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $10 to $25. Jennie T. Anderson Theater, 548 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta. Classical story ballets include acts from “Peter and the Wolf,” “Swan Lake” and “La Bayadère (The Temple Dancer)” for all ages by ballet dancers, ages 7 to 18. GMDT’s 61st season of dance is dedicated to former Broadway dancer Ruth Mitchell who died in July and founded this dance company in 1956 as the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre. Tickets: GeorgiaMetroDance.tix.com. GeorgiaMetroDance.org.

Yappy Hour in Lawrenceville

Yappy Hour at Ronald Reagan Park. 2-4 p.m. Saturday. Free. Ronald Reagan Park, 2777 Five Forks-Trickum Road, Lawrenceville. Let your dogs shed their leash and make friends with other pups. There will be treats and giveaways for pups and people with resources and education for canine owners. GwinnettCountyEvents.com.

St. Paddy’s on Perry in Lawrenceville

St. Paddy’s on Perry. 2-9 p.m. Saturday (rain or shine). Free. Perry Street, Lawrenceville. Fun for the whole family with traditional Irish fare, cool treats, games, crafts, shopping from the stores around the Square with live entertainment from Connor Christian and the Southern Gothic Boys and the Gwinnett School of Rock Band. The celebration will kick off with DJ Suspense followed by a traditional bagpiper performance. Perry Street (between W. Pike and W. Crogan Streets) will be closed from 8 a.m. to midnight on Saturday. LawrencevilleGa.org, facebook.com/CityOfLawrenceville.

‘Sheltered’ play premier in Atlanta

“Sheltered” by Alix Sobler. Through March 25 (some performances sold out). 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays. $10 teens, $20, $42. Alliance Theatre Company at Actor’s Express, 887 W. Marietta St. NW. In 1939 Nazi Germany, a Jewish couple arranges for 50 children to be given up by their parents and taken to safety in the United States. This play is recommended for ages 12 and above due to some adult situations. AllianceTheatre.org.

John Denver Tribute in Cumming

John Denver Tribute Band with Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon. 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. $22.50, $25 plus tax. The Cumming Playhouse, 101 School St., Cumming. Tickets: 770-781-9178, PlayhouseCumming.com. BoulderCanyonBand.com.

Young Adult Authors in Marietta

Young Adult Authors Discussion. 3 p.m. Saturday. Free. Sewell Mill Library & Cultural Center, 2051 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta. Hear how Laura Silverman, Rachael Allen, Lauren Karcz, Gina Ciocca and Marie Marquardt develop their ideas and turn them into books. Their books will be available for purchase and signing. 770-509-2711, cobbcat.org/event/ya-authors-discussion-and-signing.

Gospel Choir Concert in McDonough

Spring Scholarship Concert: Wesleyan Gospel Choir of Savannah State University. 6 p.m. Saturday. $20 and $2 online fee. Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, 397 Racetrack Road, McDonough. Hosted by the East Atlanta Suburban Chapter (EASC) of the Savannah State University National Alumni Association. In only four years of existence, the EASC has awarded more than $3,000 to Savannah State University students. Tickets: eascGospelConcert.com.

Atlanta Master Chorale at Emory

Atlanta Master Chorale: Handel’s “Israel in Egypt.” 8 p.m. Saturday. $35/adults, $30/seniors, $10/students and Emory staff. Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, 1700 N. Decatur Road, Atlanta. info@AtlantaMasterChorale.org. Tickets: 404-727-5050 (noon-6 p.m. Monday to Friday), tickets.arts.emory.edu/single/SYOS.aspx?p=111066.

‘Driving Miss Daisy’ play in Canton

“Driving Miss Daisy” by Cherokee Theatre Company. 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $15 to $18, free for volunteers. Downtown Canton Theatre, 171 E. Main St., Canton. 770-591-0282, CherokeeTheatre.org.

Holocaust Testimony in Atlanta

Bearing Witness/Remarkable Stories from the Holocaust: Tosia Schneider (Poland). 12:30 p.m. guided tour of the Holocaust Gallery, 2 p.m. program Sunday. Free with free parking. The Breman Museum, 1440 Spring St. NW, Atlanta. Besides the museum parking lot, free overflow parking will be available at The John Marshal Law School, 18th Street between W. Peachtree and Spring Streets. Born into a large and loving family, Schneider became her family’s sole survivor, at age 15, of the Holocaust. She had to find the strength to endure unspeakable horrors to fulfill her mother’s last wish – to tell the world her story. info@TheBreman.org, TheBreman.org/Events.

Classic movie discussion in Roswell

Movie discussion: “The Man Who Knew Too Much” with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Free. East Roswell Library, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. Trivia and prizes. Movies are watched at home and discussed at the meeting. Audrey at 404-310-5354, ClubNostalgia.vpweb.com.

Home Buyers Workshop in Alpharetta

First-Time Home Buyers Workshop: Care and Feeding of Your Home. 3 p.m. Sunday. Free. Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta. Adults are invited to join professional realtors Briana Gordon and David Waxman for an informative hour. 404-613-6735. Register: Michael.salpeter@FultonCountyGa.gov.

Joe Alterman Trio in Dunwoody

Joe Alterman Trio. 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday. $20 to $25. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Born and reared in Atlanta, this jazz pianist has performed at world-renowned venues, including the Kennedy Center. Alterman’s latest release, “Comin’ Home to You,” is his fourth album. Tickets: AtlantaJCC.org/events/2018/03/18/arts-and-culture/joe-alterman-trio. JoeAltermanMusic.com.

Georgia Festival Chorus in Loganville

The Georgia Festival Chorus: “Legacy of Music” spring concert. 6 p.m. Sunday. Free. Holy Cross Anglican Church, 3836 Oak Grove Rd SW, Loganville. Under the direction of Frank Boggs. 404-234-3581, GaFestChorus@gmail.com, TGAFC.org.