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.

In The Groove is WDET’s award-winning series that talks with creatives from all walks of life about the music that has influenced them the most, starting from when they were just a kid to what sounds good today.

Our first guest of 2025 is none other than electronic musician Tycho. For years, I’ve been listening to his music — the endlessly cinematic, wall-of-synth sounds that make me feel like I’m walking through some dream-like science museum in the best way.

His latest album, “Infinite Health,” brought a little more funk and dance into that equation. He’ll tour it alongside his bandmates on Thursday, Jan. 23 at St. Andrew’s Hall. 

Ahead of his set in Detroit, I caught up with Tycho about the music that has influenced him over the years, starting at the very beginning — the first piece of music that truly felt like he discovered it. 

For Tycho, that was The Beatles and the symphonic weirdness of “A Day In The Life,” before he ventured into French house music with Le Knight Club and drum-and-bass from Photek.

Use the media player above to listen to the interview.