A very merry weekend

With Christmas coming up on Monday, many will be traveling to visit family or departing for winter break vacations this weekend. For those celebrating in town, however, there are a variety of holiday events to enjoy, including free ice skating, dance parties, a 5K run/walk, a blues concert and much more.

For Friday evening’s live music, we have a holiday blues concert with guitarist Larry McCray and other special guests at UrbanBeat at 7; a trio of members from folk and roots group the Wild Honey Collective at the Peanut Barrel and a Christmas dance party with Tejano band Jr Aldaco and the Midwest AllStars at the Junction, both at 8; and hip-hop, R&B, jazz and soul cover group the Corzo Effect at the Green Door at 8:30. Saturday evening, we have punk and rock bands Alcoholic Dads, EgoRiptide and Suburban Ants at Mac’s Bar at 8 and a Festivus party with eclectic cover band Mix Pack at the Green Door at 8:30.

It's the last weekend to see the Michigan Made Holiday Art Exhibition at the Lansing Art Gallery, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Other art displays on view include late local artist and former Michigan State University Professor Lawrence French Holbrook’s digital art at Old Town’s MICA Gallery, which is open noon to 5 p.m. Saturday; “As we dwell in the fold,” “Seeing in 360 Degrees: The Zaha Hadid Design Collection” and “Resistance Training: Arts, Sports, and Civil Rights” at the Michigan State University Broad Art Museum, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; local artist Bobbie Margolis’ “Mixed Media Medley” exhibition at the Okemos Library, which is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. Call the library at 517-347-2021 before visiting to make sure the gallery space is open.

Kids ages 5 to 11 can enjoy a Snow Day Science-themed day camp 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at Impression 5 Science Center, promising plenty of winter-themed crafts, experiments and discoveries.

“Murder for Two: Holiday Edition” wraps up at the Williamston Theatre this weekend, with final performances 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday. The shows are sold out, but additional tickets may be available by calling the box office at 517-655-7469 around an hour before curtain times.

Finally, we have more holiday festivities to round out the season, including a Yule ritual with a feast and a teacup raffle 4 p.m. Saturday at Keys to Manifestation; a Christmas-Eve-Eve candlelight service 7 p.m. Saturday at the Lansing Area Church of Christ; a Holiday Skate Party 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Meridian Township’s Marketplace on the Green, featuring free ice skating, music, seasonal treats and hot chocolate; a Christmas party 8 p.m. Saturday at the Avenue, offering music, dancing, free pool, drink specials, visits from Santa and more; a Sloppy Santa Rave 8 p.m. Saturday at the Junction, with a costume contest, DJ sets, body painters, light spinners, tarot readings, visits from the Grinch and food and drink specials; a holiday-themed 5K beginning 9 a.m. Saturday at Ellison Brewery at Event Space in REO Town, also featuring a free kids’ sprint and complimentary holiday cookies, hot chocolate and coffee; the Turner-Dodge House’s Holiday Open House noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday; the final Kringle Holiday Market 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Reutter Park, featuring local vendors and free ice skating as well as a dog party; and Potter Park Zoo’s final Wonderland of Lights events 5 to 8 p.m. Friday through Saturday.

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best of weekends.

(Have an event? Be sure to list it free at lansingcitypulse.com/calendar. Think it’s worth at least a short story? Send a news release to nicole@lansingcitypulse.com for consideration.)