Fasching, German Mardi Gras
Latvian Hall, Grand Rapids
Feb. 13, 6 p.m.
$5 food/ $10 dancing

German for carnival, Fasching is the most colorful event of the year. Celebrate on this side of the Atlantic with costumes, dancing and sauerkraut! The Ein Prosit band will regale you with music. Nosh brats, pickled cabbage, gobble dessert, then head over to the dance floor to shake it all up. The event is BYOB, and food is limited. For reservations or more information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Hope College Great Performance Series: Cashore Marionettes
Knickerbocker Theatre, Holland
Feb. 6, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
$6-17
hope.edu/arts, (616) 395-7403

Cashore travels the world with a collection of award winning marionettes of his own design. Performed to a backdrop of classical compositions, the marionettes are maneuvered to convey a breadth of human emotion generally unseen in puppetry. Lauded as "a combination of virtuoso manipulation, humor, pathos, classic music, and poetic insight," Cashore is sure to imbue the event with wonder and curiosity for adult and children alike.

Big, Big Bugs
Grand Rapids Public Museum
Feb.20 - May 31
Mon. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tues. 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Wed.-Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m.
grmuseum.org, (616) 456-3977

Put away your fly swatter, it's time for a little role reversal. Experience the world as a diminutive insect, where larger than life robotic bugs tower over you. This hands-on exhibit also features a giant spider web for the little ones to climb on and neat-o bug facts in the "bug lab," for adults to digest. Learn about "good and bad" bugs, see live insects, and check out the special camping themed planetarium show, complete with a simulated thunderstorm!