Nevada Women’s Film Festival at Eclipse Theaters
For its fourth year, the Nevada Women’s Film Festival moves to Downtown’s Eclipse Theaters (which has been establishing itself as a home for indie film events), with four days of programming focused on women’s voices both behind and in front of the camera. The festival’s centerpiece honoree this year is pioneering female filmmaker Stephanie Rothman, who worked with Roger Corman in the 1960s and ’70s and brought a feminist slant to her low-budget exploitation films, including 1970’s The Student Nurses, which will be shown accompanied by a conversation with Rothman (March 24, 2 p.m.).
Other highlights this year include the acclaimed documentary Dolores (March 25, 1 p.m.), about Chicano labor-rights activist Dolores Huerta; opening night film Mata Hari: The Naked Spy (March 23, 6 p.m.), featuring a Q&A with director Susan Wolf; a panel discussion about sexual harassment in the film industry (March 24, 12 p.m.), led by UNLV’s Heather Addison; and short films by local directors throughout the various shorts programs. The event ends with the Femmy Awards honoring the festival’s best $7-$12 per program, March 22-25, nwffest.com. –Josh Bell
Chris Stapleton at MGM Grand Garden Arena
How fast is country music star Chris Stapleton rising? Consider this: Less than two years after playing the 4,000-capacity Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, he’s headlining the 15,000-plus-cap MGM Grand Garden Arena. Winning a pair of Best Country Album Grammys—for 2015’s Traveller and last year’s From a Room Volume 1—has surely helped raise his profile, but we’d like to think his growing fanbase is more interested in the music itself: the sort of authentic, throwback songs that typically don’t get played on mainstream country radio. Plus, the dude plays a mean guitar. With Nikki Lane, $49-$115, March 23, 8 p.m. –Spencer Patterson
Major Lazer at Encore Beach Club
Dancehall trio Major Lazer—Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire—have routinely staged some of the wildest day (and night) parties at Encore Beach Club in recent years, and they’re back for their first EBC date of the season on Saturday. While we wait for the release of the group’s fourth studio album, reportedly titled Music Is the Weapon, Major Lazer gains a new outlet today: Diplo’s new radio station on SiriusXM, which will also feature his bandmates. $30-$50, March 24, 10:30 a.m. –Brock Radke
Luau pig roast at Atomic Liquors
We never need special incentives to hang out at Atomic, but here are some anyway: a pig roast dinner—prepared by the Kitchen at Atomic chef Justin Kingsley Hall—accompanied by Stone’s Scorpion Bowl IPA and a dunk tank, with proceeds benefitting Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. $20 plus one craft bottle to share. March 24, 2 p.m. –Spencer Patterson
Las Vegas Bluegrass Festival at Centennial Hills Park
This might be the most surprising Vegas music festival—and the most welcome. Enjoy featured acts Run Boy Run, Blue Canyon Boys, David Luning and Trout Steak Revival while checking out the craft market, food and beer vendors, and the instrument petting zoo. Free. March 24, 2 p.m. –Mike Prevatt
Opening day at Cowabunga Bay and Wet 'N' Wild
It’s March. It’s Spring Break. It’s high time the water parks catch up to the dayclubs, unlock those gates and welcome the first whippersnappers and sun-worshippers of the season. Never mind that it’s forecasted to be 56 degrees when the gates open. Here’s a YouTube challenge for all your teenage daredevils: Water Slide Chicken, where the last one still plunging into chilly pools wins. And for the less warm-blooded among us, Cowabunga Bay’s Facebook page promises certain swimming areas will be heated. That being said, bring a hoodie. Cowabunga Bay, $12-$40; Wet ‘n’ Wild, $10-$40. March 24, 11 a.m. –Mike Prevatt
Harry Potter week at Discovery Children’s Museum
Pencils down, wands up: Discovery Children’s Museum is going all-in for the Wizarding World. During Discovery’s Spring Break at Hogwarts event, kids and parents can design their own broomsticks, get sorted into houses and even explore the concepts of levitation and invisibility (via science, not magic). And on March 31, 21-and-over wizards are invited to dress in their wizarding best and attend The Party That Must Not Be Named, a butterbeer bust whose proceeds (expecto patronage!) will benefit the museum and Communities in Schools of Nevada. Wand Design Workshop $5-$6, The Party $20-$50. March 24-31 –Geoff Carter
Cabaret Jazz celebrates Bernstein and Monk
The Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall often grabs the spotlight, because it gets the big-name acts and Broadway shows. But don’t overlook the Center’s more intimate venue, Cabaret Jazz, for great entertainment with a classy, Old Vegas club vibe. Catch two upcoming shows to see the room in top form:
Opera Las Vegas participates in a year-long 100th birthday celebration for the late, great composer Leonard Bernstein. The Bravo Bernstein! party starts at 3 p.m. on March 25. Expect favorites from his vast catalog like West Side Story, On the Town and more. $100.
On March 27 at 7 p.m., the spirit of legendary pianist Thelonious Monk will rise again with the Jazz Eclectic Concert Series (Vol. 2) featuring Monk’estra. Part of an effort to promote Las Vegas as a diverse music town, this event in the concert series will feature Grammy-nominated pianist and bandleader John Beasley. $29-$49. –C. Moon Reed
