Explore the Earth and beyond

This weekend offers a plethora of nature- and space-themed activities and events to learn more about the world around you. If science isn’t your speed, however, there’s plenty more to do, including a soccer Fan Fest, a 5K around Lake Lansing, Taylor Swift cover shows and a Burlesque Extravaganza.

 For Friday evening’s live music, we have Saxophone in Progress at MSU’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at 5:30; Durant Street Winds at St. Katherine’s Episcopal Church and Heartsick, Heart of Jordan, Hyporium and Accuser of the Brethren at The Junction, both at 7; Katie Dahl at University United Methodist Church at 7:30; Tony Thompson at The Peanut Barrel at 8; and The Louderthans at The Green Door at 8:30. Saturday evening, we have Johnny Stix & The Outsiders at Williamston Roadhouse, a Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton tribute show at Bath Middle School and Singers on the Grand’s “Tapestry: the 1970s Revisited” show at the Portland Community Theater, all at 7; the Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet and Gemhara & The Fireballs at UrbanBeat, MSU’s Symphony Orchestra and choirs at the Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall and Joe Buck Yourself, Cash O’Riley and The Five ‘N’ Dime Poets at Mac’s Bar, all at 8; and Motor City Josh & The Big 3 at The Green Door at 8:30. Additionally, local singer-songwriter Kanin Wren will perform 90 minutes of Taylor Swift hits at UrbanBeat 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Friday’s show is sold out, but you can still get tickets for Saturday at UrbanBeat’s website. Ending the weekend on Sunday is Lansing Community College’s Jazz Band at the MSU Community Music School, the Renaissance Singers of Greater Lansing at Ascension Lutheran Church and the Spartan Youth Wind Symphony and MSU Alumni Band at the MSU’s Fairchild Theatre, all at 3 p.m., and LCC’s Rock Band at The Avenue at 6 p.m.

It’s the last weekend to view “Creativity in the Time of COVID-19: Art for Equity and Social Justice,” which is on display at the Frandor Sears building and has satellite exhibits at the Lansing Art Gallery, REACH Studio Art Center, Impression 5 Science Center and the Refugee Development Center. To see when each location is open, check out the exhibit’s website. It’s also the last weekend for “Printmaking in Full Color” at Framer’s Edge in Okemos, which is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Additional art displays include “Blind Spot,” “DIEGEST,” “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, and a new 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.

Feeling crafty? The Lansing Art Gallery will host a beginner’s printmaking workshop 10 a.m. Saturday, with in-depth explanations of image transfer, printmaking papers, carving tools, registration, inking and printing. Attendees will create five to 10 small prints.

Theater performances this weekend include “Cross That River” at the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theater 8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and “School of Rock” at East Lansing’s Hannah Community Center 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

If you’re in the mood for a more sultry performance, Tease A Gogo will hold a Slumber Party Burlesque Extravaganza 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Dimondale’s Country Creek Reception Hall, with cocktails, food from Gator’s Grill, a pajama contest and live music with Matthew Shannon.

Celebrate spring with a host of nature-themed events, including an Arbor Day celebration at Potter Park Zoo 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, behind-the-scenes tours of the MSU Herbarium 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, a Plant Science Exploration with hands-on activities and demonstrations at MSU’s Horticulture Gardens 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, an open house at MSU’s Butterfly Flight House 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and a Spring Wildflower Walk at Harris Nature Center 1 p.m. Sunday.

For Saturday evening’s Statewide Astronomy Night, the MSU Observatory is hosting a variety of activities that explore different astronomical concepts from 7 to 10 p.m., and Abrams Planetarium is showing the film “Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries,” at 7 p.m., which explores three of Chile’s observatories and explains why the country is an ideal location for researching space. In addition, NASA astronaut and former International Space Station commander Terry Virts will visit the Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall 4 p.m. Sunday to share some of the hundreds of thousands of photos he took while orbiting Earth.

Visit the East Lansing Public Library 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday for its annual Books, Bites & Bids fundraiser, featuring a silent auction, food, music, drinks and opportunities to connect with library staff and the community. All proceeds go toward its educational, interactive children’s garden, which begins construction later this year.

Get active with Junior League of Lansing’s bRUNch and Walk with League 5K 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Walk or run around Lake Lansing, then enjoy brunch afterward at Mayfair Bar.

Finally, soccer enthusiasts can visit Ozone’s Brewhouse 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday for a soccer Fan Fest, featuring soccer tennis, trivia, a keepy-uppy contest, chances to meet Lansing Common FC players and more soccer-themed activities.

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best of weekends.