First Thursday

■ There is a First Thursday opening from 5:30-7 p.m. today at the Kenai Fine Art Center, 816 Cook Avenue, in Kenai for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Juried Student Show.

Events and Exhibitions

■ Soldotna High School proudly presents its spring play production: The Giver! Performances will be April 7, 8, and 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the SoHi auditorium. Tickets are $10. Come support the Soldotna Drama Department and enjoy a fantastic adaptation of this classic story!

■ Tamara McCoy & Valerie Hartzell will perform April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Homer Council on the Arts. Admission by donation. Dr. Tamara McCoy is an accomplished pianist and vocalist working in a broad spectrum of styles including folk, blues, rock, heavy metal, and classical. This performance will be part of a tour through Alaska and England with her duet partner, guitarist Valerie Hartzell. Valerie is an international prizewinner in eight international competitions, and proves to be a virtuoso of classical guitar.

■ The community is invited to attend “An Evening with Author Kim Heacox” at 6:30 p.m. on April 11 in the McLane Commons at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna. This free event is being sponsored by the KPC Showcase and River City Books. Kim Heacox is the author of more than a dozen works, a National Book Award nominee, and a recent National Outdoor Book Award winner. Heacox’s works include: “The Only Kayak,” “John Muir and the Ice that Started a Fire,” “Rhythm of the Wild,” and the highly acclaimed novel, “Jimmy Bluefeather.”

■ Soldotna High School’s National Honor Society presents the 2016 Talent Show, on April 21 at 6:00 p.m., in the SoHi Auditorium. Tickets will be $3 and sold at the door. Come see Soldotna’s youth present their talents in the form of music, pottery, drawing, painting, and more! There will be food and drink available for purchase at the concession stand. All proceeds go to SoHi’s National Honor Society, and will be used for projects that give back to the school and community.

■ Call for artists: Artists ages 2-17 are invited to enter up to 2 artworks relating to the theme of ‘Birds of the Kenai Peninsula’ for the 2016 PEEPS Kids Art and Photo Exhibit to be displayed at the Kenai Visitors Center, May 17-21. Artworks must be submitted no later than 3 p.m. May 5 to the visitors center in Kenai. This is an annual event of the Kenai Birding Festival. Details available at the Kenai Visitors Center or at www.kenaibirdfest.com.

■ A call for artists to submit up to two expressive, distinctive, original quilted wall hangings, up to 9 feet square, for the June, 2016 Art Quilts Extraordinaire Exhibit in Gallery Too at the Kenai Fine Arts Center, 816 Cook Ave. in Old Town Kenai. Kits or traditional patterns would not fit into the concept of this exhibit. Submissions are due by 4 p.m. May 28 to the Kenai Fine Arts Center. Art center hours are noon-5 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday. An artists reception will be 6-8 p.m. June 2.

■ The Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center hosts an exploration of “Traditional and Contemporary Ravenstail Weavings” by artist Kay Field Parker.

■ ARTspace Drawer is on display at the Soldotna Library, the first annual collection of locally created 2D and 3D art. The first of its kind in Alaska, this display is made possible by a partnership between Soldotna Rotary, ARTspace Inc., and the Soldotna Public Library.

■ Frames & Things in Soldotna is offering a framing class on May 7 from 9 a.m.-noon. The class is limited to 15 people, must be at least 18. Please call Frames & Things for details at 262-5248 or find them on Facebook.

■ The Kasilof Pinochle Club meets at Hooligan’s in Soldotna from mid-October to mid-April Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. Bring your own partner as the club plays team partnerships. Anyone interested in playing can call Jay at 907-252-6397.

Entertainment

■ Veronica’s in Old Town Kenai has live music at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Call 283-2725.

■ A bluegrass jam takes place on the first Sunday of the month at from 1-4 p.m. at the Mount Redoubt Baptist Church on South Lovers Loop in Nikiski.

■ The Flats Bistro on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Garrett Mayer on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Raymond Machen-Gray on Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

■ An all acoustic jam takes place every Thursday. The jam is at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna on the first Thursday of the month, and at the Kenai Senior Center during the rest of the month. Jam starts at 6:30 p.m.

■ AmVets Post 4 has reopened in its brand new building on K-Beach across from Jumpin Junction. Eligible veterans and their families are invited to stop by to find out more about AmVets and their involvement in the Veteran community. For members and invited guests, Friday night dance to DJ Roy, and Saturday Burn your own steak and karaoke with Frank.

■ Odie’s Deli in Soldotna has live music Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Pub Quiz night every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.

■ The Bow bar in Kenai has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and live music Fridays, Saturdays at 10 p.m.

■ Hooligans Saloon in Soldotna has poker Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 p.m. and live music Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

■ The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and DJ Arisen on Saturdays.

■ Mykel’s in Soldotna has live music Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. with Bob Ramponi and Dave Unruh.

■ The Soldotna library hosts a board game night on Tuesdays from 5-7:45 p.m. in the conference rooms, 235 N. Binkley Street. It’s time to get your game on! Have you ever wanted to try something other than another round of Monopoly, or to break out of that old Scrabble routine? Come ready to meet new people, engage your imagination, and have a great time.

Markets, fairs and bazaars

■ Sign up for the Spring Craft & Vendor Fair at Sterling Community Center begins March 28 for Sterling Craft and Vendors; April 4-8 for Soldotna and Kenai; April 11-April 22 open for all others to sign up. The craft fair is April 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the Sterling Community Center at 262-7224 or email: scc@acsalaska.net for more information.

Films

■ Call Orca Theaters at 262-7003 for listings and times.

■ Call Kambe Cinemas at 283-4554 for listings and times.

Down the Road

■ The Pratt Museum in Homer is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.prattmuseum.org.

Submissions may be emailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.