35 things to do in march
Memphis the Musical
Feb. 12–March 6 I Fontana
Dinner theater production of the Broadway musical about the birth of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s. Tibbies Center Stage. (909) 429-7469, centerstagefontana.com
Alice in Wonderland
Feb. 13–March 20 I Redlands
Whimsical new family musical based on Lewis Carroll’s beloved tale. Lifehouse Theater. (909) 335-3037, lifehousetheater.com
Sam Maloof Woodworker Life/Art/Legacy
Feb. 14–Aug. 31 I Alta Loma
Centennial exhibition honoring the master woodworker. The Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation. (909) 980-0412, malooffoundation.org
The Flower Fields
March 1–May 8 I Carlsbad
A vibrant sea of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers transforms 50 acres of hills into rows of brilliant color. Special events and additional attractions, such as antique tractor wagon rides and sweet pea maze, are included. (760) 431-0352, theflowerfields.com
The Music of John Williams
March 3 I Moreno Valley
Moreno Valley Wind Symphony spotlights the iconic music of the renowned composer and conductor. Moreno Valley Conference Center. mvwindsymphony.org
La Quinta Arts Festival
March 3–6 I La Quinta
Admire the creativity of noted artists. Live entertainment, festival foods, wine and beer complement your day in the desert. La Quinta Civic Center. 1-800-316-8559, lqaf.com
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
Carousel In Concert
March 3, 5 & 6 I Temecula
Richard Rodgers wrote that Carousel was his favorite of all his musicals. Hear the memorable score that includes “If I Loved You,” “June Is Busting Out All Over” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Presented by The Barn Stage Company, with the Temecula Valley Symphony. Old Town Temecula Community Theater. 1-866-653-8696, temeculatheater.org
Temecula Rod Run
March 4–5 I Temecula
Classic vehicles rev their engines and cruise Front Street during the Friday Night Cruise. At Saturday’s Show and Shine, these beauties are ready for their close-ups. Old Town Temecula. (951) 694-6480, temeculaevents.org/temecularodrun
Beginner’s Luck
March 4–13 I Hemet
Comedy about an unfaithful man’s attempt to reunite with his ex-wife. Ramona Hillside Players. (951) 658-5300, ramonahillsideplayers.org
Narnia
March 4–13 I Corona
Musical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Christian Arts and Theatre. Corona Civic Center. (951) 279-2298, catcorona.com
Oklahoma!
March 4–April 9 I Claremont
Rodgers & Hammerstein musical about handsome cowboy Curly and winsome farm girl Laurey, whose love story is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre. (909) 626-1254, candlelightpavilion.com
Tribute to Rod Stewart
March 5 I Hemet
Tribute show by John Anthony, one of the mainstays of Las Vegas’ “Legends in Concert.” Historic Hemet Theatre. (951) 658-5950, historichemettheatre.com
Guitar + Chamber Music = A match made in Heaven March 5 I Riverside
Riverside County Philharmonic performs Appalachian Spring Suite by Copland and Symphony No. 3, op. 55, in E-flat major by Beethoven. Classical guitarist William Kanengiser performs works by Vivaldi. Fox Performing Arts Center. (951) 787-0251, thephilharmonic.org
Railroadiana Swap Meet
March 5 I Perris
Shop for railroad antiques, collectibles, art, books, photos, and model and toy trains. Orange Empire Railway Museum. (951) 943-3020, oerm.org
Kissed Alive
March 5 I Big Bear
Kiss tribute band offers an entire Kiss experience with costumes, makeup, stage show and 40 years of hit music. The Cave. (909) 878-0204, thecavebigbear.com
Taste of the Farm Store
March 5 I Pomona
Free samples of Cal Poly Pomona produce and products, plus cooking demonstrations and petting farm. Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch. (909) 869-4906, cpp.edu/~farmstore
Casablanca
March 6 I Riverside
Screening of the classic movie with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Fox Performing Arts Center. (951) 779-9800, riversidelive.com
BNP Paribas Open
March 7–20 I Indian Wells
Combined ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Tour Premier event features the top men and women professional tennis players. Plus: on and off the court entertainment, exhibits and demos. Indian Wells Tennis Garden. 800-999-1585, bnpparibasopen.com
Delfeayo and Ellis Marsalis Quartet
March 9 I Temecula
Ellis Marsalis Jr., regarded by many as the premier modern jazz pianist in New Orleans, performs ballads and blues with his son, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis. Old Town Temecula Community Theater. 1-866-653-8696, temeculatheater.org
Cats
March 11–20 I Rancho Cucamonga
Broadway at the Gardens presents the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. Lewis Family Playhouse. (909) 477-2752, lewisfamilyplayhouse.com
Forbidden Broadway
March 12 I Riverside
Broadway in Riverside presents this nationally touring off-Broadway revue parodying musical theatre, particularly Broadway musicals. Fox Performing Arts Center. (951) 779-9800, riversidelive.com
Hunt Conducts Mozart and Brahms
March 12 I Redlands
Guest conductor Gordon Hunt leads the Redlands Symphony through compositions by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Brahms. University of Redlands Memorial Chapel. (909) 748-8018, redlandssymphony.com
Bunny Train
March 12–13 I Perris
Children can visit with the Easter Bunny on the Bunny Train, decorate Easter baskets, hunt for Easter eggs, and participate in bunny hop potato sack and egg races. Families can also ride trolleys all day. Orange Empire Railway Museum. (951) 943-3020, oerm.org
3rd Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals
March 12–13 I Pomona
Celebration of horsepower and torque with more than 1,000 high performance muscle cars, pro-touring cars and street machines from across the country. Fairplex. (909) 623-3111, fairplex.com, streetmachinenationals.net
Claremont Symphony Orchestra
March 13 I Claremont
Bassoonist Sarah Widner is featured in this program of compositions by Carl Maria von Weber and Johannes Brahms. Bridges Hall of Music at Pomona College. (909) 596-5979, claremontso.org
Claremont Village Pie Festival
and Car Show
March 19 I Claremont
There will be lots of pie eating, along with baking competitions, baking demos, pie recipe card hunt, vendor booths, live music, classic cars and Indian motorcycles, at this fourth annual festival. Claremont Village. (909) 621-5152, claremontpiefestival.com
Inland Empire Science Festival
March 19 I Hemet
Museums, STEM companies and agencies gather together to get youngsters excited about science. Western Science Center. (951) 791-0033, westerncentermuseum.org
Bravo! Adventure in Music
March 19 I Temecula
Winners of the 2016 Young Artist Competition perform their winning concertos (one movement each). Temecula Valley Youth Symphony will make a special guest appearance. Golden Bears Theater at Temecula Valley High School. (951) 587-1536, temeculavalleysymphony.org
Monty Python’s Spamalot
March 19 I San Bernardino
Stage musical that “lovingly” rips off the British comedy group’s famous motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. California Theatre of the Performing Arts. (909) 885-5152, californiatheatre.net
Celtic Faire
March 19-20 I Pomona
Celebrate the cultures of all Celtic Nations with music and dance performances, fair foods, games, shopping and competitions. Fairplex. (909) 623-3111, fairplex.com
Iron Horse–Family
Steampunk Carnivale
March 19–20 I Perris
This festival that pays homage to the Victorian Era, Edwardian science fiction and the Industrial Revolution includes steam locomotive and vintage trolley rides and Steampunk themed entertainment, workshops, vendors and foods. Orange Empire Railway Museum. (951) 943-3020, oerm.org
Auto Club 400
March 20 I Fontana
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Southern California. Auto Club Speedway. 1-800-944-7223, autoclubspeedway.com
Jekyll & Hyde 2016
March 25–April 10 I Temecula
Stage musical-thriller about a man with a dark secret—or two. Old Town Temecula Community Theater. 1-866-653-8696, temeculatheater.org
It’s Magic!
March 26 I Rancho Cucamonga
All-new, 60th anniversary edition of the magic revue with award-winning stars of magic. Lewis Family Playhouse. (909) 477-2752, lewisfamilyplayhouse.com
Masterwork Melange
March 26 I San Bernardino
San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra performs Hansel and Gretel Prelude by Humperdinck, Symphony No. 9 by Shostakovich, and Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninoff; Rufus Choi, piano. California Theatre of the Performing Arts. (909) 381-5388, sanbernardinosymphony.org
Indian Wells Arts Festival
April 1–3 I Indian Wells
More than 200 juried artists showcase their contemporary and traditional fine art and high quality craft. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is transformed into an artisan village and outdoor marketplace with thousands of unique pieces of art for sale. Plus: live jazz, cocktails, festival foods, weekend champagne brunch, artist demonstrations, and children’s fun area. (760) 346-0042, indianwellsartsfestival.com
Circus Vargas
April 7–May 9 I Inland Empire
The animal-free Circus Vargas returns to the I.E. with its all-new show, iLUMINOUS. Boasting death-defying stunts, high-flying aerialists, awe-inspiring acrobats and hilarious clowns under a music filled Big Top, iLUMINOUS will appear April 7–18 in Temecula, April 21–25 in Hesperia, and April 28–May 9 in Ontario. Tickets: 1-877-468-3861, circusvargas.com