Brace yourself for a busy weekend

Greater Lansing is jam-packed with things to do this weekend, from a blues festival, a literary festival and a three-day Hispanic heritage celebration to a handful of comedy shows, a walk to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, a fundraiser chili cook-off, an anniversary party for the Lansing Bike Co-op and much more.

For Friday evening’s live music, we have cover musician Ben Awrey at Harrison Roadhouse at 6, acoustic ‘90s cover band Moth Duster at Lansing Shuffle at 7, jukebox rock/power pop band The Louderthans at the Green Door at 8:30 and ‘90s and 2000s cover band Off the Ledge at Mash Bar at 9. Saturday evening, we have country musicians Madison Olivia, Cooper Johnson and Prior Noon at Mash Bar at 5:30 p.m.; rock band Jimmy Likes Pie at Lansing Brewing Co. and Christian hard-rock bands Eddie Kross and End of I at Christ’s Kingdom Builders Church in north Lansing, both at 7; an evening of operatic works by Mozart at the Turner-Dodge House at 7:30; JP Peters of pop band JP & the Energy at Summerlands Brewing Co. and Phish tribute band The Kids Under the Carpet at Mac’s Bar, both at 8; variety cover band Geech at the Green Door at 8:30; and an indie-rock night with Jake Simmons & the Little Ghosts, Dogsneeze and Jenn’s Apartment at the Avenue at 9. Ending the weekend on Sunday is Red Cedar Spirits’ weekly Sunday Jazz show at 6 p.m.; seven-time Grammy-nominated folk musician John McCutcheon at University Lutheran Church and solo punk-rockers Jay Alan Kay and LoLo at the Avenue, both at 7 p.m.; and Mac’s Bar’s weekly Harmony Sundays DJ show at 9 p.m.

For even more live music, visit Old Town 5 to 10 p.m. Friday or 1:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday for Michigan BluesFest, featuring a diverse array of blues artists from across the state. There will also be afterglow performances and jam sessions from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. each night.

Art displays on view this weekend include the Shiawassee Artists’ Guild’s “Reflections” show 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 and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; an exhibition by local painter Joel Ellis at the Okemos Library, which is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; “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; “Complex Dreams,” “Diasporic Collage: Puerto Rico and the Survival of a People,” “Eye Witness” and “Seeing in 360 Degrees: The Zaha Hadid Design Collection” at the MSU Broad Art Museum, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday; and “Elemental Offerings” at Struk Studio in north Lansing, which is open noon to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

“Thirst” officially opens this weekend at Williamston Theatre, with performances 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Additionally, the MSU Department of Theatre will stage the new musical “In Pieces,” which follows the romantic journeys of six people across three chapters of life, 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre.

Events for the kids include a story reading and parkour workshop 10 a.m. Friday at AL!VE health park in Charlotte; East Lansing Public Library’s monthly Books & Bagels book club 1 p.m. Saturday; and a World Rhino Day celebration 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Potter Park Zoo, featuring rhino-themed educational stations and activity tables.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Casa de Rosado Galeria and Cultural Center will hold drop-in sugar skull decorating workshops 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The workshops will continue every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 27.

Ourspace Foundation’s 517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend will feature a range of events to celebrate Hispanic culture: salsa and bachata dance lessons 6:30 p.m. Friday at Lansing Shuffle, followed by a Latin dance party; the Taste of Hispanic Heritage Festival 3:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday in downtown Lansing, featuring Hispanic food, Latin music performances and DJ sets, a kids’ zone and more than 50 Hispanic-owned vendors; and a Latin jazz night with Orquesta Ritmo 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Lansing Shuffle.

the Lansing Area AIDS Network’s annual AIDS Walk runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Edgewood United Church in East Lansing. The event, which aims to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS as well as funds to support LAAN’s programs and services, will feature a 2-mile walk, guest speakers, a community vendor fair, food, a DJ and kids’ activities.

Greater Lansing residents can recycle their unwanted electronics 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Meridian Mall. Meridian Cares will also accept new and gently used coats, snow pants and boots for its annual coat drive.

Visit St. Therese Catholic Church in north Lansing 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday for a craft show featuring more than 30 vendors.

Keys to Manifestation will host its monthly game night 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Attendees are invited to bring their favorite games to share, as well as food and beverages.

The Wild Ones Red Cedar chapter will hold a native plant sale 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Fenner Nature Center, offering a wide selection of perennial wildflowers, grasses, trees and shrubs grown by Bendy Stem Farm in Dimondale.

Bring a hearty appetite to the Spicy Bowls for Strong Souls chili cook-off, running 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Hope Sports Complex in south Lansing. Apart from chili to sample, the event will offer live music and a kids’ area. Proceeds will benefit To Work in Grateful Service, which provides essential services to cancer patients in Greater Lansing, and the Mark Advocacy Group, which offers support and resources to people with kidney disease and other chronic illnesses.

The Meridian Garden Club’s Yesteryear flower show, running noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Meridian Historical Village, will feature exhibits in horticulture, floral design, visual arts and photography. Village buildings will also be open and available to tour.

The Lansing Bike Co-op will celebrate its 10-year anniversary noon to 4 p.m. Saturday with a party featuring free food, shop tours, bingo and live music. The co-op’s monthly “alley cat” bicycle scavenger hunt will start at 2 p.m. 

The Peace Education Center will host a potluck picnic 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Lake Lansing Park North. Attendees are asked to bring a dish that reflects their heritage so the group can celebrate the diverse cultures that make up our community. There will also be music, yard games and peace-themed coloring sheets.

The Lansing Liederkranz Club will host an Oktoberfest dinner and dance Saturday evening. German dinner will be served from 5 to 6:30 p.m., followed by live polka music and dancing.

If you need a laugh, Christian Comedian Mike Williams will perform at Christ Community Church 7 p.m. Saturday, Chicago comedian Pinky Patel will bring her #isaidwhatisaid tour to Grewal Hall at 224 8 p.m. Saturday, Dimondale’s Country Creek Reception Hall will welcome Michigan comedians Jacqui Marpa, Rob Jenkins and Ken Witzgall 8 p.m. Saturday, and DeWitt’s Looking Glass Brewing Co. will hold its monthly Comedy Through the Looking Glass event 9 p.m. Saturday, featuring Michigan comedians Nick Leydorf, Sam Rager and Dave Wellfare.

Finally, visit Harris Nature Center 1 p.m. Sunday for a guided stroll along the trails to look for signs of autumn. Donuts and cider will be served after the walk.

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.)