Arts & Entertainment

Get Out and Go: Earth Month Celebration, Theatrical Rock Concert, Charity Carnival

With a charity run, arts and crafts sale, and car-wash-worker protest also on tap this weekend, there's something for everyone.

If the weather forecast proves to be accurate, we'll be experiencing three days of warmer temperatures from Friday through Sunday, before another cool-down arrives. That's perfect, because there's loads of outdoor activities scheduled, including a carnival, a farmers market concert and a car-wash-workers march.

Here's your comprehensive guide to the weekend in Santa Monica:

1.

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Where/When: ; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Why Go: Earth Day isn't until Apr. 22, but you can get an early start with this weekend-long event hosted by . The packed program includes face-painting, story times, scavenger hunts and crafts projects for children; displays, films and presentations focusing on shark conservation; "Who Pollutes" presentations at 2 and 4:30 p.m; a shark feeding at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday; and more.

Pricing: Free for kids under 13 and beach-cleanup participants; $3 for everyone else ($5 donation also suggested)

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

2. Union for Carwasheros

Where/When: Lincoln Blvd. and Colorado Ave., and ; Saturday, 2 to 6 p.m.

Why Go: Victor Narro and Laureen Lazarovici, who met at a car-wash-worker protest, are inviting supporters to celebrate their long-lasting, loving relationship. A march raising awareness about the will start at Lincoln and Colorado, and end at the park, where a party featuring food, music and dancing will be held.

Pricing: Free

3.

Where/When: ; Saturday, 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Why Go: Expect to witness some innovative theatrics at the pier on Saturday night when this rock-meets-Italian-opera band busts out a set at Rusty's. If you need more convincing, The Venertian were one of the best band nominees at this year's eWorld Music Awards.

Pricing: $7

4.

Where/When: L.A. Live (800 Olympic Blvd.); Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Why Go: The sixth-annual fest will feature rides and game booths staffed by celebrities and athletes, and much more. The event will be adding to the $1.25 million it's raised over the years for cancer research and programs for children undergoing cancer treatment.

Pricing: $10 (under 18); $25 (18 and over)

5. Sea Stars Feeding

Where/When: Santa Monica Pier Aquarium; Friday, 2:30 p.m.

Why Go: Find out why the aforementioned creatures are no longer called "starfish," and learn more about them at this kid-friendly, recurring event. Attendees get a chance to feed them too, and make fun crafts. 

Pricing: 12 and under, free; $5 suggested donation for everyone else

6.

Where/When: ; Friday, 7 p.m.

Why Go: With help from the audience—and the iPod Shuffle—the Premier Ensemble of the National Children’s Chorus will dip into selections by The Beatles, Mozart and beyond. The chorus presented a similar program at The Edye Second Space earlier this month.

Pricing: Free

7. ""

Where/When: John Drescher Planetarium, ; Friday, 8 p.m.

Why Go: This planetarium event explores sights highlighted by the titular 18th-century comet hunter. The Frenchman "compiled a remarkable list of the brightest galaxies, star clusters and nebulae in the northern sky, and he is the reason that 'M' is in front of numerical designations for many beautiful objects in the night sky," the college said in a statement.

Pricing: $5 ($9 with "The Night Sky Show")

8.

Where/When: The Children's Activities Room at the ; Saturday, 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Why Go: It's still crisp outside, but make no mistake about it: Spring is here. Celebrate the season with stories, music and rhythm fun at this event geared toward kids ages 2 to 5.

Pricing: Free

9. Locked and Loaded

Where/When: ; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Why Go: The successful show was supposed to end Saturday but has been extended all the way through June 26. Billed as "an irreverent dramedy about life, death and life," Todd Susman (The Taking of Pelman 123, Hairspray) puts a comic spin on suicide and prostitution in his new play. This is the West Coast premiere of the performance, which opened in New York in 2007.

Pricing: $26 (Friday and Saturday); $21 (Sunday)

10. Los Angeles Antiques Show

Where/When: ; Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Why Go: Sixty national and international exhibitors are participating in the 16th annual edition of the show, flaunting their furniture, paintings, rare books, prints, jewelry, tapestries, tribal art and more. On Friday night, the second annual Design LA event will take place at the show and include a discussion called "A Time for Change in the Design Industry?" at 7 p.m.

Pricing: $20

11. Upward Bound House Arts and Crafts Sale

Where/When: ; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Why Go: If you're heading to the antiques show, you might want to swing by this event first. Art, jewelry, ceramic, glass works and quilts will be on sale, with proceeds going to help house homeless families that include children. A lemonade and treat stand operated by kids at Upward Bound House will be there as well.

Pricing: Free

12. Backboners Performance

Where/When: ; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Why Go: The Mamas & The Papas-inspired band will likely be playing covers in addition to their own material during their Sunday set. "Their voices blend beautifully," Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas said about the band.

Pricing: Free

13. Hands Across California

Where/When: SMC; Sunday, 2 p.m.

Why Go: Students will join their peers from community colleges throughout the state as they attempt to create a 1,000-mile human chain connecting Sacramento to San Diego. The goal is to raise awareness about the sharp cuts being made to their schools. Read more about the event and the budget cuts .

Pricing: Free

14. Emily Giffin Reading

Where/When: ; Sunday, 3 p.m.

Why Go: The author will read from her bestselling book Something Borrowed in anticipation of the Kate Hudson-starring movie version, due in theaters May 6.

Pricing: Free

16. Santa Monica College's Workforce & Economic Development Division's Free Clean Energy Training Program: Intro to Solar, Part 1

Where/When: SMC's Bundy Campus; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Why Go: This class is part of a broader effort to create a well-trained workforce to promote renewable-energy development. The courses cover energy fundamentals, theory and technical application and apply to fields ranging from design to engineering to manufacturing. Go here for more info.

Pricing: Free

17. "Extreme Close-Up: Essays Inspired by the Movies"

Where/When: ; Sunday, 7 p.m.

Why Go: The video store's fourth essay show will feature castmembers Nancy Pimental, Sarah Stanley, Adam Gropman, Jenny Noa, Tom Cendejas, Ted Hardwick and Dylan Brody. Go for Santa Monica Patch's recent profile on Vidiots, which is on the rebound after suffering recent financial struggles.

Pricing: $10


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here