It's rare that St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday but it does this year and that's good news for Flanagan's Pub, 101 E. Stewart St., Dayton, and other area establishments celebrating the holiday. Flanagan's hosts WTUE's annual St. Pat-Rocks Party beginning at 8 a.m. Friday. Dulahan, Full Frontal, Spungeworthy and the Dwyer Dancers are among the scheduled performers. Cost: $10 one-time entry, $15 all-day entry. Free admission from 8-10 a.m. Call 937-228-5776 or visit www.flanagansdayton.com.
Like every year at this time, Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., Dayton blocks out several days for its St. Patrick's Day party. The three-day celebration, which started Thursday, March 16, continues Friday and Saturday, March 17 and 18. The lineup includes performances by the Rice Brothers, and Nick Mitchell. Call 937-224-7822 or visit www.dubpub.com.
Harrigan’s Tavern, 4070 Marshall Road, Kettering, also hosts its annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Friday, March 17. Father Son and Friends performs from 9 a.m. to noon and 8 to 11:30 p.m. A disc jockey will spin music from noon to 4 p.m. followed by a live set from Sonic Mojo from 4 to 7 p.m. Call 937-432-9710.
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2) TORUK
Since Cirque du Soleil began in Canada in 1984, the artistic directors have drawn inspiration from a variety of sources, from street performers and traditional circus acts to Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. For the show, "Toruk: The First Flight," Cirque du Soleil tapped into the fertile world of filmmaker James Cameron's "Avatar." "Toruk: The First Flight" is presented at the Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, Wednesday through Sunday, March 22 through 26. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $37-$79. Call 937-775-4789 or visit www.nuttercenter.com.
>> PHOTOS: Prepare to see this visual spectacle on Nutter Center stage
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3) HOME & GARDEN SHOW
The first day of spring is Monday and, even with the recent early March snowfall, it has been a mild winter. The unseasonable weather has certainly had many area homeowners making early plans for home improvement and landscaping updates. More than 225 exhibitors will be offering advice and services on bathroom design, outdoor living and other topics when the Dayton Home & Garden Show returns to the Dayton Convention Center, 22 E. Fifth St., Dayton, Friday through Sunday, March 17 and 19. Show times are noon to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $6 in advance, $10 at the door. Senior citizen tickets are $4 at the door. Free for children 12 and younger. Visit www.daytonhgs.com.
>> RELATED: Don’t miss Dayton chefs competing in a “Chopped” style showdown
4) FOOD TRUCK RALLY
There will be plenty of opportunities to hear Irish music on St. Patrick's Day. Yellow Cab Bldg., 700 E. Fourth St., Dayton, is offering a musical alternative when a new season of Food Truck Rallies begins at 5 p.m. Friday, March 17. The event also features local craft beer and live music from Kyleen Downes, Krunk Town Boogie and Thundertaker. Food truck rallies are held the third Friday of the month through October. Visit www.yellowcabfoodtrucks.com.
>> RELATED: Yellow Cab kicks off food truck season this weekend
5) THE ELEPHANT MAN
Since its Broadway debut in 1979, actors like David Bowie and Bradley Cooper have happily stepped into the challenging lead role in “The Elephant Man.” For his stage drama, Bernard Pomerance drew on the Victorian-era life of deformed British man Joseph Merrick. Dayton Theatre Guild’s new production of “The Elephant Man” opens in The Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton, on Friday, March 17. The play, directed by David Shough, runs weekends through April 2. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday opening weekend, and 8 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday the following weekends. Cost: $20 adults, $18 seniors and $13 students. Call 937-278-5993 or visit www.daytontheatreguild.org.
6) JACKYL
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Jackyl’s platinum-selling, self-titled debut for Geffen Records. True to form, singer Jesse James Dupree and his bandmates are focused on the present rather than making a big deal out of past accomplishments. Jackyl is currently touring in support of its eighth studio album, “Rowyco,” from late 2016. WTUE-FM (104.7) presents the metal band’s return to Oddbody’s Music Room, 5418 Burkhardt Road, Dayton, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18. Doors open at 7 p.m. Cost: $30-$35. Call 937-813-4272 or visit www.oddbodys.com.
7) 9 TO 5
While “9 to 5: The Musical” only ran for six months on Broadway, the tale of three corporate underlings that overthrow their treacherous boss has been hugely successful as a touring show. The musical has also become a favorite of community theater companies and university programs such as Wright State University. Greg Hellems directs the new production in WSU’s Festival Playhouse, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn. The play is presented through April 2. Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays with 2 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays. Cost: $22 adults, 20 students and seniors. Call 937-775-2500 or visit www.wright.edu.
8) HELEN WELCH
Although she was born and raised in Britain, Helen Welch has an affinity for American singers. For her upcoming concert, The First Ladies of Song, she’ll be paying tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Streisand, Judy Garland and others. The Miami Valley Community Concert Association presents Welch in concert in the Centerville Performing Arts Center, Centerville High School, 500 E. Franklin St., Centerville, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21. Cost: $30 adults, $5 students. Call 937-297-0463 or visit www.mvcconcert.org.
9) BOB ZANY
Bob Zany was 15 when he made his television debut and 23 when he became a full-time comic. Three decades later, his main focus remains stand-up comedy but the native of West Covina, Calif. has had film and television roles, hosted a podcast and had a long-running segment on “The Bob & Tom Show.” Zany returns to the Funny Bone Comedy Club, 88 Plum St., The Greene, Beavercreek, Thursday through Sunday, March 23 through 26. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, and 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost: $12-$42 Thursday and Sunday, $15-$45 Friday and Saturday. Call 937-429-LAFF (5233) or visit www.daytonfunnybone.com.
10) STAINED GLASS CONCERT
Members of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will join artistic director Neal Gittleman for the first Stained Glass Concert of the 2016-2017 Excite Season. The program, at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 2067 N. Gettysburg Ave., Dayton, at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 19, features Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 8,” “Solace” by Scott Joplin and Dumisani Maraire’s “Mai Nozipo.” Cost: Free. The Stained Glass Concert continues at Inspiration Church on June 11 and Tabernacle Baptist Church on June 25. Call 937-224-3521 or visit www.daytonperformingarts.org.
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