Weekend Entertainment | Fiery, Fast and Fantastical

This weekend will bring a fantastic confluence of unrelated events that somehow seem connected on a cosmic level.

The Kentucky Derby is Saturday. To get into the proper mint julep-y frame of mind, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Austintown is having a watch party with a giant screen. Reservations are $25 per seat (plus a $25 per person dining spend); call 330 505 8847.

Live music by Billy Joel cover band 52nd Street and an ’80s dance band will start at 4 p.m. The derby itself starts shortly after 6:30 p.m.

Saturday is also Free Comic Book Day. Stop in at any participating shop and choose from a selection of freebies created especially for this promotion. For a list of local shops, click HERE.

The stars are really in alignment this year because Saturday is also Star Wars Day – which doesn’t mean anything, except it’s May the Fourth. Also, Birdfish Brewing in Columbiana will tap its Space Candy beer that day and serve it up in hand-thrown ceramic light saber steins. May the force be with you.

A few other fun things this weekend include:

Fiery Spanish guitarist Benise will bring his dazzling show, replete with Flamenco dancers, to Packard Music Hall tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40; click HERE.

Youngstown’s monthly First Friday party series begins this week, with the uber popular local rock cover band RDNA at The Amp at 8 p.m. Before that, the guitar-violin duo of Dave Lynn and Caitlin Hedge will perform at 6 p.m. on Phelps Street. The whole thing is free.

Viking Fest, a celebration of all things Norse, will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Century Village Museum in Burton ($15). Click HERE.

Mill Creek MetroParks Farm’s annual Baby Animal Shower will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The newly born inhabitants of the farm will be there to greet guests. The farm is at 7574 state Route 46, Canfield.

Finally, a family friendly Cinco de Mayo party will take place Sunday on the Phelps Street corridor from 1 to 7 p.m. The Labra Brothers band will perform, and there will be assorted activities for children and adults.

For a complete look at everything going on in the Mahoning Valley, check out The List.

Pictured at top: Benise will bring his show to Packard Music Hall tonight.

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