DETROIT – Love is in the air this weekend filled with Valentine’s Day-themed events and shows.
10 things to do this weekend in Metro Detroit
Mardis Gras at Valade (Valade Park), Friday to Sunday: The Big Easy comes to Motown with a full blown Mardis Gras and Caribbean Carnival party. Stop by and craft your own mask, meet Princess Tiana and the Prince and take a picture with the Big Heads from the Parade Company. March down the parade with Second Line Valade Parade with the Gabriel Brass Band and enjoy live music from Further Adventures of Fat Boy & Jive Turkey. Admission is free. More info and schedule here.
André 3000 (Masonic Temple), Friday 7 & 10 p.m.: The former Outkast rapper surprised fans with his debut solo album New Blue Sun, his first album in almost two decades. Featuring 90 minutes of flute work and experimental jazz, André 3000′s critically acclaimed sound will be brought to life with Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina and Deantoni Parks. Get tickets here.
Crazy In Love (Eloise Asylum), Friday & Saturday: Get your heart racing this Valentine’s weekend. While Eloise Asylum isn’t the first place you’d think of for a romantic date night, it sure will make for a thrilling one. This new experience welcomes guests into an eerie world ‘where heartbeats sync with screams.’ Over 100 scare actors will bring dark romantic fantasies to life. Step in if you dare. Admission is $45 per person. Schedule and tickets here.
Matt Rife (The Fillmore), Friday & Saturday: If you’re on any social media, you’ve definitely seen his standup clips all over TikTok and Instagram. Known for his clever audience work, Matt Rife gained a massive following online that led to his recent Netflix special Natural Selection. All four shows at The Fillmore sold out immediately on release, but tickets are available in the secondary market. Get tickets here.
Galentine’s Day Small Business Crawl (Downtown Ann Arbor), Saturday: Gather the girls for a day of shopping, sipping and savoring. Head to any of the participating businesses to pick up your passport. Stop by and get a sticker from six of those locations and be entered to win a shopping spree. There will be giveaways, activities and deals throughout much of Downtown Ann Arbor’s finest eateries and shops. More info here.
Winter LoveFest (Palmer Park), Saturday 2 to 5 p.m.: Celebrate Black History and love just before Valentine’s Day in Palmer Park. It’s a full afternoon full of cultural live entertainment including African dancing and drumming, Reggae and Caribbean music and more. Warm up with hot cocoa, cookies and treats in the heated tents. Take a ride on a horse and carriage, enjoy storytelling and spinning wheel demos, as well as winter sports. Admission is free. More info here.
Lunar New Year Celebration & Concert (Hawk Community Center), Saturday 6 p.m.: Enjoy the sounds of the new year with the celebrated “Master of the Erhu.” Xiao Dong Wei has been featured on NPR and was a guest soloist at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The family-friendly Lunar New Year Celebration includes crafts, storytelling, cultural exploration and more. Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door. Get tickets here.
Valentine’s Soul Jam (Fox Theatre), Saturday 7 p.m.: Make it a date night for you and your special someone with the smooth sounds of Russell Thompkins Jr. and The New Stylistics, Heatwave, Bloodstone, Enchantment and The Intruders. Hear all of your favorite hits like “Stop, Look, Listen” and “You Make Me Feel Brand New.” Tickets start at $59. Get tickets here.
Duel in the D (Little Caesars Arena), Saturday 8:30 p.m.: Who will win this year’s prized Iron D trophy? This marks the 346th battle between the Michigan Wolverines against the Michigan State Spartans men’s ice hockey teams. Michigan has won the last six Duels at LCA, will the Spartans take over this year? Get tickets here.
WICKED (Detroit Opera House), ongoing: Broadway’s blockbuster musical is back for its highly anticipated return to Detroit. Fly to the Opera House and discover what happened in Oz before Dorothy dropped in. It’s the untold story of the witches of Oz and how one became “wicked.” Tickets start at $59. Get tickets here.
Find more events with our Live Guide calendar here.