There are so many choices this weekend! Cinco de Mayo is almost here and some local bars are gearing up the margarita mayhem. But, there’s also the Mayweather fight, some fundraisers for great causes and, of course, Weekender’s Readers’ Choice awards party. Here are 10 events, all $20 or less, throughout NEPA for the weekend, April 30 to May 3.
Readers’ Choice: Free! Come raise a glass to local businesses, people and talent as they accept awards for being the best. Sure, this may be a shameless plug, but Weekender’s Readers’ Choice awards are sure to be a great time. Beer, wine, candy and happy people — what a mix. The party gets started at 6 p.m. April 30 at the River Street Jazz Cafe, 667 North Main St. Plains.
Ramble Tamble: Donation. The Indigo Moon Brass Band will perform live at the Cooperage on April 30. The jazz band performs New Orleans inspired music and will play a range of tunes from rhythm and blues to hip-hop to jazz. Doors open at 6:30 with music starting at 7 p.m. at 1030 Main St., Honesdale. The event is BYOB.
Roller Relay: $5. Get your skates out! It’s time to take part in a roller-skating fundraiser to help fight cancer. Don’t have a pair? That’s OK because your five bucks gets you a free skate rental from Skateaway, 610 Blackman St., Wilkes-Barre. Wheels spin from 6 to 9 p.m. April 30.
RENT: $10, $5 for senior citizens. The Tony Award-winning rock opera takes stage in Scranton. Actors from the Liva Arts Company will perform the hit Broadway musical about the struggles of life for artists and musicians in the Lower East Side during the ’80s. The show starts at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 30 through Saturday May 2 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at the Jefferson Auditorium of Leahy Hall.
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: $20. Mohegan Sun Pocono and Goodfella’s on Mulberry Street will show the highly anticipated bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, May 2. Both places will have a cash bar. Doors open to the Keystone Grand Ballroom at 9 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Pocono, 1280 Hwy. 315, Plains Twp. Goodfella’s, 1210 Mulberry St. Scranton. The main event is expected to start at 11 p.m.
Joe Ohrin: $20. Ohrin, a stand-up comic from NEPA will bring his comedy to Wisecrackers starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, May 1 and 2 at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Ohrin has opened for famous comedians including Chris Rock, Weird Al Yankovic and Jeff Dunham.
Fire Relief Benefit: $10. After a devastating house fire on April 3, a local couple lost everything. A benefit will be held to help restart their lives from 2 to 9 p.m. May 3 at the River Grille, 670 N. River St. Wilkes-Barre. There will be raffles, a 50/50 drawing and six live bands including Dave Hage, Jackson Vee, Old Cabbage and 3 Imaginary Boys.
First Friday: Free! Stroll downtown Scranton from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 1 and view works from local artists, belly dancing, tap dancing and the Intimate: Pop Up Studio. The studio aims to facilitate interaction “over a shared experience and engage intellectually in a cultural dialogue…in an ever-changing technologically advancing landscape.” For more information visit www.firstfridayscranton.com.
Blogfest: Free! Let’s get political, political. The Spring Blogfest will take place starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 1 at The Red Mill, 340 S. Main St. Pittston. Organizers of the event are inviting bloggers, political candidates, elected officials and anyone else interested in talking shop. The event has three rules: No speeches, clothes must be worn and “agree to disagree but don’t be disagreeable.”
A Mechanical Bull: Free! Enough said. OK, need a little more? Cinco de Mayo celebrations start early at La Tolteca, 200 Mundy St. in Wilkes-Barre. Drink specials start on Friday, May 1. Jose Cuervo shot girls will be there on Saturday, May 2. But on Sunday, it gets crazy. Ride the bull from 5 p.m. to close. Rest up on Monday because at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 5 the party starts again. The bull is back, so are the shot girls, plus Corona and Dos XX girls and drink specials — lots of drink specials. Salud!
