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Weekend Guide
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-Apr 30, 2026
Weekend Guide: May Day, NYC Tape Fair, and Eric Andre’s Electric Roller Boogie Freak Show
Loaded with fairs, festivals, micro-label pop-ups, roller disco birthday bashes, and a few community-minded Met Gala alternatives
There must be something in the air this weekend, as festivals are popping up everywhere. There’s the Long Play Festival, put on by Bang on a Can, which is putting on over 70 different concerts all over the borough. And there’s the Emruz Festival, which features music, theater, and film from artists of Middle Eastern, Southwest Asian, and North African descent. As if that wasn’t enough to choose from, we’re back in outdoor movie season, and some fantastic annual events are coming around again. Check it all out below in the Weekend Guide.
Courtesy of Xanadu
Thursday, April 30
There, There Multi-Screen Installation @ The Old American Can Factory
6 p.m.
The weather is finally nice enough that Rooftop Films is back in business. And this time, they’re bringing us the New York premiere of Andrew Bujalski’s multi-screen installation. The film features actors who recorded scenes at separate times and in separate places, cut together by the magic of editing.
A listening party for Lee “Scratch” Perry & Mouse on Mars’ Spatial, No Problem @ Public Records
7 p.m.
This listening party is part of the Long Play Festival, which is putting on more than 70 amazing shows throughout the borough from today through Sunday. This is sure to be one of the highlights. You’ll get to hear Perry’s final album, produced by the electronic duo Mouse on Mars, before its release on June 5. Dig into the entire Long Play schedule here.
CUMULO @ MITU580
7 p.m.
This fascinating, wordless puppet piece is a beautiful work about what happens when we’re suddenly thrown into entirely new situations. It’s just that in this case, the new situations involve sentient clouds.
Eric Andre’s Electric Roller Boogie Freak Show @ Xanadu
7 p.m.
As a birthday gift to himself and all who’ll join, the comedian/podcaster/cartoon of a human is throwing a free bash with all the freaky fixings you might expect, including a cake-sitting competition, a look-a-like contest, ice luges, and Andre making his DJing debut alongside seasoned selectors.
Courtesy of LQQK Studio
Friday, May 1
LQQK Studio and Pilgrim Surf & Supply Present: Neighborhood Watch @ Pilgrim
5 p.m.
This launch party for the Bushwick micro-label’s new collection will have plenty of music (courtesy of the good folks at Blue Sun and an assortment of proprietors with great touch and taste), dancing, and, of course, new merch from one of Brooklyn’s own.
You might know Blank For.ms from his score for Nickel Boys, but he’ll be joined by pianist Moran and drummer Gilmore for an unforgettable set as yet another part of Long Play. As if that’s not enough, legendary drummer Billy Hart also performs with his quartet, and Chris Ryan Williams’ Vibration Trio opens up.
Emruz Festival, Night 1: A Night Rooted in Iranian and Afghan Traditional Music @ Brooklyn Art Haus
7 p.m.
A second festival comes to town this weekend: the Emruz Festival, which focuses on works by artists of Middle Eastern, Southwest Asian, and North African descent. This first night is all music, with performances by Of Roots and Colors, As the Mountains Echoed, and the trio of Hamidreza Maleki, Behfar Bahadoran, and Parisa Karimi. Night two of the festival features theater, and night three is an evening of joining formats and disciplines.
This weekend is bound to have myriad May Day events and activations, but this one in Los Sures, honoring “the origins resistance of salsa and hip-hop” with three events on one electric block, is amongst those you might want to actually bookmark. Catch a sidewalk salsa concert, an open mic, dance classes, and more in celebration of International Workers’ Day.
Hari Kondabolu and Josh Gondelman present: Fall of Freedom Comedy Show @ Union Hall
10 p.m.
Kondabolu and Gondelman are sure to bring the funny while introducing a slew of great comics, including Jordan Carlos, Atheer Yacoub, Joyelle Johnson, Nataly Aukar, Milly Tamarez, and Gavin Matts.
Leon Thomas: Drunk N Love RNB Party @ Brooklyn Roots Collective
10 p.m.
Grammy-winning actor-turned-singer Thomas will be in the house for this R&B party, which serves as the kickoff to three straight days of Tequila Fest Weekend events. See the full line-up here.
Courtesy of Brooklyn Choir Project
Saturday, May 2
Kentucky Derby Watch Party @ The Dram Shop Bar
5 p.m.
Put on your best seersucker suit and watch the most exciting under-three-minute competition in all of sports. Special food and drinks will be on deck, including, of course, mint juleps. Make sure to prep by reading Hunter S. Thompson’s classic 1970 article “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved.”
First Saturday: Spring Tide @ Brooklyn Museum
5 p.m.
It’s the AAPI Heritage Month edition of First Saturdays. There are more performances, talks, art-making opportunities, discussions, and films than we can possibly fit in this blurb. Check the whole, ever-evolving schedule here.
A Bklyn Perspective: Graffiti Pop-Up @ Uncut Bar & Restaurant
6 p.m.
Now you can see graffiti in some place other than on the Q train tracks. Come on out to this one-night-only graf pop-up experience.
Brooklyn’s Biggest Cinephile Party @ 46 Bridge St.
7 p.m.
Go to a film-themed party in an actual film studio, and make sure to come in costume as your favorite movie character. Music will be curated by DJ Bidrohi.
The Brooklyn Choir Project @ First Unitarian Congregational Society
7:30 p.m.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of bearing witness, The Brooklyn Choir Project is a recurring initiative to spotlight local songwriters by treating their compositions to massive choral interpolations. It’s big, at times overwhelmingly moving, and features eight new songs from eight NYC musicians, debuted live and direct with 80+ voices behind them and a crowd out front.
Courtesy of Selva
Sunday, May 3
NYC Tape Fair @ Selva
12 p.m.
This festival dedicated to physical media features VHS tapes and cassettes galore. Found Footage Fest, Night Owl Video, Awesome Tapes From Africa, and many more vendors will be on hand to make sure you find that absolutely perfect obscurity to expand or complete your collection.
Toribio and Mickey Pérez Present: Public Service @ Herbert Von King Park
2 p.m.
Toribio and Mickey Pérez are opening the new season of their Public Service event series at the amphitheater in Herbert Von King Park this weekend. Pull up for fierce footwork and choice cuts blasted out of Karlala’s roaming and colossal bubblegum pink sound system.
The Debt Gala Presents: Body of Werrrk @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
6 p.m.
The Debt Gala, a counter-action of sorts that doubles and triples as a rent party, a local fundraiser for those with outstanding medical bills, and a DIY costume ball, is frankly everything the other one isn’t: accessible, compassionate, and community-minded. This year’s theme is “anatomy,” and it will be held in multiple parts across Williamsburg. First, with a red carpet “preview” at BQ Flea, where designers will walk and strut their homemade fits. The ball proper will hit on Sunday at Music Hall of Williamsburg, followed by an afterparty back under the BQE later that night.
Sunday Selectors with Kim Lightfoot @ Refuge
7 p.m.
Refuge continues its Sunday night tradition of hosting legends with the one and only Kim Lightfoot. The Brownsville native started out DJing at house parties and community centers, and eventually moved on to hosting the Afterlife parties in the early ‘90s alongside Kalim Shabazz.
The People’s Ball @ Brooklyn Central Library
7 p.m.
The populist alternative to the Met Gala returns. This time, the honorees are the trailblazing model and activist Bethann Hardison, 90s rap designer and fashion icon June Ambrose, and Native American designer Patricia Michaels. If that wasn’t enough, Melba Moore will be performing.
Green Jellÿ @ Lucky 13 Saloon
8 p.m.
You might remember metal band-slash-comedy-act-slash-art project Green Jellÿ (fka Green Jellö) from their early-90s hit “Three Little Pigs.” They’re still chugging along and are still endlessly amusing and entertaining. You can see the spectacle for yourself tonight.
