An art-filled weekend

This weekend is jam-packed with events for art lovers, including festivals and craft shows, exhibitions and chances to make some art of your own. There are also fundraisers for local organizations, space-themed film screenings, board game nights and a bonfire and guided hike at Harris Nature Center, plus much more.

For Friday evening’s live music, we have The Dangling Participles and Emily Rose at UrbanBeat at 7, Darin Larner Jr. at The Peanut Barrel at 8, Geech at The Green Door at 8:30 and Atomic Annie at The Exchange at 9. Saturday evening, we have The New Rule at Reno’s North Sports Bar at 6; Full House at Williamston Roadhouse and Shelby & Jake at Lansing Brewing Co., both at 7; Wastelander and Cameo Headlands at The Avenue at 8; The Cloudhoppers at The Green Door at 8:30; and JP & The Energy at The Exchange at 9. Kicking off the live music schedule on Sunday is a Folk and Bluegrass Jamboree featuring Joel Mabus, Jessey Adams and Dante Flores with Cedar Creek Bluegrass at Woldumar Nature Center at 2 p.m. After that, we have the Capital Area Blues Society Blues Brawl at The Green Door from 3 to 8 p.m., Lansing Symphony Orchestra’s Wind Quintet at the First Presbyterian Church of Lansing at 3 p.m., the Tommy Noble Trio at Red Cedar Spirits in East Lansing at 6 p.m., the Mason Philharmonic Orchestra at Eastminster Presbyterian Church at 6:15 p.m. and Renee Ann Louprette’s organ recitals at Michigan State University’s Alumni Memorial Chapel at 3 and 7 p.m.

Lansing Art Attack! wraps up Friday with cupcake-decorating and herbal pot-painting workshops, a sidewalk chalk art demonstration, simple art-making opportunities at the Lansing Art Gallery and more. For the full schedule of events, visit the website.

The art-themed festivities don’t stop there. Visit Albert and M.A.C. avenues in East Lansing 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday for the East Lansing Art Festival, featuring booths from artists from around the country, live performances, demonstrations, food and more; the MSU Union 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday for the school’s Spring Arts & Crafts Show, featuring handmade goods from hundreds of vendors; Union Street Center in Eaton Rapids 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday for Village Crafters’ “Celebrate Spring” Craft Show, featuring kids’ activities, free refreshments and booths from the organization’s crafters and artists; and High Caliber Karting & Entertainment in the Meridian Mall 2 p.m. Sunday for a Midwest Paint Party with trivia and a 10-minute axe-throwing session.

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; the “LGBTQ+ Artist in Michigan” exhibition at the Lansing Art Gallery, which is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; local artist Jill Campbell-Mason’s solo exhibit at the Haslett Library’s Bookend Gallery, which is open noon to 4 p.m. Friday and noon to 2 p.m. Saturday; 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 will give a tour of “The Nightly News” 1 p.m. Sunday, so if you attend, be sure to check out the other exhibits while you’re there — especially the Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, which closes Sunday.

The Williamston Theatre begins its run of “Alabaster” this weekend, with preview performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. In addition, “Wicked” continues at the Wharton Center 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, and the Ruhala Performing Arts Center presents “Love, Smiles, & Underwear,” a salute to Broadway musicals, 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Meridian Township Farmers Market is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Marketplace on the Green in Okemos, and the Eastern Ingham Farmers Market is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at McCormick Park in Williamston. If you don’t feel like grocery shopping, enjoy food from Stacks BBQ and La India Mexicana Cocina food trucks and drinks from Strange Matter Coffee at Lansing Common FC’s game against Northville United 7 p.m. Friday at Eastern Stadium.

Friends of the Mason Library is having a plant sale and exchange 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Mason City Hall parking lot, where gardeners can donate plants and purchase new ones. Additionally, the Peoples Church of East Lansing is having a used jewelry and book sale 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to raise funds for its community outreach.

The Mighty Uke Day Festival is also holding a fundraiser 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Fiesta Charra in East Lansing. There will be live performances, group strums, a silent auction, food, drinks and more.

Abrams Planetarium is showing its May feature film, “Wayfinders: Waves, Winds & Stars,” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. It will also show its May children’s film, “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,” 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

In the mood to play some games? The Board and Bean, an aspiring Lansing board game café, is hosting a game night Saturday at Sycamore Creek Church’s Asbury Campus, with time slots available from 2 to 5 or 6 to 9 p.m. There will be sandwiches, meals and drinks for purchase. Keys to Manifestation is also hosting a game night 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday if you don’t want to commit to a three-hour block.

Roast marshmallows around a bonfire and learn about Michigan’s wild canines at Harris Nature Center 7 p.m. Saturday. The event includes a guided walk along the nature trails.

The Hive Dance Studio will hold its 5-Year Anniversary Dance Recitals 11 a.m. and 1:30 and 4 p.m. Saturday at Waverly High School

Finally, visit Marshall Street Fire Station 10 a.m. to noon Saturday for a Lids for Kids event, featuring free bike helmet giveaways, a raffle, opportunities to meet local law officials and firefighters, fire engine tours, activities and games.

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.)