May the Fourth, Cinco de Mayo and other Detroit events

Hey Detroit! We invite you to dust off your bicycles and roller skates and join us for a thrilling week of events!

Star Wars fans, you’ll find “May the Fourth” celebrations with a galactic twist throughout the city. Not into Obi-Wan Kenobi ? Keep reading for some Cinco de Mayo celebrations, somewhere to buy that new bike and a floral event for your nose’s pleasure.

Whichever wheels or beverages you fancy, we’re rolling out for a week full of unique local experiences!

Let’s get busy. 💛

Thursday

📸 Take a journey with photojournalist Alan Chin at “Home and Away: A Photographer’s Journey Through Conflict and Culture” at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Chin’s career has taken him across the globe, and his new book “Infinity Goes Up on Trial” will be available for purchase and signing at the lecture. Free.

🦋 Listen to your neighbors’ narratives at The Moth StorySlam , where ten audience members can take the stage and tell their story based on this month’s theme, “Snooping.” Let us hear your best nosy story! Pro tip: Arrive early because Marble Bar can get pretty packed, especially when the weather’s nice. $15.

🎯 Nerd out (in the coolest way possible) with Pub Trivia Nerds for Thursday Trivia Night at The Congregation near Boston-Edison. Trivia categories will include ​​a range of topics from Beyoncé to Netflix shows to history and science. Bring friends or make new ones every Thursday evening. Free.

This weekend

🚀 Get in your Star Wars gear and take a Space Dive ! This fully immersive costumed event at Tangent Gallery in Milwaukee Junction opens on Friday night and continues on Saturday. Space Dive is open to families with kids during the daytime on Saturday for Nerf wars, a screening room with fan films and clips and a costume contest with prizes provided by Vault of Midnight. Costumes encouraged but not required. At night, costumes are mandatory. Show off your best Anakin Skywalker and boogie to live bands and other spacey performances, complete with Blue Milk cocktails. Free for kids under 18. $10 for adults at family-friendly event. $50 for nighttime event.

🚲 Get a new set of wheels (just two though) or find some new biking gear at the Back Alley Bikes Garage Sale in Midtown on Saturday. You can score a bike for as low as $25 and enter for a chance to win prizes every hour. Free.

🍸 Get Gatsby-glammed up and make your way to the Green Door Speakeasy at Fellowship Hall in Boston-Edison. Bartenders will be mixing up craft cocktails for purchase and DJ Andre Terrel will be serving up the tunes. Make sure to bust out your best Charleston in your flapper dress! Free.

🪸 Celebrate Children’s Day, the public holiday observed in Japan, Sunday at the Belle Isle Koi Festival at the Belle Isle Aquarium. Checklist of things to do there: ✅ Adopt a koi. ✅ Peruse koi-themed merchandise. ✅ Play games with the whole family and have a blast! Free.

🪷 On Sunday afternoon, take a calm, meditative labyrinth walk to decompress from the weekend at Gabriel Richard Park along the east riverfront. You’ll be joined by guides from the Zen Center and enjoy an hour of peace and relaxation. Free.

🇲🇽 Embrace Latin American culture at the Cinco de Mayo parade in Southwest Detroit on Sunday. This year’s parade theme is “La Historia de Southwest Detroit” and will shine a light on the diverse cultures that make the neighborhood such a rich and vibrant place to be. Free.

🎉 Celebrate in Southwest Detroit at El Club for its Fiesta Detroit Cinco de Mayo Block Party on Sunday. Offerings include Zumba classes, lucha libre wrestling shows, bull riding (mechanical, that is!) live music, vendors and a Detroit artist showcase. $10 for general admission, $75 for VIP.

🕺 Get your dance on for Cinco de Mayo Downtown at The Cinco de Mayo Block Party. The Annex, Love and Tequila and Brass Rail are bringing the food and tequila while DJ Godfather, DJ Chrome, Santarosa, Woop, Jay-C, DJ Iza and a host of other local DJs drop the beats. Plus, you get access to three venues for one ticket. Score! $20 for general admission, $200 for VIP packages.

Next week

💐 Stop and smell the roses at the opening of Flower Tuesday Market Season at Eastern Market. In Sheds 5 and 6, flower vendors will offer up a variety of garden delights to awaken your senses. If you miss this one, you can stop back every Tuesday throughout May. Free.

🛼 Lace up your roller skates and glide over to Robert C. Valade Park on Tuesday night for the first “ Rollin’ on the River ” skate meetup of the season! These events happen regularly on the second and fourth Tuesday nights of the month. Get your balance with a skating lesson with Motown Roller Club, then roll down the Dequindre Cut until the sun sets. Free.

May the Fourth, Cinco de Mayo and other Detroit events · Outlier Media