Fun for all ages with street festivals, dances, children’s workshops and more

The first weekend of March brings new art exhibits, theater productions and plenty of entertaining events to start your month off with a bang.

For Friday evening’s live music, we have Brian Shelley at Eaton Rapids Craft Co. at 7; folk artists Matt Watroba and Claudia Schmidt at University United Methodist Church at 7:30; Moth Duster at The Peanut Barrel, DJ John Beltran at UrbanBeat and Michigan State University’s jazz orchestras at the Fairchild Theatre with jazz-artist-in-residence Camille Thurman, all at 8; Soulstice at The Green Door at 8:30; and Space Dogg Collective’s “Bass Doggs II” at The Avenue at 9. Saturday evening, we have Darin Larner Jr. at One North Kitchen & Bar at 6:30; Copper Johnson at Eaton Rapids Craft Co., Mix Pack at Lansing Brewing Co., Parted Waters at Williamston Roadhouse and the Capitol City Chordsmen at Chippewa Middle School in Okemos, all at 7; Lansing Symphony Orchestra with violinist Hye-Jin Kim and violist Ara Gregorian at the Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall at 7:30; The Smokin’ Dobroleles at Mac’s Bar at 8; The Rotations at The Green Door at 8:30; and Singing Lungs, Cavalcade and Cold Joys at The Avenue at 9. Additionally, The New Rule will play at Reno’s North 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Electric Flower Co. will play at The Exchange 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Ending the weekend on Sunday is “So This Is Love,” a cabaret matinee to benefit Ukraine, 3 p.m. at UrbanBeat and Indianapolis-based chamber ensemble Echoing Air’s “A Season of Penitence: Music for Lent” concert at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 4 p.m.

Hannah Community Center’s Public Art Gallery is holding an opening reception for its new exhibit, East Lansing-based artist Sarah Eubanks’ “Reflections in Watercolor,” 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday. The gallery is open until 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. You can also view the Art Scholarship Alert High School Exhibition at the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, art by members of the Lansing Women’s Artist Collective at CADL’s Haslett library noon to 4 p.m. Friday and noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, “Blind Spot” at the MSU Broad Art Museum 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday and “DIEGEST” at the Broad 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

To learn more about everyday life in the early 1900s, visit the Library of Michigan 1 p.m. Saturday for a real photo postcard lecture with Ann Arbor-based photographer and vintage postcard collector Doug Aikenhead. These bite-sized pieces of history, printed on postcard-size photo paper, depict small-town streets, family gatherings, parades and patriotic events and other relics from the early days of citizen photography.

For theater buffs, Riverwalk will present its rendition of “Kinky Boots,” about a factory that makes footwear for drag performers, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, and the Owosso Community Players will take the stage at the Lebowsky Center for its production of “Billy Elliott” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

If the musicals put you in the mood to dance, Ten Pound Fiddle’s English Country Dance 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday and its biweekly Contra and Square Dance 7 p.m. Saturday may be the perfect opportunities.

There’s plenty for youngsters to do this weekend, including a rice mosaic workshop at Charlotte Community Library 4:15 p.m. Friday, a drum and hand-percussion event at University United Methodist Church 10:30 a.m. Saturday and a children’s concert about diversity and inclusivity at the Hannah Community Center 11 a.m. Saturday.

After a morning with the kids, hire a babysitter Saturday evening and visit downtown DeWitt from 4 to 8 for a Cabin Fever Reliever street festival, featuring drinks, food and live music from Starfarm, or Turner Street in Old Town from noon to 5 for a Lumberjack Festival, featuring feats of strength competitions, beard and mustache competitions, Old Town vendors, beer, bourbon and more. Both events are 21+.

Finally, the Mid-Winter Arts & Crafts Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Schmidt Southside Community Center, will have more than 60 local vendors selling Michigan-made items, a children’s craft table, food, live entertainment and raffle drawings every 10 minutes.

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best of weekends.