Hartford will hold its Easter Egg Hunt at 7th Street Park on March 10.

MARCH 8

From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime
Thursday, 7-9 p.m.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Mo.
Free, but reservations required

Elizabeth Hinton form Harvard University will discuss her book about the social welfare programs of the civil rights era.  For reservations, call (314) 746-4599.

‘Almost Maine’ at the Looking Glass Playhouse
Thur.-Sat. 7:30; Sun. 2 p.m.
301 W. St. Louis St., Lebanon
$10

Almost, Maine is a series of loosely connected tales about love, each with a compelling couple at its center, each with its own touch of sorcery. For more information, call (618) 537-4962.

MARCH 8-10

‘Treasure Island’ Presented at Principia College
Thur.-Sat. 7:30; matinee Sat. 2 p.m.
1 Maybeck Place, Elsah
Admission unknown

Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of the classic story. For more information, call (618) 374-2131.

MARCH 9

Murder Mystery Dinner Theater in Grafton
Friday, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Pere Marquette Lodge, 13653 Lodge Blvd.
$45

Dinner and entertainment wrapped in one evening. “Murder at the Abbey” will replicate Downton Abbey characters. For more information, call (618) 786-2331.

Kindermusik Playdate
Friday, 1:30-2 p.m.
Edwardsville Children’s Museum, 722 Holyoake Road
$5

Creative music class for preschool aged children and their parents. For more information, call (618) 692-2094.

Belleville Polar Plunge Benefits Special Olympics
Friday, 4-7 p.m.
6435 W. Main St.
$100

Get donations from your friends to see you plunge into icy water. To register, visit https://soill.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=632.

Alton K of C Fish Fry
Friday, 4:30-7 p.m.
405 E. 4th St.
$12; youths 6-12 $5

All-you-can-eat fish dinner buffet. For more information, call (618) 465-6913.

MARCH 9-10

Auditions for Summer Performances
Fri. 6-9 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.
First Christian Church, 310 S. Main St., Edwardsville
Free

The Goshen Theatre Project is auditioning for two summer plays. Youths aged 8-15 can audition for Lion King Jr; auditions for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are open to all ages, second grade to adult. For more information, email gtplionking@gmail.com or visit goshentheatreproject.org.

Quarter Auction Benefits Local Charities
Friday, 6-10 p.m.
Wood River Moose, 730 Wesley Drive.
Paddles $1 each

The Women of the Moose are conducting the Auction to benefit many local charities. For more information, call (618) 259-0069.

MARCH 10

Metro East Brick Derby
Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
VFW Post #805, 8500 Veterans Memorial Pkwy., O’Fallon
$10

Second annual event using LEGO cars. Two divisions: youths 4-12 and 13-up. Build your car on a provided base that includes axles, weights and car base. Proceeds will benefit Bikers Against Child Abuse Metro East. To register, visit https://ticketpeak.com/ticket_details.php?d=20981.

The Whitesides: Ben & Lucy’s Neighbors
Saturday, 1-2 p.m.
1820 Col. Benjamin Stephenson House, 409 S. Buchanan St., Edwardsville
$5 per adult

Madison Historical tech developer Ben Ostermeier presents a discussion on Ben and Lucy’s neighbors: the Whitesides. William B. Whiteside and his wife were among the first American settlers in the Edwardsville region, arriving in 1802. William served in the War of 1812 and as the second sheriff of Madison County. Registration required by calling (618) 692-1818.  

Boating Safety Class in Highland
Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
McGinley Kawasaki, 7 Shamrock Blvd.
$20

The class will give you the knowledge needed to obtain a boater safety certificate. There is a $5 fee for added family members to attend. For more information, call (618) 654-2277.

Auditions for ‘Wizard of Oz’
Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Looking Glass Playhouse, 301 W. St. Louis St., Lebanon
Free

Youth 13 and younger can audition for the roles of munchkins, flying monkeys, jitterbugs and other dance and ensemble members. Auditions for those 14 and older will be held at 1 p.m. For more information, email gnetemeyer@msn.com.

Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
7th Street Park, Hartford
Free

In addition to the egg hunt there will be a bounce house, games and face painting. In case of rain the event will be moved into the gym. For more information, call (618) 251-2680.

Tow Bar’s Annual Stock Car Show
Saturday, noon
705 N. Douglas St., Saint Jacob
Free

Support Leaps of Love and enjoy racecars, drink specials, raffles, live music, washers and tire races. For more information, call (618) 644-9288.

Help Kids Dinner Auction
Saturday, 6-10 p.m.
Julia’s Banquet Center, 101 Eastgate Plaza Dr., East Alton
$40

Support the Boys and Girls Club of Bethalto by enjoying a Hawaiian-themed event featuring silent and live auctions, raffle, dinner, and drinks. For more information, call (618) 377-6030.

MARCH 10-11

Gun & Knife Show,
Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, 200 S. Belt
$6

Hunting and trade show where you can buy, sell and trade guns, knives, ammo, scopes and accessories. For more information, call (618) 233-0052.

MARCH 11

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner
Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Edwardsville Masonic Lodge #99, 90 Kriege Farm Road, Glen Carbon
Adults $12; children 5-10 $4

Meal consists of corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Eat in or carry out. For more information, call (618) 656-7137.

MARCH 12

Teen Hair & Make-up Night
Monday, 6-7 p.m.
Wood River Public Library, 326 E. Ferguson Ave.
Free

Kristen Meyer, owner of Kristen’s Hair Studio, will help girls in sixth-12th grades learn quick and easy hairstyles. Make-up artist Laura will be on hand to help apply flawless makeup. For more information, call (618) 25404832.

MARCH 13

Paint Neighborhood Rocks in Bunker Hill
Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Bunker Hill Public Library, 220 E. Warren St.
Free

Stop in to paint a rock that will be hidden in the community. Finding a painted rock is a treat. For more information, call (619) 585-4736.

Quarter Auction
Benefit Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
Tuesday, 7-9:30 p.m.
Alton Moose Lodge, 526 E. Delmar Ave., Godfrey
Paddles $5 each

All proceeds from the auction will be given to charities. For more information, call (314) 944-7800.

Collinsville Area Women’s Connection
12:15-2 p.m.
Gateway Center, One Gateway Center Drive
$16 (reservations necessary for lunch)

Grace Simonpietri, a custom maker of unique keepsake Teddy Bears, will show some of her bears preserved from family heirlooms made new again. Wanda Hanssen shares her humor in telling about life in South Africa and how she and her family adapted to life in the USA. For more information, call (618) 344-7967.

–Metro East Calendar of Events March 7 – March 13–