COMEDY

TOM PAPA

3/19 at 7:30 Discovered by Jerry Seinfeld, this late-night-TV regular tackles everything from his greedy children to grown men wearing shorts. $26–$36. City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph. citywinery.com

KATT WILLIAMS

3/19 at 8 Williams’s Conspiracy Theory tour finds him riffing on hot-button issues, including Bill Cosby, creationism, and Ferguson, Missouri. $52–$125. UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine. ticketmaster.com

FESTIVALS AND PARADES

CHICAGO COMIC AND ENTERTAINMENT EXPO

3/18–20 This Midwest comic con is a haven for media geeks and comic fans, with visits from Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy), John Ratzenberger (Toy Story), and Greg Capullo (Batman). $30–$65. McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore. c2e2.com

POLAR PLUNGE

3/6 at 10 Brave Lake Michigan’s icy temps for Special Olympics Chicago’s 16th annual winter swim. You could even freeze alongside celebrities: Vince Vaughn and Lady Gaga turned up last year. North Avenue Beach, 1660 N. Lake Shore. chicagopolarplunge.org

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

3/12 at noon Drum corps, dancers, bagpipers, and a throng of green-sporting die-hards strut down Columbus Drive for the city’s yearly parade. Balbo and Columbus. chicagostpatsparade.com

INTERVIEWS, LECTURES, READINGS

LOUDER THAN A BOMB

Through 3/19 Billed as the largest youth poetry slam in the world, this event pits high school poetry teams against one another. Various prices and locations. youngchicagoauthors.org

POETRY FOUNDATION

3/9 at 7 Jim Dine. The celebrated purveyor of pop art reads from his dozen-plus poem collections.
3/15 at 7 Open Door Readings. This monthly series hosts the best young voices from Chicago’s college writing programs.
3/29 at 7 Poetry off the Shelf: Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Conor O’Callaghan, and Caitríona O’Reilly. Three Irish bards bring their poetry across the pond.
61 W. Superior. poetryfoundation.org