Parades, performances and pottery

As we head into December, there are numerous holiday events around the Lansing area this weekend, as well as a host of theater productions, fun activities for kids, a Family Day at the Michigan State University Broad Art Museum, a Jazz Brunch and more.

For Friday evening’s live music, we have duo The Brothers Ralph at the Peanut Barrel at 8; Michigan State University salsa collective Salsa Verde at UrbanBeat at 8:30; and singer-songwriter Derek Gramza, rock band The Fever Haze and ska-punk band Grey Matter at The Avenue at 9. Saturday evening, we have the 11^thannual Phil Denny & Friends Christmas Collective at Grewal Hall at 224 at 7:30; the Tomás Esparza Blues Band at UrbanBeat at 8; and The Dark Art of Michigan’s Heavy Metal Holiday Meltdown, featuring live music by progressive-metal band Orc, heavy-metal DJ sets by DJ Mary X and other performances by The Dark Art of Michigan artists at The Avenue at 8:30. Ending the weekend on Sunday is Chicago-based pianist Tyler Kivel at Central United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. and Red Cedar Spirits’ weekly Sunday Jazz show at 6 p.m.

The MSU Broad Art Museum is holding a Family Day 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, where families can participate in free, hands-on activities throughout the museum. It’s also holding an interactive tour of “Resistance Training: Arts, Sports, and Civil Rights” 1 p.m. Sunday. Pre-registration is encouraged for both events. While you’re at the museum, be sure to check out all the exhibitions on display, including “Shouldn’t You Be Working? 100 Years of Working from Home,” “As we dwell in the fold,” “Beal Botanical Garden: Celebrating 150 Years of People, Plants, and Place” and “Seeing in 360 Degrees: The Zaha Hadid Design Collection.”

REACH Studio Art Center is hosting an opening reception for its Teen Incubator program’s new exhibition at Hooked bookstore 6:30 p.m. Friday. Attendees can meet the artists and enjoy snacks and refreshments.

Other art displays on view this weekend include the Michigan Made Holiday Art 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; the Mid-Michigan Art Guild’s Fall Member Art Show at the Neighborhood Empowerment Center, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; Chance Liscomb’s “Where ART Thou?? Playful Reflections on Religion and Scripture” 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; local photographer Joyce Felzke’s nature photography display at the Haslett Library’s Bookend Gallery, which is open noon to 4 p.m. Friday and noon to 2 p.m. Saturday; and local artist Bobbie Margolis’ “Mixed Media Medley” exhibition at the Okemos Library, which is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call the library at 517-347-2021 before visiting to make sure the gallery space is open.

If you’d like to make some art of your own, the Lansing Art Gallery is hosting an introductory Zentangle-making workshop for ages 15 and up 10 a.m. Saturday.

Lansing Community College is participating in the biennial Climate Change Theatre Action festival, which invites global playwrights to submit five-minute acts centered around a certain climate-change-related theme. The school will present six short plays 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at its Black Box Theatre, followed by a group discussion. In addition, local environmental organizations and the Michigan Coalition of Science on the Ballot will have information tables, and there will be a display of climate-themed posters and poetry created by LCC students.

Other theater productions this weekend include “Hairspray” at the Wharton Center 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday; “Murder for Two: Holiday Edition” at the Williamston Theatre 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Starlight Dinner Theatre’s production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Delta Presbyterian Church; the MSU Department of Theatre’s improv showcase, “MSU UnScripted,” at the school’s Studio 60 Theatre 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and “Holiday at Lebowsky,” featuring local dancers and singers performing both traditional and contemporary holiday music, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Lebowsky Center for Performing Arts in Owosso.

Other holiday events include a Holiday Market at Lansing Shuffle 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; a Holiday Open House at Haslett’s American Legion Post 269, featuring visits with Santa and free cookies, popcorn and hot cider and cocoa, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday; a Winterfest celebration 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday in downtown Laingsburg, featuring visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a light parade, a winter market, kids’ games, a pancake-eating contest and more; a Scrooge Scramble 5K run/walk to benefit the Old Town Commercial Association beginning 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the association’s office on Turner Street, featuring a holiday costume contest, visits with Santa and free coffee and hot cocoa; a chili cookoff, tree lighting, lighted Christmas parade and more beginning 5 p.m. Saturday in downtown Grand Ledge; and Clayworks Pottery’s Winter Holiday Show and sale 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at its studio in Grand Ledge.

For the youth of the family, Impression 5 Science Center is hosting its weekly Sparking Science workshop for ages 2 to 4 at 10 a.m. Friday. This week’s theme is Toy Inventor. Additionally, Harris Nature Center is hosting a Night Out in Nature 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, where kids can explore the outdoor trails, meet live animals and participate in nature-themed activities, and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra is hosting an interactive Family Series event with trombonist John Robinson at the Delta District Library 1 p.m. Sunday.

The Salus Center and the Lansing Area AIDS Network are teaming up to host a World AIDS Day Coffeee Klatsch 10 a.m. to noon Friday at the Salus Center, offering free and confidential HIV testing and complimentary coffee, tea and snacks.

Finally, MSU’s Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority chapter is hosting its annual Jazz Brunch fundraiser 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. The Alina Morr Trio, led by one of the founders of the Grammy-nominated women’s jazz group Straight Ahead, will play contemporary and traditional jazz music, and guests can also enjoy brunch, a gift card auction and a 50/50 raffle.

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.)