The 10: Run, walk, read and rock this week in Montgomery

Celebrate the art of music, theater, fitness and more. We'll show you how in this week's The 10 for March 6-12.

1. Joe Bonamassa at MPAC

Every time Joe Bonamassa comes to Montgomery, guitar lovers drool over this concert. Bonamassa, who recently earned his 25^th No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart with his album Time Clocks, is performing Tuesday at 8 p.m. (sharp) at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. There’s a reason he’s considered the world’s biggest blues guitarist. Tickets range from $59 to $199. They’re available at https://www.mpaconline.org/events/ or by calling the MPAC box office at 334-481-5100.

2. Celebration of the Arts in Prattville

The countdown is on to the Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival on April 2. From now through then, Prattville is holding a huge Celebration of the Arts. This week’s part of it happens over two days.

• Friday is Words and Music, 7 p.m. at the Cultural Arts Center, 203 W. 4th St., featuring local music artists Tom Sellers and Destiny Turner. They’ll be putting a spotlight on local songwriters, who will tell the stories behind their songs as they preform them. Admission is $5 a person.

• Sunday is the Musical Theatre Workshop, also at the Cultural Arts Center (Prattville’s Way Off Broadway Theatre). It will be instructed by Jeremy Pyles, and participants should come prepared with one song to sing. Adults 18 and up are 9-11 a.m., and kids and teens are from noon to 2 p.m. This is free, but space is limited and registration is required. To register, call 334-595-0850.

For more information visit https://www.wilsonpickettfestival.com/celebration

3. Josh Carples ‘Everyone Is a Moon’ EP release show

Montgomery has musicians and singer/songwriters. Montgomery also has actors, writers, filmmakers and photographers. Fortunately for all of us, we have the amazing Josh Carples, who is all of them in one. On Friday from 6:30-9ish p.m., Carples is holding a release show for his new EP “Everyone Is a Moon.” It’ll be an acoustic show at Goat Haus Biergarten, 532 Clay St., Montgomery. It’s as no-cover show. Everyone Is a Moon is being released on all the major streaming platforms Friday. Keep up with all his many projects online at http://joshcarples.com/

4. Montgomery Half Marathon and Enlisted Heritage 5K

It’s time to hit the road Saturday for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Montgomery Half Marathon and the Enlisted Heritage 5K. Both start at the water tower at The Alley on Tallapoosa Street, and both finish at Riverwalk Stadium. The routes will take runners through downtown Montgomery, past several historic sites and districts. The half marathon is just over 13 miles and goes for up to 4 hours. It is being presented by Montgomery Multisport. The half marathon starts Saturday at 7 a.m.

The Enlisted Heritage 5K (just over 3 miles) is presented by the Air University Foundation to support enlisted education programs and develop museum quality displays and exhibits. It starts at 7:15 a.m. Awards for the 5K will be presented from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and Half Marathon awards are from 11-11:30 a.m.

All runners must be 17 or older.

An expo will be held Friday at Riverwalk Stadium, and participant package pick up is available there from noon to 8 p.m. For registration information, visit https://themontgomeryhalf.com/

5. Casting Crowns tour in Montgomery Saturday

The music’s going to hit Montgomery like a healing wave when Casting Crowns, The Healer Tour plays the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre at 7 p.m. Saturday. They're a contemporary Christian rock band that's been around since 1999, started by youth pastor and lead vocalist Mark Hall. They’ll be joined at MPAC by We Are Messengers and Ben Fuller. Tickets range from $19.75 to $125, and are available at https://www.mpaconline.org/events/ or by calling the MPAC box office at 334-481-5100.

6. Be Her Hero: Women and Girls Explosion

This one’s for all the area’s women and girls. Be Her Hero: Women and Girls Explosion is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Chisholm Community Center, 545 E. Vandiver Blvd., Montgomery. This is a time of women coming together to inspire the next generation of young women and girls. They’ll have a pep rally, music, food, arts, resources, door prizes, and engaging activities. It’s being presented by Pink and Pearls for Girls Inc. and All Things By Grace. Admission is free, but reservations should be made online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/be-her-hero-women-and-girls-explosion-tickets-453588033017

7. Montgomery Book Fest and Writing Expo

If you’re a literature lover or someone who wants to be an author, the Montgomery Book Fest and Writing Expo on Saturday is the place to be. It’s basically two events in one at the Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Ave. The Book Fest is from 10 a.m. to noon, and the Writing Expo is from noon to 2 p.m. Admission is free. If you’re an author who wants to be a part of it, there’s a $65 fee for the Book Fest and a $25 fee for the Writing Expo. Register online at https://www.vernetcnettles.com/montgomery-book-fest-and-writing-expo.html

8. Montgomery Diabetes Walk

Looking for something fun to do Sunday that ties in fitness, food and a really good cause? The Diabetes Walk for Camp Seale Harris is a free event with music, food and lots of fun for the whole family. It’s happening at the Montgomery Zoo from 2-4 p.m. Form a team and walk in honor of your favorite camper. Donations are going to support camp fees and a “Living with Diabetes Scholarship.” Teams can register online at https://secure.qgiv.com/event/2023montgomery/

9. Rhythm & Rhyme at Cloverdale Playhouse

An evening of poetry and jazz is coming Saturday 7 p.m. to the Cloverdale Playhouse, in collaboration with 21 Dreams Arts and Culture. Hosted by JP da Poet, it’ll be a rotating lineup of local poets, with music performances from Montgomery’s jazz scene. It’ll have Erica Cane, Tmbuk 2, and Noirai. The featured musician is John Boy. Tickets are $10, available at cloverdaleplayhouse.org.

10. Special showing of ‘The Crucible’

In partnership with Alabama Shakespeare Festival, a special showing of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” captured live from the Oliver stage at the National Theatre, will be shown Sunday 1 p.m. at the Capri Theatre, 1045 E. Fairview Ave., Montgomery. Directed by Lyndsey Turner, this stage production shows group of young women in Salem who find that their words have an almighty power. But they’re living in a climate of fear, vendetta and accusation. Tickets are $15 for non-members of the Capri or National Theatre Live.

BONUS!: MSO Fellows series continues with Jihye Choi

You have another chance to see the talented Jihye Choi on violin Sunday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in Wilson Auditorium at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Choi is one of two artists-in-residence with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. She’ll perform on violin in this chamber music program and offer personal interpretations of the music. Tickets are $17 for adults, and are free for students with I.D. They’re available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fellowship-series-jihye-choi-violin-tickets-458666292227

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: The 10: Run, walk, read and rock this week in Montgomery