Spring sales galore

Mother’s Day is next Sunday (May 14), so take advantage of the plethora of spring sales throughout Greater Lansing this weekend to find the perfect gift. If you’re not into shopping, there’s plenty more to do, including theater productions, art exhibits, dances, concerts and a science-fiction book release party.

 For Friday evening’s live music, we have the Accorda Trio at Michigan State University’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at 5:30, Ajah Montalvo at UrbanBeat at 7 and Russ Holcomb at The Peanut Barrel at 8. Saturday evening, we have Phil Denny and Demetrius Nabors at UrbanBeat at 8. Sunday afternoon, we have the Delta Community Choir’s 10-year anniversary concert at Our Savior Lutheran Church and Lansing Community College’s Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz and Pop Ensemble at Okemos Community Church, both at 3.

Additionally, Ten Pound Fiddle is hosting an educational, interactive children’s concert with preschool music specialist Wanda Degen and flutist and saxophonist Dan Giacobassi 10:30 a.m. Saturday at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing.

Venture to Williamstown Township 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday for its 12^th annual Artists’ Fine Art Sale & Studio Tour, featuring art by 19 local artists who work with a variety of mediums. The tour starts at Williamstown Township Hall and stops at five other locations in the area. Tickets are $5 for both days, and all proceeds will be used to purchase equipment for the township’s parks and playgrounds.

Additional art displays include a collage exhibit, “Wild Florescence,” at The Peoples Church of East Lansing, which is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday; the Creative Photographers of Mid-Michigan’s “Exploring Our World” showcase at Framer’s Edge, which is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; and “Blind Spot,”“DIGEST,” “The Nightly News” and MSU’s Master of Fine Arts Exhibition at the Broad Art Museum, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The Broad is also holding a Family Day event 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, featuring hands-on, interactive family fun throughout the museum.

Students enrolled in LCC’s beginning acting studio will present their end-of-semester production, “Sketch Book,” by Mark Harvey Levine, 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the school’s Black Box Theatre. Additional theater performances include “Peter and the Starcatcher” at the Riverwalk Theatre 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, “School of Rock” at East Lansing’s Hannah Community Center 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and Ixion Theatre Ensemble’s production of “When I Come to Die” at the Lansing Mall 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Show off your dance moves at the TGIF Cinco de Mayo Dance Party 7 p.m. Friday at Hawk Hollow Golf Course & Banquet Center or Ten Pound Fiddle’s Contra & Square Dance 7 p.m. Saturday at Central United Methodist Church.

If you’d like to get up and moving but have two left feet, Lansing Common FC is starting its season with a kickoff event 2 p.m. Sunday at Eastern Stadium, featuring on-field soccer activities, an intra-squad “Red vs. White” game, a celebrity scrimmage and chances to meet the 2023 team. Bring the kids early for a free youth soccer clinic from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

R.E. Olds Transportation Museum will have the hoods up on almost all its vehicles and a variety of engines on view 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, with staff available to explain more about the displays. Regular admission prices apply, so take the chance to explore the rest of the museum while you’re at it.

Celebrate Mother’s Day early with the Peace Education Center’s Mother’s Day for Peace party 7 p.m. Saturday at Allen Neighborhood Center. There will be live music by Jakalope, light snacks and beverages and a visit from special guest Julia Ward Howe, who was key in the formation of the holiday.

Science fiction enthusiasts can visit Everybody Reads bookstore 2 p.m. Saturday for author Randy D. Pearson’s “Off-Worlding” book release party and enjoy refreshments, giveaways and signed copies of Pearson’s novels for sale.

Finally, support local businesses, organizations and artists at this weekend’s shopping events, including the Greater Lansing Potters’ Guild’s Spring Sale 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at All Saints Episcopal Church in East Lansing, the Mason Library’s Used Book Sale 9 am. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Harris Nature Center’s Spring Native Plants Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, the Village Crafters Think Spring Craft Show 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Ingham County Fairgrounds Community Building and the Mason Chamber of Commerce’s Spring Fling Courthouse Show 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday on the Ingham County Courthouse lawn.

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.)