What's Up in Lansing: Pagan Pride Day

You’ve probably heard of Lansing’s Pride festival and assumed that it only pertained to the LGBTQ community, but this weekend, a form of religious identity will also be celebrated as today is the day for Lansing Pagan Pride, its seventh annual celebration in the Lansing area.

“We started it with ‘finding your dark side,’ We focused on the practices that people shy away from. We had voodoo and hoodoo practitioners and Goth-like music and a feeling of ‘It’s OK to tap into that side, because you can learn from your shadow side.’ It felt right,” co-founder Carrie Zay said about the event.

Pagan Pride is a sponsored festival, with over a dozen organizations that celebrate the religion present at the event. The event includes fun for the whole family too, with Arts and Crafts, catering and a slew of vendors to peruse as you make your way through Valhalla Park.

Lansing Pagan Pride 2017. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. FREE. Valhalla Park, Keller and Pine Tree Roads Holt. lansingppd.org/index. php/ppd. webmaster@mmpagans.org.

HIGHLIGHTS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 >> ANTIQUE SALE AND CLASSIC CAR CRUISE-IN AT TURNER-DODGE HOUSE

The Turner Dodge House proudly presents their Antique Sale paired with a Classic Car Cruise-In Saturday. Free and fun for the whole family, the antique sale will offer myriad wares and a plethora of vendors. In conjunction with the REO Olds Transportation Museum, the Classic Car Cruise-In will attract car-lovers and motor-heads from Lansing and beyond, providing an eclectic mix of old and new cars. Tours of the event’s historic backdrop, the Turner-Dodge House, will also be available all day. To top it off, the event will host live music as a real-time soundtrack for the day of classic cars, antique picking and history. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. FREE. Turner-Dodge House, 100 E. North St., Lansing. (734) 476-1451.

AUGUST 25-27 >> SUN DRIED MUSIC FEST AT DOWNTOWN MASON

Packed into just three days, Sun Dried Music Fest hosts 13 bands and musicians on two stages this weekend in downtown Mason. With a line-up too long to list, this year’s eighth annual festival hosts hitmakers like Brian Lorente and the Usual Suspects, Root Doctor, Blue Haired Betty’s and a whole slew of other Michigan acts to keep the party going all weekend long. While the tunes are free, attendees 21 and over can pay $5 on Friday and Saturday to peruse a beer and wine tent. Food, games and other activities will all be on hand for an additional costs as well. On Sunday, the festival will start its last day run with a community worship Service facilitated by the Mason Ministerial Association. 6-11 p.m. Friday; noon-midnight Saturday; 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sunday. FREE. Downtown Mason. sundriedfestival.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 - SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 >> GREATER LANSING BALLOON FESTIVAL

More than 20 hot air balloons will fill the air this weekend at the Greater Lansing Balloon Festival. The festival comes to lansing through RE/MAX Real Estate Co., and it's no coincidence that it's logo is a hot air balloon. According to Jody Leatherberry, one of the representatives of the event and the Michigan corporate hot air balloon pilot for RE/MAX, it's a decades-long tradition. The event will span the entire weekend, and visitors will see hot air balloons rise into the air three times over that span, weather permitting. Although visitors will not be able to get a balloon ride, the fesitval will have everything from face painting, walks inside balloons and inflatables. $10/Car Hope Sports Complex, 5801 N. Aurelius Road, Lansing.

CLASSES AND SEMINARS

Lean In Lansing. Professional development group for women. Check web for location. 9 - 11 a.m. Grand Traverse Pie, 1403 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing. laurie@ laurimorsedell.com.

Prerana Yoga Twerkout. Helps endurance, back, core, glutes and thigh strength. Knee-pads recommended. 6 - 7 p.m. $5. American Martial Arts & Fitness Academy, 402 E. Saginaw St., Lansing.

LITERATURE AND POETRY

Social Justice Reading Group (Ages 4-11). ELPL librarians/volunteers read on topics. Register ahead. 10:30 a.m. FREE. East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road East Lansing. (517) 351-2420.

MUSIC

World Class City Band Concert. A one-night concert directed by John Dale Smith. Big band and blues music. 8 - 10 p.m. Over the Ledge Theatre Co., Fitzgerald Park Grand Ledge. (517) 318-0579

EVENTS

Antique Sale and Classic Car Cruise-In at the Turner-Dodge House. Live music, antique vendors, tours and classic cars. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Turner-Dodge House, 100 N. East St., Lansing. (734) 476-1451.

Band Against Bullying. Benefit for bullying victims. Schools/instructors to be gifted depends money raised. 5 p.m. - 1 a.m. Donations accepted. Homespun, 9265 Mulliken Road, Mulliken.

Drop-in LEGO Club (Age 4 and up). From 12 to 4 p.m. FREE. Capital Area District Libraries Downtown Lansing Branch, 401 South Capitol Avenue Lansing. 517-367-6363.

Paws for Reading. Preschool - high school ages can read to certified therapy dog. Call ahead. 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Grand Ledge Area District Library, 131 E. Jefferson St., Grand Ledge.

Summer Music Series at henry's Place. Final musical Saturday. Blues, jazz, acoustics. 9 p.m. - 12 a.m. Henry's Place Neighborhood Gastro Sports Bar, 4926 Marsh Road, Okemos. ow.ly/j9PZ30cINgv.