Cheap and Free Things To Do in Dallas This Week

Thursday

The Anti-Defamation League reported in February a 57-percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. from 2016-17 — the largest single-year increase since the organization started keeping such records in 1979. The report found "a significant increase in incidents in schools and on college campuses, which nearly doubled for the second year in a row," according to an ADL press release. There is perhaps no better time to hear the message of Christian Picciolini, author of White American Youth: My Descent into America's Most Violent Hate Movement — and How I Got Out. The Emmy Award-winning director and producer, a reformed extremist, has dedicated his life to atoning for his past by working toward a better, more peaceful world through organizations such as Free Radicals, which works with people and their families to separate them from hateful ideologies. Picciolini's talk, part of the Dallas Holocaust Museum's Upstander Speaker Series, will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Communities Foundation of Texas, 5500 Caruth Haven Lane. Tickets, $10 for the public and free for museum members, are available at eventbrite.com. Emily Goldstein

Friday

May the Fourth be with you as you make the trek to the Journey to Space exhibit at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, 2201 N. Field St., open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Friday and Saturday event will provide an opportunity to create hologram messages, examine cloning and ask what alien life forms might look like. You can even build your own ($3) glowing 3D-printed mini saber to take home as you explore work from the Biological Actuation Sensing Transport Lab at SMU and see nano robots in action. Admission is free for members and $13-$20 for nonmembers. For tickets and more information, call 214-428-5555 or visit perotmuseum.org. Reba Liner

Saturday

Cinco de Mayo. There’s a reason for it, we’re sure. The Mexican Army defeated French invaders. It was all led by a Texas-born general. We celebrate. We drink margaritas and eat queso because that’s what we consider Mexican, and we celebrate until we can’t see straight anymore. And Dallas as a city loves celebrating. There’s always a big Cinco de Mayo parade on Jefferson Boulevard, where festive floats drive by and marching bands play. DJs will be on every block. There will be vendors and food trucks. Tailgating. This is Cinco de Mayo, baby. It happens from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday from the 200 block of West Jefferson Boulevard to 600 S. Polk St. It's free. For more information, visit oakcliffart.org. Paige Skinner

Because you need multiple flower pots that say, "Don't stop beleafing," Etsy has gathered more than 80 artists under one roof for this juried show. Wow your Instagram followers (or your cat) with the eclectic haul of handmade art, fancy soaps, leather (not that kind) and pillows with hashtags you'll bring home. The bash is from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Gilley's Dallas, 1135 S. Lamar St. Admission is free. For more information, visit etsydallas.com. Rachel Williams

The Texas Gentlemen are a Dallas-based rotating group of about 25 studio musicians that play with about five members at a time. They mix honky-tonk with rock 'n' roll and have shared the stage with Kris Kristofferson. Members come from all parts of the country — from Texas to Nashville and New York City — and although they play mainly country-inspired music, most were raised on the Beatles and '60s psych-rock. With R.C. and the Gritz and Medicine Man Revival, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 5, Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave., granadatheater.com, $15. Diamond Victoria