14 great ideas for your weekend

Danish dancers: If it’s a Friday in August, there’s bound to be fun on the Monona Terrace rooftop. Dane Dances’ dance party for all ages is back Friday with the Latin sounds of Grupo Candela at 18.00 and Eddie Butt’s Band at 8 p.m., plus dance lessons before and between, free admission, danedances.org.

Orton Park Festival: Madison’s oldest park is also the site of one of the nation’s longest-running music festivals, with entertainment, vendors, food and more at Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Cycropia aerial dance performs Friday and Saturday nights at this Marquette neighborhood festival in Orton Park, 1103 Spaight St., and many others also take the stage, free admission, www.marquette-neighborhood.org/festivals.

Middleton Good Neighbor Festival: Cheer on the Sunday parade, participate in a 5K run/walk, take a carnival ride or browse the art fair: This festival runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday celebrating all things summer. The festivities start on Friday at 17 with live music at Fireman’s Park, Lee Street, Middleton. Free entry. Full schedule and details at goodneighborfestival.com.

Stoughton Chamber Music Festival: In the first of two weekends, the festival presents a one-hour concert of music for string quartet, clarinet and piano, centered around Thomas Adès’ new clarinet quintet, “Alchymia”. Performed at 7:00 p.m Friday and 4 p.m Saturday at the Stoughton Opera House, 381 E. Main St. Second program on August 31 and September 1 at the Chorus Public House. Tickets, $35, students $10, stoughtonchambermusicfestival.com.

“Next to Normal”: Known for producing groundbreaking works, Music Theater of Madison this month presents a powerful Pulitzer Prize winner, the Tom Kitt/Brian Yorkey musical that “mines the depths of mental illness and grief with complexity, wit and even humor.” Final performances at 7:30 p.m Friday and Saturday at the UW Memorial Union-Play Circle, 800 Langdon St., tickets $15 to $38, mtmadison.com/next-to-normal.

Wisconsin Pottery Association Show and Sale: More than 50 dealers display and sell their jewelry and answer questions from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m Saturday in the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way. Expect vintage and modern art ceramics, dinnerware, stoneware, tiles and figurines; bring your “mystery pottery” and for $2 a WPA member will appraise it. Admission $5, free parking, wisconsinpottery.org/annual-show-and-sale.

GeekCraft Expo: Founded in 2016 by comic book writer Daniel Way (“Deadpool,” “Wolverine,” “The Incredible Hulk”), this geek-themed market featuring handmade pieces by local makers travels the country with the slogan “created by geeks for geeks.” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Saturday10 a.m. to 4 p.m SundayMasonic Center, 301 Wisconsin Ave, $5 admission, 12 and under free, geekcraftexpo.com.

Summer of Love and Community Connection: Now in its third year, this all-day celebration of multicultural arts and movement workshops—a collaboration between Air Craft Madison’s Stephanie Richards and Black Power Dance’s Francis Medran—features 22 teaching artists from across the city, at 10.00-18.00 SaturdayAldo Leopold Park, 2906 Traceway Drive, free, facebook.com/events/496918929437382.

Unity Picnic and Ribbon Cutting: Tenth Annual Urban League of Greater Madison Picnic and Party at 12.00 to 17.00 Saturdaywith food, live music, children’s activities, marketplace and resource fair, plus a ribbon cutting for the Black Business Hub, free, The Hub, 2352 S. Park St., ulgm.org/events/black-business-hub -ribbon-cutting-and-10 .-annual-unit-picnic.

Ukrainian party: Enjoy live music, dance performances, children’s games, traditional dishes, baked goods, crafts and more to celebrate Ukraine’s Independence Day at 14.00 to 18.00 SaturdayLakeview Park, 6300 Mendota Ave., Middleton, free admission, friendsofukrainemadison.org/events.

“Asking a question to a thread”: Opening reception and lecture by interdisciplinary artist Nirmal Raja, guest curator Ann Sinfield and Wisconsin Academy staff from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The remarks begin at 18. James Watrous Gallery, third floor, Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State St., free, wisconsinacademy.org/gallery.

Curd Fest 2024: On Sundayput on your cheese head hat and taste some fresh and fried versions of this Wisconsin staple at 2 to 6 p.m. at Breese Stevens Field, 917 E. Mifflin St. Food trucks, children’s activities, demonstrations and more. Free admission, additional cost for early bird or VIP ticket with whiskey and cheese, breesestevensfield.com/upcoming-events/curd-fest-2024.

Madison Contemporary Vision Dance: A community performance with company members and students from the Cross Plains Dance Program on the Rotunda Stage, Overture Center, 201 State St. Performances Sunday at 2 and 5 p.m., free, but RSVP at madisoncontemporarydance.com/events.

Mad-City Ski Team: Watch from the shores of Lake Monona and enjoy the spectacle of a water ski show by Madison’s own, at Sundays up to and including 1 September, junior exhibition at 5 p.m., Law Park, 410 S. Blair St., free, madcityskiteam.com.