5 things to do for Labor Day weekend

Don’t let the long weekend pass you by. We’ve got recommendations for all kinds of events to keep you busy. The award-winning play “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992” opens on Thursday, an art competition is happening on Friday and jazz artist April Hall is bringing soulful tunes to The Mad Monkfish on Saturday. There’s something for everyone.

Thirty years ago, four Los Angeles policemen were acquitted for the beating of a Black man named Rodney King. The acquittal was met with rage, and people rioted for five days. The events inspired actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith to create a show exploring civil unrest through interviews with more than 350 Los Angelinos. The play, originally written as a one-woman show, first premiered in 1994 and saw over 72 performances. It has been recently revised for a cast of five. The official opening night at the American Repertory Theater is Thursday, Sept. 1. If you self-identify as benefiting from a subsidized ticket, there are 1,500 tickets priced at $5. There will also be 1,000 free tickets for public high school students.

This unique art competition consists of three rounds of 20-minute competitions where local artists will transform a black canvas into original works. Attendees will cast votes to determine a winner. Afterward, artists will have the chance to sell their work in a private auction. All ages are welcome at this event.

Stop by The Mad Monkfish in Cambridge for live jazz on Saturday. April Hall and her band have a unique sound, infusing jazz with blues and Southern gospel. She’s an award-winning songwriter and has become a staple in the Boston area music scene. For this performance, Hall will be joined by Doug Johnson on piano, Keala Kaumeheiwa on acoustic bass and Les Harris Jr. on the drums. The special guest of the evening is Tom Hall, bringing sounds of tenor saxophone into the mix.

If you don’t have Labor Day plans yet, you’re in luck. You can ring in the long weekend at The Charles River Speedway. The day is packed with things to do, including an appearance by The Koji Club, who will serve sake and popsicle floats with Wild Pop Popsicles, an outside Biergarten, a kid-friendly music and movement class and live music from Amir Rivera. The block party is free to attend and will go from noon until 5 p.m.

This weekend, The Loading Dock Gallery in Lowell has a new installation opening featuring 350 circular spin casting molds. The exhibit provides a moment of reflection on our changing production habits. Once used in local manufacturing, casting molds became obsolete and auctioned off for jewelry production. This exhibition is a reflection on New England's industrial past, perfect for a holiday weekend that honors America’s laborers.