Get Out: St. Patrick's Day Festival, Night at the Opera and More

Looking for something to do this weekend?

Here are Patch's top five Tri-Valley picks to help you transition from work week to weekend.

You don’t have to cross a bridge for your weekend entertainment. From the St. Patrick's Day Festival in Dublin to the Al Stewart concert in Pleasanton, we’ve got you covered.

1. 
Where/When: Civic Center in Dublin on Saturday and Sunday
Why Go: Nibble traditional Irish food like bangers and mash, sip a Shamrock Green Volcano or Guinness stout, browse through arts and crafts booths, watch Irish dancing, listen to a U2 tribute band and more at Dublin's popular St. Patrick's Day Festival.
Price: Free admission

2.
Where/When: Bankhead Theater in Livermore on Saturday at  8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Why Go: Enjoy a night at the opera with the Livermore Valley Opera's staging of the popular Puccini masterpiece "Madama Butterfly." Click here for a synopsis and cast list.
Price:  $29 - $64. To purchase tickets, visit www.livermoreperformingarts.org or call 925-373-6800.

3.
Where/When:  Blackhawk Museum in Danville on Friday at 6 p.m.
Why Go:  Get a head start on your St. Patrick's Day celebration while helping the nonprofit Community Youth Center. Cocktails, dinner by Scott's Seafood plus live music, dancing and entertainment.
Price:  $75. Click here to buy tickets.

4.
Where/When: Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Why Go:  Enjoy an evening of music with friends and family at the concert. Listen to talented local musicians perform a special "Art of the Wind Band" concert with all instruments powered by wind. For more music fun, head across the way to the Front Row Theater at 7 p.m. Friday for the , at which the San Ramon Community Chorus will sing Irish tunes and the McGrath Irish Dancers will perform traditional Irish dances.
Price:  $6 for adults and free for kids younger than 12 or students with ID. St. Patrick's Day Concert is free.

5.
Where/When:  Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton on Friday at 8 p.m.
Why Go: Al Stewart brings his folk-rock-pop music to town. Best known for his platinum recordings "The Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages," Stewart will be joined by acoustic guitarist Dave Nachmanoff.
Price: $12 - $32. Purchase tickets at www.firehousearts.org.

Out of Town Picks: The five-time 2009 Tony Award nominee "Rock of Ages" comes to San Francisco's Curran Theatre. The love story, told through '80s hits by Journey, Pat Benatar, Poison, Styx and other bands, runs through April 9. Get  details and order tickets at http://shnsf.com/shows/rockofages.

Want more? Check out our family-friendly  every Wednesday. You also can browse Patch’s event calendar, which we’re constantly updating with community events ranging from family-friendly fairs to adult-only comedy nights. And, to help you celebrate St. Patrick's Day, we'll run a roundup of Tri-Valley St. Patrick's Day events later this week.

We know you have your own favorites. Share your ideas in our comment box below. Or add an event by clicking on the "add your own event" link on your city's Patch site.