The government may be giving up on its efforts toward diversity, equity and inclusion, but we sure aren’t. This week, we’re celebrating the Lunar New Year with our community, enjoying Bollywood-inspired high tea and learning about the Black-led legacy of dance music.

Plus, some underground events you won’t find anywhere else. Read on to learn more.

Celebrate traditions

The Detroit Association of Chinese Americans is hosting their 2025 Lunar New Year Community Fair at Eastern Market’s Shed 5 on Sunday, Feb. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests will welcome the Year of the Snake with cultural performances representing diverse Asian traditions, authentic foods, traditional crafts and fun for all ages. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Detroit Shipping Company is hosting a Bollywood-inspired “afternoon and high tea” event from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1. This happy hour alternative will be hosted by food blogger Alina Alam, featuring stories from South Asian culture and traditional high tea refreshments like karak chai, Kashmiri pink tea, cookies and samosas. To register and learn more, visit @foodiesnapper on Instagram.

Get outside

From Friday, Jan. 31 through Sunday, Feb. 2, Winter Blast Royal Oak returns to Royal Oak City Center. This free community event features live music, ice skating, ice sculptures, a medieval village, a zip line, food trucks, family-friendly activities and more. To see the full lineup of events and get more information, visit winterblast.com.

On Saturday, Feb. 1, the Shiver on the River Eco Fair returns to Belle Isle. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be indoor and outdoor activities across the park including free caricature drawings, a magic show, ice carvings, winter birding and more. This event is free and open to all ages. Concessions will be available to purchase with cash. A Michigan Recreation Passport is required to enter Belle Isle. For more information, visit detroitriver.org.

See a show

This winter, Emagine Entertainment will be hosting their annual Winter Kids Film Series at all of their locations. This series features a different family-friendly film each week from Friday, Jan. 31 to Thursday, March 20, including ‘The Flintstones,’ ‘Cat in the Hat,’ ‘Babe’ and more. Tickets are $3 per person and concession packages are available for $5 each. For more information, visit emagine-entertainment.com.

Detroit Public Theatre’s next production is ‘Confederates,’ a story of two Black women living in America 160 years apart — Sara, an enslaved woman preparing herself to fight for the Union during the Civil War, and Sandra, a political science professor at an esteemed university fighting institutional racism. This searing and acclaimed play by Dominique Morisseau leaps back and forth in time to hold an unyielding lens to the racism and gender biases that plague America’s institutions to this day. Performances start on Thursday, Feb. 6 with two “pick your price” previews, after which general admission is $49. The show closes on March 16. For more information, visit detroitpublictheatre.org.

On Thursday, Feb. 6, legendary funk collective George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will be performing at Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel. Tickets start at $61 and all guests must be at least 21 years of age with valid photo ID. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. For more information, visit 313presents.com.

Get moving

On Friday Jan. 31, Spot Lite Detroit is transforming into a rave paradise for D.A.R.E. TO R.A.V.E. Guests are invited to come in your boldest, brightest rave/techno attire and lose yourself in the music, the energy and the movement. The only rule: Respect the dance floor and your fellow ravers. The party goes from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. featuring unforgettable beats from 2Lanes, Duck Trash, Huey Mnemonic, Miguel Cisne, Nick Dagher and Rebecca Goldberg. Tickets are $22. For more information, visit ra.co.

Also on Friday, Jan. 31, Job Stoppers Inc is putting on a fundraiser for The Future of Detroit Punk at UFO Bar in Detroit. There will be karaoke, vendors, raffles and more from 3-9 p.m., followed by a rave dance party until 2 a.m. For more information, visit @ufobardetroit on Instagram.

Learn about legacy

On Friday, Jan. 31, Spot Lite Detroit is hosting a Fireside Chat with John “Jammin” Collins and Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale as they discuss the rich history and profound impact of dance music in Detroit. This event is free to attend and goes from 6-9 p.m. Guests must be 21+. For more information, visit @spotlitedetroit on Instagram.

This week, we’ve got free winter festivities, warm indoor art experiences and unique concerts from Bach to rock.

Plus, where to catch the planetary alignment this weekend. Read on to learn more.

Winter carnivals

Saturday, Jan. 25 is Downtown Birmingham’s BRRmingham Blast, featuring free entertainment, food trucks and activities for all ages. Attractions include a 300-foot zip line, magic shows, storytelling, marshmallow roasting and more. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the heart of Downtown Birmingham, along South Old Woodward Avenue from Maple Road to Brown Street. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit allinbirmingham.com.

Sunday, Jan. 26 is the City of Oak Park’s Winterfest 2025, featuring family-friendly activities like carriage rides, ice carving, ice skating, hot snacks and more. Festivities go from 1-4 p.m. and admission, parking and all activities are free. For more information, visit their Facebook event.

Art experiences

Now through March 5, head to The J in West Bloomfield to check out “Pushing Boundaries,” a new exhibit on display in the Janice Charach Gallery. It features seven highly-regarded Michigan artists who were challenged to push the boundaries of their art practice and the very space they take up by creating seven distinct installations within the space of the gallery, including a dramatic display of giant multimedia squares suspended from the gallery’s skylight. Gallery hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and all exhibits are free and open to the public. For more information, visit thejdetroit.org.

The newest art exhibit at Farmington Hills City Hall features hyper-realistic drawings from metro-Detroiter Karri Bloemer. “Drawings of Birds in Southeast Michigan and Beyond” is on display now through March 14, and there will be an artist talk and opening reception at City Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, from 6-8 p.m. Visitors can also view the exhibit during City Hall’s regular hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit fhgov.com.

If you’re interested in something more hands-on, visit the DIA’s Art-Making Studio on Friday, Jan. 24 for “Cultural Convergence: Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese Style.” Participants will join master calligrapher Haji Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang 米广江 for a lecture, demonstration and mini-workshop exploring the artistic convergence of Arabic and Chinese calligraphic traditions. This event is free with general admission to the museum and goes from 6-8:30 p.m. Participants can join at any time, but capacity is limited. For more information, visit dia.org.

Unique concerts

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is launching its 2025 William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series this week with “Bach’s Coffeehouse,” a program paying homage to Johann Sebastian Bach’s time performing at Zimmermann’s Coffeehouse in Leipzig. Guest conductor Jeannette Sorrell takes on the role of Bach’s lively coffeehouse orchestra, the Leipzig Collegium Musicum, for a series of performances starting Thursday, Jan. 23 and going through Sunday, Jan. 26. Performances will be held in Southfield, Plymouth, Grosse Pointe and Beverly Hills, and tickets start at $32. For more information, visit dso.org.

Detroit-based indie-rock group Bandeau is having a record release party at Outer Limits Lounge in Hamtramck on Saturday, Jan. 25. They’ll be playing songs from their new album, Spirit Fingers, with special guests Troy Gregory and the Mercury Gauntlett, Timothy Monger and Carol Catherine, Jim Cherewick, and members of the Detroit Party Marching Band. Limited-edition vinyl will be available for sale. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $15. For more information, visit Outer Limits Lounge on Facebook.

Cultural celebrations

The Hawk Theatre in Farmington Hills is celebrating the Lunar New Year on Saturday, Jan. 25 with an evening of activities and music for community members of all ages. This year, the festival marks the transition from the Year of the Dragon (2024) to the Year of the Snake (2025). Starting at 6 p.m., there will be a family-friendly cultural celebration with crafts and activities, followed by a concert featuring modern and traditional Chinese music at 7 p.m. Tickets include both the cultural celebration and the concert, and are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For more information, visit thehawktheatre.com.

Stellar observations

On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Cranbrook Institute of Science is hosting a Planetary Alignment Party in celebration of a rare celestial phenomenon set to occur that night. Cranbrook astronomers and members of the Warren Astronomical Society will guide guests through the experience of seeing Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Neptune and Uranus together in the night sky using the Cranbrook Observatory and the Acheson Planetarium. The viewing party goes from 6-10 p.m. and pre-registration is highly recommended. Tickets are $14 for adults, $10.50 for children and seniors, and free for children under 2 years old. For more information, visit science.cranbrook.edu.