Going Greek
Now in its 45th year, the Charleston Greek Festival is itself a cultural institution for the Lowcountry. Held each Mother’s Day weekend by Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity on Race Street, the festival is a celebration of all aspects of the Mediterranean country and its traditions. That means authentic folk dancing in full costumes, live Greek music by A Night in Athens and an expansive menu featuring all sorts of Greek favorites such as dolmades, gyros, roasted lamb and baklava. Even better, most food items are priced below $10, which is a pretty good deal as far as Charleston cuisine goes. The festival also will offer wine, authentic Greek beer and coffee for sale. There is free parking available at 150 Lockwood Blvd., where a shuttle will run to and from the event.
When: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday
Where: 30 Race St.
Price: $5 general admission, $3 for students and seniors, free for children younger than 13.
More info: www.charlestongreekfestival.com
Return of The Pixies
The Pixies’ return to the North Charleston Performing Arts Center next week could be a different experience for fans who went to their last show at the venue in 2011. Bassist and co-founder Kim Deal has since left the iconic rock group, and remaining members — singer and guitarist Black Francis, guitarist Joey Santiago, drummer David Lovering — have been touring with bassist Paz Lenchantin, formerly of A Perfect Circle, since January 2014. Deal left while recording the 2014 album “Indie Cindy,” the band’s first album since 1991. The members decided to push forward with the new music and the touring, which is something special for a group that’s been known to take extended hiatuses before. In the past 18 months, they’ve played more than 120 shows worldwide. During this recent stint of concerts, crowds can expect classics from the Pixies’ catalogue, as well as brand-new songs just written in the past few months.
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday
Where: North Charleston Performing Arts Center
Price: $49.50-$59.50, plus fees
More info: www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com/events/detail/the-pixies
Busker break-outs
Old Crow Medicine Show’s big break in 2000 is the sort of story you don’t hear too often in the modern music industry, and perhaps that’s part of the allure of the traditional bluegrass group. While busking on the streets of Boone, N.C., the band’s regular gig, folk legend Doc Watson stumbled upon their performance and gave them a gig on the spot, which led the group to move to Nashville. Since then, Old Crow wrote and sold a million copies of the widely known hit “Wagon Wheel,” and recently, the band took home this year’s Grammy Award for Best Folk Album for its latest full-length, “Remedy.” The band makes a stop in Charleston next week during its extensive tour in support of the album with opening act The Devil Makes Three, an Americana trio.
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: North Charleston Performing Arts Center
Price: $35, plus fees
More info: www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com/events/detail/old-crow-medicine-show
Go fish
The Charleston County Park and Recreation Department’s monthly fishing tournament, Cast Off, is back this weekend for the first event of the season. Prizes will be awarded in categories for adults, women, children younger than 13, and seniors ages 60 and older. A separate category will be awarded for total weight of five fish. Tournaments are held rain or shine.
When: 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mount Pleasant Pier, 71 Harry M. Hallman Jr. Blvd.
Price: $8-$13, or $5 for Fishing Pass holders
More info: www.ccprc.com/2037/Fishing-Tournaments
Out of Africa
Lagbaja, billed as a “Nigerian afropop superband,” will play in Charleston next week during the group’s first United States tour in nine years. The band, influenced by traditional African rhythms as well as jazz, calypso and hip-hop, draws its name from the frontman, a saxophone player who wears a mask on stage. “Lagbaja” is a Yoruba word for “the masked one” or an expression to describe somebody, nobody, anybody or everybody. “The omnipresent mask and the name symbolize the faceless, the voiceless in the society, particularly in Africa,” according to a statement from the group.
When: 9 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Charleston Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway
Price: $18 in advance, $20 at the door
More info: <URL destination="www.charlestonpourhouse.com/2015/03/24/lagbaja-west-africanigeria-world-music/ ">www.charlestonpourhouse.com/2015/03/24/lagbaja-west-africanigeria-world-music/
Tip o’ the hat
The Charleston Museum will host its Mad Hatter Tea Party today in the courtyard, which will be decorated in the style of “Alice in Wonderland.” The museum is showcasing a number of hats and headpieces from its Textiles Collection on display for the occasion. The V-Tones of Charleston will perform live, and hors d’oeuvres and tea cocktails will be served.
When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday
Where: 360 Meeting St.
Price: $35 for nonmembers, $25 for members
More info: 722-2996, ext. 235
Look out for sharks
The South Carolina Aquarium will introduce its newest finned family members to the public this weekend with the opening of Shark Shallows. The aquarium will celebrate the grand opening of the exhibit, where guests can touch sharks and stingrays, with free face painting, appearances by mascots Miles and Bob, and other activities. The first 200 visitors receive free shark backpacks.
When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday
Where: 100 Aquarium Wharf
Price: $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for children ages 3 to 12, free for toddlers and members
More info: 577-FISH(3474), scaquarium.org