Cosmic Rays Film Festival

Where: Chelsea Theater, Chapel Hill

When: Friday – Sunday, March 1 – 3

The festival “presents several programs of short films made by filmmakers from North Carolina and around the world that are formally inventive; speak with a personal voice; and are inspired by the possibilities of film as art.”

Hayti Heritage Film Festival

Where: Hayti Heritage Center, Durham

When: Thursday – Saturday, March 7 – 9

Put on by the Hayti Heritage Center and focusing on Durham’s African American heritage, the annual film festival screens works by and about those of African decent. The three-day event includes in-person screenings of full-length films, documentaries, shorts and more from local, national and international filmmakers.

Big Night in for the Arts

Where: On WRAL new channel and online

When: Thursday, March 7, 7 pm on WRAL

Local news station WRAL is putting on a show featuring local and national artists, including Gabriel Eng-Goetz, Pierce Freelon and Takiri Foclor Latino. The event began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to support local nonprofit arts and culture organizations, and it continues to raise a considerable amount of money for local arts programs.

Raleigh Brewing 11th Anniversary Party

Where: Raleigh Brewing Company, 3709 Neil St, Raleigh

When: Saturday, March 9, 1 – 8 pm

Raleigh Brewing is celebrating 11 years in businesses by hosting a public event with plenty of beer, live music and food. The brewers are tapping kegs of rare and limited-edition beer, hosting a beer Olympics competition and having a flyover from the Bandit Flight Team. There will also be raffles, giveaways and more.

Carrboro Annual Kite Fly

Where: Hank Anderson Park, Carrboro

When: Sunday, March 10, 1 – 3 pm

Carrboro is celebrating National Kite Flying Month early with a day filled with kites and fun. Participants are encouraged to bring their own kites to the welcome-to-spring event but there will also be a few kites available for those without ones.

Art in Bloom

Where: North Carolina Museum of Art

When: Wed-Sun, March 13 – 17

The five-day festival will see the museum covered in more than 50 floral masterpieces that draw inspiration from the museum’s collection. Proceeds will be used to support the museum and museum programs.

Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Where: Downtown Raleigh (map on event website)

When: Saturday, March 16, 10 am

The parade celebrates the Irish holiday with all sorts of traditional apparel, music and dancing, and will proceed no matter the weather. Don’t forget your green!

Playthrough Gaming Convention

Where: Raleigh Convention Center

When: Saturday, Sunday; March 16, 17

Billed as the largest gaming convention in North Carolina, Playthrough is a two-day event that features tournaments, expositions and panels for video games and board games, a cosplay showcase, and more. Kids 9 and under get in free with a paid adult.