Best Bets: 10 things to do in Columbus, including UFC Fight Night, Aladdin Shrine Circus

From the "Big Top" to the sounds of the Big Apple, there's big fun to be had this weekend in Columbus.

On the music front, there's the usual smorgasbord of sounds to choose from, including the New York jazz of saxman Joel Frahm, who will play tonight at the Lincoln Theatre.

Get ready for lions and tiger and bears — oh, my! — when the 70th annual Aladdin Shrine Circus comes to town for seven performances beginning Friday.

For something a little different, trek to Ohio State's McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion for the three-day U.S. Collegiate National Championships in artistic swimming, where the Buckeyes synchronized swimming team will be competing.

There's a Saturday night slug fest at UFC Fight Night, plus fashion, fossils and more!

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UFC Fight Night matchups

UFC Fight Night returns to Columbus on Saturday for the first time in 13 years for a full slate of matchups at Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., beginning at 4 p.m., with the main card starting at 7. Doors open at 3 p.m. In key fights, No. 4 ranked Curtis Blaydes will take on No. 7 Chris Daukaus for the heavyweight contenders' battle while top flyweights No. 2 ranked Askar Askarov and No. 6 Kai Kara-France clash in a matchup with title implications. Tickets start at $68. Parking is $5. (www.ufc.com)

All that jazz

This weekend, one local jazz legend will team with an acclaimed jazz player from the Big Apple in the Lincoln Theatre. At 8 p.m. Thursday, the Jazz Arts Group will present Columbus pianist Bobby Floyd and New York saxophonist Joel Frahm in concert at the Lincoln, 769 E. Long St. The musicians will perform singly and as a pair, and jazz standards as well as new compositions are promised. (Previously announced New York pianist Benny Green bowed out due to unforeseen circumstances.) Tickets cost $22.50. The concert will also be livestreamed for viewing at www.jag.tv ($10). (www.jazzartsgroup.org)

Romantic comedy Midwest premiere

Red Herring Theater Company will present the Midwest premiere of “Dancing Lessons,” Mark St. Germain’s off-beat romantic comedy about a brilliant young professor with Asperger’s syndrome who hires his talented but cranky neighbor to teach him how to dance — with unexpected insights for both. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays from March 24 through April 10 at 3723 S. High St. Masks optional but proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required. Tickets cost $30 online in advance or "pay what you can" at the door. (614-723-9116, www.redherringtheater.org)

Aladdin Shrine Circus coming to town

Get your peanuts and popcorn ready! The 70th annual Aladdin Shrine Circus will be at the Ohio Expo Center for seven performances Friday through Sunday at the Ohio Expo Center, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue. Audiences can expect family fun with clowns, aerialists, animal acts, indoor carnival rides and more. Tickets cost $5 to $30, and can be bought at https://bit.ly/3umLTcu or at the door at the Celeste Center.

Crystal Bowersox to perform at Natalie's

Former "American Idol" contestant Crystal Bowersox will take the stage at Natalie's Grandview, 945 King Ave., on Sunday evening. The northwest Ohio native was the runner-up in the ninth season of the TV talent show and is now bringing her folksy, soulful sound to music venues across the country. The show will begin at 8 p.m. and doors open at 7. Tickets cost $25. (www.nataliesgrandview.com)

Memories in the making

Taking the place of the long-running “Memories Expo," Great Lakes Scrapbooking Events has stepped in to fill the void with the Columbus Scrap & Stamp Show, which will take place Friday and Saturday at the Ohio Expo Center, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue. The event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, will feature a variety of vendors offering a variety of product lines to fill all of one's scrapbooking needs. Tickets cost $12 for both days or $8 for single-day admission. (Cash only at the door.) Parking is $5. (https://bit.ly/3iH53Ex)

Dancing in the water

Synchronized swimmers from all over the country will descend upon the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion at Ohio State University this weekend for the U.S. Collegiate National Championships in artistic swimming. Of course, the Buckeyes synchronized swimming team will be participating as will squads from colleges nationwide. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday, with competition beginning at 10; doors open at 7 a.m. Sunday and competition begins at 8:20 a.m. An all-session pass costs $35, or $17.50 for senior citizens or students; single-day passes cost $15, or $10. Children younger than 6 are free. (www.teamusa.org)

Dancing and fashion show in store

DJ BHB will mix a hip-hop set at the Bronwynn Theatre at the McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington, on Friday night starting at 7 p.m. He'll be joined onstage by dancers from the TK Mega Crew and other performances will also include a fashion show from local artist FDZ Graffiti and live painting from Lance Johnson. Tickets are free, but reservations to the event, which is recommended for ages 13 and older, are preferred. (www.mcconnellarts.org)

Classical music fest in Granville

Tutti is a musical term taken from the Italian word for "all together" and that's why Denison University thinks it's an apt name for its annual TUTTI Original Works Festival, in which the school's department of music collaborates with musicians, composers and other artists across genres. The festival, which is held every other year, kicked off last night and continues through Saturday on the Granville campus with various performances each day. Events are free, but tickets are required. (www.denison.edu)

A fossil find during 'Spring Thaw'

Celebrate the end of winter with the Ohio History Connection's “Spring Thaw” program. From Saturday to April 24, visit the Ohio History Center, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for special Ice Age-themed programs. Take part in hands-on activities, see fossils and try out a scavenger hunt. Special talk on Ice Age Ohio at 1 p.m. Saturday by the manager and curator of the Orton Geological Museum, Dale Gnidovec. See website for other programs. Admission: $13, or $11 for senior citizens and college students with IDs, $7 for kids 4 to 12, free for kids 3 and younger. Note: The Ohio History Center will be closed on April 17. (614-297-2300, www.ohiohistory.org)

Still looking for more ideas? Read on for movies, music, theater, comedy and dance events

MOVIES

Opening Thursday in theaters throughout Greater Columbus: “The Lost City,” starring Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum

Drexel Theatre, 2254 E. Main St.; tickets: $8; 614-231-9512, www.drexel.net

• “Lady Snowblood,” 7 p.m. Thursday

Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St.; tickets: $5 to $12, or as noted; 614-259-7182, www.gatewayfilmcenter.org:

• “Compartment No. 6,” various showtimes starting Friday

• “King Otto,” 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St.; tickets: $5 to $9; 614-292-3535, www.wexarts.org:

• “A Night of Knowing Nothing,” 7 p.m. Thursday

POP MUSIC

• LANCO, 7 p.m. Thursday, The Bluestone, 583 E. Broad St., $25; liveatthebluestone.com

• Poppy, 7 p.m. Thursday, Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., $25; 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

• John Berry, 8 p.m. Friday, Natalie's Grandview, 945 King Ave., $50; 614-436-2625, nataliesgrandview.com

• Dos Santos, 9 p.m. Saturday, Rumba Cafe, 2507 Summit St., $10; 614-168-1841, columbusrumbacafe.com

• Elderbrook, 7 p.m. March 29, Skully's Music-Diner, 1151 N. High St., $20; 614-291-8856, www.facebook.com/skullysmusicdiner

• Chelsea Cutler, 7 p.m. March 30, Kemba Live, 405 Neil Ave., $29.50; 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

• Lettuce, 8 p.m. March 30, Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., $27.50; 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

CLASSICAL MUSIC

• Columbus Symphony with pianist Vijay Venkatesh, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.; $10.33 to $92.23; www.columbussymphony.com

• Ying Quartet, Chamber Music Columbus series, 4 p.m. Saturday, Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.; $20 to $60; www.chambermusiccolumbus.org

DANCE

• Hixon Dance, “A Harrowing World,” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Columbus Dance Theatre, 593 E. Main St.; $12 to $20; www.hixondance.com

THEATER

• State of The Arts Productions, “White Guy on the Bus,” 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and April 1-2, Columbus Performing Arts Center, Van Fleet Theatre, 549 Franklin Ave., $15 to $20 (614-266-4562, www.SoArtsPro.com)

COMEDY

• Funny Bone Comedy Club, Brad Williams, 7:45 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, $32, Easton Town Center (614-471-5653, www.columbus.funnybone.com)

• The Nest Theatre, Word — Live Literature, 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24, $10; The Harold, 8 p.m. Thursday, March 24, $10; Dual Duel Semi-Finals, 9:30 p.m. Friday, $12 to $13; Storyteller Improv, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, $12 to $13; 2643 N. High St., 614-929-5545, www.nesttheatre.com

• Cap City Comics Presents Ron Barnaclo, 8 p.m. SaturdayMarch 26, Natalie’s Grandview, 945 King Ave.; $15; www.nataliesgrandview.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Best Bets: 10 things we recommend doing this weekend in Columbus