Shopping, square dancing and ‘Star Wars’

This weekend, Lansing-area residents can look forward to several art, craft and plant sales as well as events to celebrate “Star Wars” Day and Cinco de Mayo, a Kentucky Derby gala, a 50th-anniversary party at the Meridian Historical Village and much more.

For Friday evening’s live music, we have singer-songwriter Two-Faced Wilson at Mash Bar, Americana band Jackalope at UrbanBeat, folk-rock band Cold Leather Seats at Lansing Brewing Co., a Cinco de Mayo celebration with Tejano bands Grupo Dezeo and Latin Soul at Grewal Hall at 224 and the Steiner Chorale with a full orchestra at University United Methodist Church, all at 7; acoustic musician Russ Holcomb at the Peanut Barrel at 8; funk band Grady Hall & the Disciples of Funk at the Green Door at 8:30; and R&B, jazz, hip-hop and soul cover group the Corzo Effect at Mash Bar at 10. Saturday evening, we have Singers on the Grand performing hits from the vinyl record era at the Portland Community Theater at 7; the Lansing Symphony Orchestra performing music from the “Star Wars” franchise at the Wharton Center at 7:30; Pink Floyd tribute band Echoes of Pink Floyd at Grewal Hall at 224 and the final A Night at the Soul Lounge of the season at the Avenue, both at 8;  and cover band Collateral Damage at the Green Door at 8:30. Ending the weekend on Sunday is boogie-woogie pianist and singer Matthew Ball at Lansing First Presbyterian Church, the Lansing Community College Concert Choir at Okemos Community Church and the Michigan State University College of Music’s annual “Piano Monster” concert at the Fairchild Theatre, all at 3 p.m., and Red Cedar Spirits’ weekly Sunday Jazz show at 6 p.m.

Art events abound this weekend, including the Williamstown Township Artists' Fine Art Sale & Studio Tour, which Chelsea Lake Roberts previewed in this week’s issue, 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at seven venues across the township; a weaving-themed Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; a tour of the Broad 1 p.m. Sunday, led by Maeve Bassett, an applied ethnobotanist and education program director of the Beal Botanical Garden; and the opening reception for local painter quintetART/5’s “Painterly Dialogues” exhibition 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Framer’s Edge in Okemos. The exhibition will also be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Other art displays on view include the Mid-Michigan Art Guild’s “Artistic Visions” exhibit at REACH Studio Art Center, which is open by appointment; the Mid-Michigan Art Guild’s Spring Member Show at the Neighborhood Empowerment Center, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; “The LGBTQ+ Artist in Michigan” and “Transitory: A Study Of Human Anatomy & Our Own Impermanence” at the Lansing Art Gallery, which is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; “Seeing in 360 Degrees: The Zaha Hadid Design Collection,”“DOOMSCROLLING,”  the 2024 Master of Fine Arts Exhibition and the 2024 Art, Art History, and Design Faculty Triennial at the Broad, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday; and “Corazón por La Justicia,” a social justice exhibit by eight Michigan artists, at Casa de Rosado Galeria & Cultural Center, which is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For the theater buffs, All-of-Us Express Children’s Theatre wraps up its production of “The Wind in the Willows” 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at East Lasing’s Hannah Community Center, Williamston Theatre continues its run of “Bright Half Life” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and LCC presents free performances of “The Good Doctor” 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at its Black Box Theatre.

Events for the kids this weekend include the weekly story time and parkour workshop 10 a.m. Friday at AL!VE health park in Charlotte; a building-focused Sparking Science program 10 a.m. Friday at Impression 5 Science Center; a bubble wand-making workshop 4:15 p.m. Friday at the Charlotte Community Library; and a screening of “Star Wars: A New Hope” noon Saturday at the Eaton Rapids Area District Library.

If you’re looking to do some pre-Mother’s Day shopping, the Greater Lansing Potters’ Guild will host its spring sale 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at East Lansing’s All Saints Episcopal Church, Harris Nature Center will hold a native plant sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, the Mason Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Spring Fling Courthouse Show 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday on the Ingham County Courthouse lawn, and Village Crafters will host a “Star Wars”-themed craft show 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Ingham County Fairgrounds. Attendees of the Village Crafters event can bring supply donations for Ingham County Animal Control to be entered into a raffle.

The Future of Comedy Show returns to Spare Time Entertainment Center 8 p.m. Friday, featuring nationally touring headliner Mike Ball and Michigan comedians Dave Wellfare, Nicole Melnyk and Ronnie Rohrbeck.

Visit R.E. Olds Transportation Museum 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday for its Hoods Up! event, where a variety of engines will be on view, and staff will be on hand to answer any questions. Regular admission prices apply.

Eaton Rapids’ Northfolk Estate will host a Kentucky Derby gala 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, featuring best hat, best-dressed couple and best overall outfit contests as well as dinner, a magic show, Kentucky Derby trivia and more.

Lansing Roller Derby will compete in its third home match of the season 4:30 p.m. Saturday at East Lansing’s Court One Training Center, with a “Star Wars”-themed afterparty at Haslett’s Mayfair Bar.

The Ten Pound Fiddle will hold its biweekly contra and square dance 7 p.m. Saturday at Central United Methodist Church, with an optional dance lesson at 6:30. The Grand Ledge Area District Library will also hold a contra dance workshop 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

MSU’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams will host a Zoom lecture 1 p.m. Sunday by Nobel Prize-winning physicist William Phillips, who will discuss the recent quantum reform of the metric system.

Visit Lansing Brewing Co. 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday for a free Cinco de Mayo party on the patio, featuring music by DJ Face, games, face painting, the launch of a seasonal Mexican lager, exclusive margarita pitchers and more.

Finally, Friends of Historic Meridian, the nonprofit that manages the Meridian Historical Village, will celebrate its 50^th birthday with a founders’ day program 3 p.m. Sunday, followed by free cake and refreshments. In addition, all the village buildings will be open from 4 to 6 p.m., and annual memberships will be available for 50% off.

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.)