Things to do

Spokane Symphony: “A Hero’s Life” – Saturday and Sunday. Featuring music by Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Strauss. A treat for opera lovers, the performance opens with the Prelude and Triumphal March from Verdi’s “Aida.” Eckart Preu conducts. Part of the Classics Series. Performances Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. $14-$44. (509) 624-1200.

Spokane Symphony Community Concert - The symphony, conducted by Morihiko Nakahara, will perform several well-known pieces including selections from the “Star Wars” Suite, “West Side Story” and the Beethoven Symphony No. 5. As part of the concert, several symphony musicians will join the students of the Deer Park High School band under the direction of Taylor Belote. Tickets are available at the door. Wednesday, 7 p.m., Deer Park High School, 800 S. Weber Road, Deer Park. $5/general, free/students. (509) 464-7062.

“West Side Story” – Thursday-March 24. One of the best pedigreed musicals in American history with music by Leonard Bernstein, choreography by Jerome Robbins and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Performances Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; March 22 at 8 p.m.; March 23 at 2 and 8 p.m.; and March 24 at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Part of the Best of Broadway series. INB Performing Arts Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. $32.50-$72.50. (800) 325-SEAT.

LunaFest Women’s Film Festival – Eighth-annual event hosting a national touring film festival that showcases short films by, for and about women. For information about this year’s films, visit www.lunafest.org. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, 508 S. Main St., Moscow, Idaho. Reception and films: $15/general, $10/students; films only: $8/general, $3/students. (208) 885-6616.

“When Irish Hearts are Happy” Parade - Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at Eighth Street and Sherman Avenue in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Sponsored by the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association. Sunday, 4 p.m., downtown Coeur d’Alene. Free. (208) 667-5986.

Spring KidsFest - Free family fun for ages 2-12 with face painting, crafts, music, prizes and more from noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Spokane Valley Mall, Food Court, 14740 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley. Free. (509) 926-3700.

14th Annual Gold and Treasure Show - Hosted by the NorthWest Gold Prospectors Association. Learn all about small-scale mining/prospecting and recreational gold panning. See the latest in small-scale mining equipment and metal detectors. Try your luck at our hands-on panning booths. Learn how and where to prospect for gold or look for treasure. Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. $3/general, good all weekend; free/age 12 and younger. (208) 699-8128.

St. Paddy’s Day feed - Corned beef, cabbage, baby reds, salad and Reubens. Proceeds benefit the Fairfield Flag Day celebration. 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Fairfield Community Center, 304 E. Main. $15 per person.

St. Paddy’s in Palouse - 10th-annual event featuring music by local favorites Potatohead and traditional Irish dancers. Dinner from 5-6 p.m. includes corned beef, Irish soda bread, colcannon and dessert. No-host bar available. Music starts at 6 p.m. Monday, Palouse Community Center, 220 E. Main St., Palouse. $16/adults, $7/ages 6-12, free/age 5 and younger.