Weekend Events: Knights of Columbus Fish Fry, plus Court Avenue Street Party, NCAA Wrestling Fan Festival, and ‘Million Dollar Quartet’

There’s plenty to do in Ankeny in the days ahead, and if you want to travel into to Des Moines and around the metro, there’s plenty to do there, too.

Here are some selected events, with a full list of Des Moines metro events available here.

ANKENY

Knights of Columbus Fish Fry: All are invited for the final Knights of Columbus Fish Fry at Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Catholic Church on Friday, March 22.  The Knights will be serving up a delicious meal at OLIH from 5-7 p.m.  Menu includes Fried Pollock Fillets, Baked Alaskan Cod Fillets, Shrimp, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, French Fries, Baked Potatoes with fixings, Coleslaw, Corn, Dinner Rolls, Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream with toppings and Wafer Cookies.

This is the largest and most important fund raising project that the Knights conduct every year. Recommended free will offerings: Adults-$7/Fish; $8/Shrimp; 6 - 12 years/$4, Children 5 and under are free; $25 maximum for a family of 5 or more.

Tea Time at Downton Abbey: Enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit as you watch the PBS series Downton Abbey, a stunning and colorful drama set around the aristocratic Crawley family and the staff which serves them. Set between 1912 and 1914, Downton Abbey chronicles the conflict of class, gender, and politics, and serves it up with a refreshing dollop of sizzle and scandal.

March 24, 2-3 p.m. Kirkendall Public Library.

METRO

NCAA Wrestling Fan Festival: Fans not able to secure tickets for the 2013 Championships can still be part of the excitement by attending the free NCAA Wrestling Fan Festival, open each day until 10 p.m. March 21-23. Live action of all 8 mats will be shown inside Fan Festival on large screens. The festival will offer an assortment of food and beverages, plenty of sports bar style seating, exhibit booths, displays, photo opportunities and kid’s games. Fans wanting to get involved may volunteer as a City Ambassador. All volunteers will receive a free shirt. Volunteers who sign up for a shift outside of the arena will also receive a $10 food and beverage voucher.

When: March 21-23

Where: Hy-Vee Hall, 730 Third St. in Des Moines

Details: Go to www.wrestlingdm.com for all things NCAA Wrestling in Des Moines, including signing up to volunteer.

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Art Noir’s Op-Arty Party: Party-goers can make their own interactive optical art and take a guid­ed tour of “Vibra­tions,” the exhibition that served as inspiration for the Op-Arty Party. Dress in optical art-inspired attire, like stripes and polka dots. Cash bar available; music by DJ John Solarz.

When: 7:30-10 p.m. Friday

Where: Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave.

Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers; www.desmoinesartcenter.org

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Court Avenue Wrestling Party: Fans in town for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships can join in a street party hosted by Court Avenue Brewing Company. There will be an Iowa Craft Beer tent on-site featuring beer from 11 Iowa breweries and a Templeton Rye speakeasy trailer. Food will be provided by Catering DSM and Gusto Pizza Co. Thursday, The Snacks plays at 2:30 p.m. and Oreo Meatwagon plays at 8 p.m. Tony Bohnenkamp (2:30 p.m.) and Burning Down the House (8:30 p.m.) play Friday, and Decoy (2:30 p.m.) and Pie in the Sky (8:30 p.m.) play Saturday.

When: 2 p.m.-midnight Thursday through Saturday

Where: Court Avenue between Third and Fourth streets in Des Moines

Details: Go to www.facebook.com/courtavebrew

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Des Moines Social Club Plays: Take in performances of Eugene Ionesco’s “The Bald Soprano”  about a zealous firefighter, and Harold Pinter’s “The Dumb Waiter” about two hit men who wait in a grubby basement for their next assignment.

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Des Moines Social Club at The Kirk­wood, 400 Walnut St.

Tickets: $14-$20. www.desmoinessocialclub.org

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“Million Dollar Quartet”: On December 4, 1956, a twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley together at Sun Record's storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll," who discovered them all. The four young musicians united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock 'n' roll jam sessions of all time.

When: March 19-24

Where: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.

Tickets: On sale now through the box office

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Max Wellman: The area singer returns to Des Moines with his big band at Hoyt Sherman Place.

Where: Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines

When: 8 p.m. March 23

Cost: All seats $20 Tickets: On sale now through the box office

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Arlo Guthrie "Here Comes The Kid" Tour: Arlo Guthrie honors the music and legacy of his legendary folk singer father, Woody Guthrie, with a night of songs and stories. Arlo leaves a lasting impression of hope and inspiration.

Where: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St., Des Moines

When: March 27

Tickets: $129, only sold as part of a season ticket package

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UPCOMING

Upcoming Events at the Iowa State Center in Ames
Blue Man Group March 25, 2013 / March 26, 2013, 7:30 pm–9:30 pm
Arrival From Sweden - The Music of ABBA Wed, Apr 3, 7:30 pm–9:00 pm
Seussical Mon, Apr 15, 10:00 am–11:30 am and 12:30 pm–1:30 pm
California Guitar Trio + Montreal Guitar Trio Thu, Apr 18, 7:30 pm–9:00 pm
Romeo and Juliet Thu, Apr 25, 10:00 am–11:30 am
Ramona Quimby Mon, Apr 29, 10:00 am–11:30 am

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David Byrne at 80/35: David Byrne and St. Vincent’s summer tour dates include a July 5 stop at the 80/35 Music Festival. It’s not official until the Des Moines Music Coalition releases its lineup on April 9. Byrne and St. Vincent released an album together last summer, "Love This Giant." In live shows their sets have been a mix of Talking Heads and Byrne solo material, St. Vincent songs and selections from the new album.

Tickets: On sale to music coalition members March 29 and to the general public April 1.

Details: Des Moines Music Coalition website

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Impractical Jokers: The hidden camera-practical joke reality series on TruTV follows the four members of the comedy troupe The Tenderloins as they goad one another into doing public pranks while being filmed by hidden cameras. The interactive comedy show will feature videos, an audience Q&A, stand-up comedy and more.

Where: Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines

When: 7:30 p.m. April 27

Tickets: ($35) go on sale Friday through Ticketmaster or visit theater box office online

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Kyle Eastwood Band: The eldest son of actor Clint Eastwood is a universally respected musician. Eastwood's Paris-based jazz quintet thrills audiences with dynamic and pulsing jazz music, full of swing, great rhythms and memorable melodies.

Where: Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St., Des Moines

When: April 8

Tickets: $129, only sold as part of a season ticket package

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An Evening with David Sedaris: One of America's pre-eminent humor writers, his skill slicing through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observed writers addressing the human condition today. Sedaris is the author of the collections of personal essays Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and When You Are Engulfed in Flames, all which have become bestsellers.

Where: Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines

When: 7:30 p.m. April 17

Tickets: On sale now through the box office

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Jon Bon Jovi: The New Jersey rocker and his band will return to Des Moines on April 14 with the "Because We Can" Tour at the Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. Ticket prices start at $19.50; tickets for the Iowa show went on sale Dec. 3 through dahlstickets.com.

Kenny Chesney: The country superstar will play in concert April 27 at Wells Fargo Arena. Chesney’s tour is called “No Shoes Nation,” and includes the Eli Young Band and Kasey Musgraves. Tickets are $22-$79.50 are on sale through www.dahlstickets.com.

Willie Nelson and Family: The creative genius behind historic recordings like "Crazy," "Hello Walls," “Red Headed Stranger” and “Stardust” is coming to Iowa. His career has spanned six decades. His catalog boasts more than 200 albums. His most recent album release, Heroes, spent five weeks at #1 on the Americana Radio Chart and debuted as #18 on the Billboard 200 best-selling albums chart. Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St., at 7:30 p.m. May 14. Tickets: On sale now through the box office

Daniel Tosh: Tosh.0's Daniel Tosh will visit the Iowa State Center  in Ames June 4. Tickets to his The June Gloom Tour go on sale Friday. He will present two shows one at 7 p.m. and another at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday June 4 at Stephen's Auditorium.

Jackson Browne: The singer/songwriter will perform in Des Moines June 25 at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. Browne is best known for hits like "These Days," "Running On Empty," "Rosie" and, "The Pretender.” Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek will open for him. Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St. Tickets: $41-$66 on sale Friday through Ticketmaster.

Taylor Swift: Country star Taylor Swift returns to Wells Fargo Arena on Aug. 1. No word yet on ticket prices or an on-sale date. The event is listed on Swift's website but is not listed on Ticketmaster or its partner website. In nearby Kansas City, MO tickets range from $30 to $85.

Justin Bieber: Pop star Justin Bieber will also make an appearance at the Wells Fargo Arena on July 7. Tickets are on sale now. Tickets range from $40 to $95.