RACE Warm up for St. Patrick’s Day in the annual four-mile dash to Seattle Center, where the beer garden opens at 9:30am. Costumes are encouraged—run, leprechaun, run. Mar 13.

If you’re more of an oenophile, Chateau Ste Michelle is holding a spring barrel tasting on Saturday, which means you can sample wines that are still barrel-aging …not gnaw on wood. Mar 12.

CLASSICAL & MORE Pacific Musicworks, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and more team up for the citywide American Handel Festival, a roving tribute to the Baroque composer’s career with 30+ concerts over two weeks. Mar 11-Mar 27.

BOOKS & TALKS Hugo House’s Cheap Wine and Poetry presents its first reading of 2011, featuring poets Rebecca Hoogs, Sierra Nelson, and Graham Isaac, and poet-comedian Emmett Montgomery. As always, wine is $1 per cup. Mar 10.

Local author/screenwriter Sherman Alexie does a reading and book signing at the Barnes and Noble in University Village (though no word on what Alexie is reading or signing). Still, B & N recommends you come an hour early for good seats. Mar 11.

THEATER What to expect at the “ridiculously staged reading” of The Shining at Re-bar? “Lots of knives, blood, over-the-top screaming, and patented Stephen King ‘crazy eyes,’” says director Ian Bell. Mar 10-12.

Last chance: Touring Broadway rock-sical Next to Normal closes March 13, and Washington Ensemble Theatre’s Babs the Dodo closes March 14.

VISUAL ART Seattle Art Museum’s late-night Remix party returns Friday, with special appearances by modern dance troupe Whim W’Him, Cherdonna and Lou, and dancers donning artist Nick Cave’s soundsuits. First 50 to arrive in Mardi Gras masks get in free. Mar 11.

CONCERTS Legendary South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela plays the Triple Door on March 10. And much to the delight of East Coast transplants worldwide, ‘90s D.C. post-punk band the Dismemberment Plan has reunited. They’re at Showbox SoDo on March 12.