TheTOPFive

1 44th Sleeping Giant Loppet

March 4

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

First held in 1978, this mass participation ski festival is a fun and exciting event for athletes of all levels and abilities. Taking place at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, this year’s competitions include an 8 km Mini-Loppet (perfect for families, children, and rookies), 20 km and 35 km loops, and the ultimate challenge: the Loppet’s flagship 50 km event. Cash prizes and other awards are up for grabs—including a prize for best retro ski outfit sponsored by The Walleye! Registration will remain open at Kamview Nordic Centre on March 2 and 3 from 3–8 pm. Three luxury coaches provided by Ontario Northland will be available to transport skiers to and from Confederation College on March 4 ($10 for adults and free for children/students); visit their website to learn more. sleepinggiantloppet.ca

2 Derelicte 13

March 11

Black Pirates Pub

If you are looking for a wild night of art, fashion, dance, music, drag, and performance, look no further. Hosted by Definitely Superior Art Gallery and LU Radio, Derelicte 13: A Fashion Odyssey will be held this March 11 at Black Pirates Pub. From 8 pm to 2 am, you can enjoy a night that truly celebrates art in all its forms. With four live bands and DJs, nine performance acts, seven local fashion houses, hundreds of artists and models, various raffles, and fashion/costume prizes, this is a night that is nearly impossible to summarize. Tickets are $20 at the door (cash only) and is a 19+ event with photo ID required. definitelysuperior.com

3 St. Patrick’s Day at Madhouse

March 17

Madhouse Pub

No need to search for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow—Madhouse has everything you need to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year. Festivities will include a special Irish menu (including Irish stew, Irish loaded fries—a spin on their classic loaded fries—and Guinness chocolate cake), prizes, giveaways, and even a bagpipe performance in the evening. It is no secret that St. Patrick’s Day usually involves (some) drinking; patrons can choose from 30 different types of whiskey, including seven varieties of Jameson Irish whiskey. There is no cover charge to attend, but as this their busiest day of the year, they advise getting there early to snag a seat. madhousetbay.ca

4 Snowed In Comedy Tour

March 18

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

Canada’s largest comedy tour is coming to Thunder Bay for one night only on March 18. The Snowed In Comedy Tour will be held at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium and will feature four acclaimed comedians: Dan Quinn, Paul Myrehaug, Pete Zedlacher, and Erica Sigurdson. The tour has humble beginnings; 14 years ago, founder Dan Quinn and some friends wanted to go on a snowboarding trip and make some money along the way. Today, the tour is a Canadian success story, as the quartet travel from coast to coast bringing laughs to venues both small and large. The show starts at 7:30 pm and tickets are $52 each (prices subject to change through Ticketmaster).

snowedincomedytour.com

5 TBSO Presents: Journeys

March 23

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

Take a trip through time, space, and music with Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra’s

Journeys. Featuring Paul Haas as the TBSO music director and Rachel Mercer on cello,

Journeys explores the works of three composers from three very different worlds: Felix Mendelssohn (a German composer from the early 1800s), Einojuhani Rautavaara (a Finnish composer from the early 1900s), and Airat Ichmouratov (a Russian-Canadian composer who is still composing today). The show starts at 7:30 pm and tickets are $32 each (prices subject to change through Ticketmaster).

tbso.ca