Sugar skulls, Spartan sports and a Swiftie singalong

With a busy October behind us, this weekend's comparatively light event schedule will offer a chance to relax for those who need a breather. However, there's still plenty to do for those who want to keep the party going, including a Day of the Dead celebration, a mural unveiling, a holiday bazaar and other sales, a horse show and a wide variety of live music.

For Friday evening’s live music, we have singer-songwriter Ellie Youngs at Harrison Roadhouse at 6; metalcore bands Born of Osiris and Convictions at Grewal Hall at 224, both at 7; the Lansing Symphony Orchestra with guest pianist Willis Delony at the Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall and Americana/blues ensemble the Schrock Brothers with Grammy winner Peter “Madcat” Ruth at East Lansing’s University Lutheran Church, both at 7:30; Michigan State University’s African Diaspora Percussion Ensemble at the Fairchild Theatre, cover musician Ben Awrey at Summerlands Brewing Co., singer-songwriter Matthew Shannon at the Peanut Barrel, cover duo the Townsmen at East Lansing’s Beggar’s Banquet and hip-hop artist Skwynts’ album release show at Mac’s Bar, all at 8; funk band Grady Hall & the Disciples of Funk at the Green Door at 8:30; and R&B/pop/funk cover group Love Effect at Mash Bar at 9. Saturday evening, we have cover duo Shelby & Jake at Lansing Brewing Co. and blues/classic rock cover band Tad and the Fat Katz at UrbanBeat, both at 7; Kanin Wren’s Taylor Swift Experience at Grewal Hall at 224 at 8; local DJ collective Scratch Pilots at the Green Door at 8:30; and hip-hop artists J.Plantana and Lord Collee at the Avenue at 10. Ending the weekend on Sunday is the annual Spartan Spectacular concert at Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall at 3 p.m.; jazz bassist Rodney Whitaker at UrbanBeat and Red Cedar Spirits’ weekly Sunday Jazz show, both at 6 p.m.; singer-songwriter Matthew Carlson’s post-tour homecoming show at the Avenue at 7 p.m.; and a local hip-hop showcase at Mac’s Bar at 8 p.m.

Local artist Jill Dombrowski will unveil her new murals for Eastside Compost at a meet-and-greet event 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. The event will also offer coffee and donuts provided by Strange Matter and a chance to see the compost operation at work.

Art displays on view this weekend include the Mid-Michigan Art Guild’s fall art show at the Neighborhood Empowerment Center, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; "The Searching Eye: Images of Mid-Century Detroit” at the Library of Michigan, which is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; "Eye Witness,” “Complex Dreams,” “Diasporic Collage: Puerto Rico and the Survival of a People,” “Freedom in the Automation Age” and “Seeing in 360 Degrees: The Zaha Hadid Design Collection” at the Broad Art Museum, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday; and “Extinct: An Artistic Study of Animals Loved and Lost” at the Art Williamston gallery, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

All-of-Us Express Children’s Theatre begins its two-weekend production of “Puffs,” a parody of the “Harry Potter” series from the perspective of the Hufflepuffs, 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at East Lansing’s Hannah Community Center.

Get ready to move this weekend at a swing dance party with the LCC Jazz Band 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Gannon Building and a Latin dance party with DJ E-Nyce 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday at Lansing Shuffle. If you’re looking to brush up on some dance moves, the Grand Ledge Area District Library will host a contra dance class 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Spartans fans can watch the women’s volleyball team take on the University of Minnesota 6 p.m. Friday and Ohio State University noon Sunday at the Breslin Center, plus the football team face off against Indiana University 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

Kick off your holiday shopping at the Lansing Liederkranz Club’s holiday bazaar, running 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Vendors will sell handmade crafts, baked goods and other wares, and the club will serve German eats such as bratwurst, potato salad and sauerkraut.

Other opportunities to find unique gifts this weekend include the MSU Horticulture Gardens’ houseplant and succulent sale 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Plant and Soil Sciences Building and the Friends of the Haslett Library’s semi-annual book sale 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the library, which will also feature a silent auction of 25 themed book baskets.

Lansing’s annual Día de los Muertos celebration runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Michigan History Center, featuring the opportunity to view community-made ofrendas, or elaborate memorials to the deceased, as well as a display of holiday-themed art by local Hispanic artists. Saturday will offer a few special events, including a sugar skull decorating contest, a sugar skull costume contest and a performance by Maria Luz Ballet Folklórico.

The Michigan Horse Show Association will hold its annual Fall Classic horse show 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday at MSU’s Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education.

Unity Spiritual Center of Lansing’s monthly euchre tournament begins 7 p.m. Friday, with an optional potluck at 6:30 p.m.

Visit downtown Lansing’s Firefly Hot Yoga Barre noon Sunday for a free gentle nidra yoga class designed for all skill levels. The free classes will continue every Sunday through the end of the year.

Finally, Dimondale’s Artfire Michigan will host a beginners’ blacksmithing workshop 2 p.m. Sunday.

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.)