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.

This week, we’ve got celebrations honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., new museum exhibitions and exciting musical performances to keep you warm.

Plus, an end-of-an-era poetry slam. Read on to learn more.

MLK Day celebrations

Wayne State University is hosting its annual tribute to civil rights icon the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 17 at the Hilberry Gateway in Detroit. The program will feature the annual presentation of the Dr. Arthur L. Johnson Community Leadership Awards and the Warrior Strong Distinguished Service Award, which recognize local leaders whose work has positively impacted metro Detroit communities. The celebration will culminate with a keynote speech from the Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, senior pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas. While the in-person event has reached capacity, the recorded event will be streamed at wayne.edu/live starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20 to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. To learn more, visit events.wayne.edu.

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is hosting their annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy on Monday, Jan. 20. This year’s theme, “The Strength to Dream: Resilience in the Legacy of Dr. King,” highlights his courage and determination in facing adversity. The day features a series of ticketed and free events that provide activities for every age, including panel discussions, film screenings, a treasure hunt and more. For the full activities schedule and more information, visit thewright.org.

The Detroit Historical Museum is celebrating the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s program is titled “Remembering the Life of Freedom Rider Viola Liuzzo,” which will include panel discussions, storytelling, and arts and crafts. Visitors can explore the museum through a history hunt to learn more about the events that Dr. King experienced from 1955 through 1968. The celebration will conclude with a communal performance of “Happy Birthday.” Participation is free with registration. For more information, visit detroithistorical.org.

Music

The Anti-Freeze Blues Festival returns to the Magic Bag in Ferndale on Saturday, Jan. 18. This year’s festival celebrates blues guitarist and Detroiter Bobby Murray, who performed in Etta James’ backup ensemble, the Roots Band, for over two decades, as well as with many other blues and soul greats like Chuck Berry, B.B. King and Buddy Guy. The Bobby Murray Revue features The Woodward Horns, Raye Williams, Lenny Watkins, Greg Nagy, Smoke Jones and special guests. Tickets are $20 in advance and doors open at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome. For more information, visit themagicbag.com.

Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” caused a riot at its 1913 premiere in Paris, challenging every expectation of what music could be. Its influence has rippled through generations, inspiring everyone from progressive rock icons to contemporary film composers. Experience this groundbreaking masterpiece performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, Jan. 16, Friday, Jan. 17 and Saturday, Jan. 18 at Orchestra Hall in Detroit. Tickets start at $20. For more information, visit dso.org.

See highly-acclaimed Detroit-based producer and musician Jon Dixon live in action as he performs with Marquis Johnson as Room 131 at Spot Lite Detroit on Friday, Jan. 17. Special guests Deon Jamar and Al Ester will kick off the night starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $16-$22 and the event is 21+. For more information, visit ra.co.

Hear more: Jon Dixon performs live on WDET

Museums

The Detroit Historical Museum is offering free admission on Thursday, Jan. 16 from 5-8 p.m., compliments of the Kresge Foundation. There will be a panel discussion led by Kenneth L. Harris, Ph.D. centered around the Black retail experience in Detroit starting at 6 p.m. For more information, visit detroithistorical.org.

As we approach the 60th anniversary of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, the museum is looking back at their roots. They’ve created an in-house exhibition centered on their founder, Charles Howard Wright, M.D. (1919-2002), that celebrates the great physician and intellectual’s life and achievements. “I, Charles H. Wright” opens on Friday, Jan. 17 and uses words, images, documents and objects to portray Wright’s extraordinary life and expansive legacy. For more information, visit thewright.org.

Poetry

On Saturday, Jan. 18, Joel Fluent Green presents The Half-A-Stack Poetry Slam #21: The Final Season at Aretha’s Jazz Café in Detroit. Twelve poets will compete for $500 while audiences enjoy three rounds of original poetry, a cash bar, delicious food and Detroit-based vendors. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.