QUILTS ON DISPLAY The Quinobequin Quilters Guild holds its biennial quilt show on Friday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Masonic Hall, 1101 Highland Ave, Needham. Over 120 handmade quilts will be displayed, representing a wide range of quilting styles. Show visitors will be invited to vote for their favorites, and children may take part in a scavenger hunt where they try to find shapes, patterns, and symbols on quilts throughout the show. General admission is $7 (free for children). For more information, go to www.quinobequin.org.
FUN BEING GREEN The town of Arlington will host “EcoFest 2018: Greenward,’’ a free public event celebrating sustainability and the local environment, at Town Hall on Saturday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors will have display tables with products and services, and local nonprofit and volunteer organizations will share information. Other features include the Bon Me food truck, a mini farmers’ market, an exhibit of recycled art by Arlington High School students, and a raffle of landscaping, energy-efficient, and bike safety products. Musical ensemble Rubber Biscuit will perform from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. and from noon to 12:45 p.m., Home Harvest owner Ben Barkan will share his knowledge and experience in creating edible landscapes. Town Hall is at 730 Massachusetts Ave. For information, go to www.arlingtonma.gov/ecofest.
CATS & DOGS ArtsNashoba presents “Reigning Cats & Dogs,’’ by Steven Bergman and Amy White Graves, in the Richardson-Mees Performing Arts Center at Lawrence Academy, 26 Powderhouse Road, Groton. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and are available at www.artsnashoba.org or by calling 978-842-1255. Performances are on Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24, at 7 p.m.; and on Sunday, March 25, at 2 p.m. In addition, a sensory-friendly performance will take place Saturday, March 24, at 2 p.m., with free admission for audience members with special needs and their caretakers. Advance reservations for the sensory-friendly performance are requested by calling 978-842-1255 or by e-mailing bonnie@artsnashoba.org.
WATERCOLORS IN ACTION The Wellesley Society of Artists, Inc. will host a watercolor demonstration by Anthony Visco on Monday, March 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Wakelin Room of the Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington St. Visco uses oils, acrylics, and watercolors to convey his love of New England landscapes and seascapes. Admission is free; attendees are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the Wellesley Food Pantry. The demonstration will be preceded by a reception to meet Visco and other WSA artists beginning at 6:30 p.m.
ARTS FESTIVAL The 21st annual Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlboroughfeatures 175 competitively juried artists from 25 states exhibiting original works in ceramics, painting, decorative fiber, art glass, furniture, jewelry, metal, mixed media, photography, large-scale sculpture, wearable art and woodworking. The festival takes place at the Royal Plaza Trade Center, Royal Plaza Drive, Marlborough, on Friday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14 adults; $12 seniors; $8 students; free for children 12 and under. For information, go to festivals.paradisecityarts.com or call 800-511-9725
FAMILY CONCERT The annual Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra Family Symphony Matinee takes place on Sunday, March 25, at 3 p.m. in the Milford Town Hall, 52 Main St.The concert features an “Instrument Petting Zoo’’ before and after the concert, where audience members can try out the many orchestra instruments. The Claflin Hill Youth Orchestra will join professional musicians for a joint performance. Music to be performed includes works by Mozart, Bach, Bizet, and John Williams. Tickets are $8 to $12. For tickets or more information, go to www.claflinhill.org.
YOUNG MUSICIANS The Concord Orchestra, conducted by Richard Pittman, presents its Ehlers Young Artist concert, “Spring Awakening,’’ on Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24, at 8 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center, 51 Walden St., Concord. The program opens with “Printemps’’ by Claude Debussy, an exuberant piece that portrays rebirth in the spring. Alexander Goldberg, the 17-year-old winner of the Ehlers Young Artist competition, performs Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2; the program includes Schumann’s Symphony No. 2. Each concert will be preceded by a 7:15 p.m. cello recital by a competition honoree. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. For tickets or more information, go to www.concordorchestra.com or call 978-369-4967.
COFFEEHOUSE MAGIC Folk duo Mustard’s Retreat will perform on Friday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the OCC Coffeehouse, 1 East St.,Wrentham. Tickets are $15 advance and $20 at the door. For tickets and more information, go to www.musicatocc.org or call 508-384-3110.
FILM SERIES Nine films from the world’s top international film festivals will be featured at Belmont World Film’s 17th Annual International Film Series, which runs March 18 to May 14 at the Studio Cinema, 376 Trapelo Rd., Belmont. The theme is “Bound by Beliefs,’’ and the films show how difficult it is to implement change in the face of long-held societal or community beliefs. The opening night screening of “The Workshop,’’ a thriller by French director Laurent Cantet that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, takes place on Sunday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a dinner reception at 6 p.m. featuring Provencal cuisine. Remaining screenings are every Monday, starting March 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets per film are $11 general admission and $9 for students and seniors in advance online, and $12 and $10 at the door. Tickets to the opening and closing night dinner receptions are available online or by mailing a check to Belmont World Film, 19 Raynor Road, Sudbury. For a complete schedule of screenings and other information, go to www.belmontworldfilm.org or call 617-484-3980.
Send ideas to NancySWest@gmail.com.
