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The 20 best cheap things to do this weekend, Mermaid edition

Shake your tail-fins at the 35th annual Mermaid Parade (#10). Photo via Flickr

[Ed note: Reminder, we now have a separate roundup for activism-focused events, which we encourage you to check out here.]

1. Start your weekend with art at Bushwick Summer Fridays, where 20+ galleries across the neighborhood will be open late for perusing. (Friday, Bushwick, FREE)

2. Live lyrically at Roots of My Legacy, an evening of dance and spoken-word works presented by the Purelements Junior Company. (Friday, Kumble Theater, FREE)

3. Be worldly at the second-annual International Music Fest, two days of tunes from the likes of Zong Li Lu, Radio Jarocho, Sharq Attack, Sangita Mukhiya Chhochoon, and Zikrayat. (Friday & Saturday, Jalopy Theater, $10/$15)

4. Show solidarity at Iftar in the City, bringing together Muslims and non-Muslims around a festive dinner to celebrate diversity and counter Islamophobia. (Friday, Columbus Park, FREE)

5. Class it up at New York Philharmonic in the Park, featuring selections by Dvořák, Bernstein, and Gershwin. (Friday, Prospect Park, FREE)

6. Shake it all out at the Holy Trinity Dance Party, a late-night revel featuring the music of Bey, Riri, and Nicki from DJs Dame Luz and Wassup Gina. (Friday, Baby’s All Right, $10)

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Get worldly with Zikrayat (#3). Photo via Facebook

7. Peruse plenty of pretty projects at the Renegade Craft Fair, with 150+ vendors selling crafts, food, jewelry, fashion, décor, art, and lots more. (Saturday & Sunday, Brooklyn Expo Center, FREE)

8. All aboard for the New York Transit Museum’s Parade of Trains, where you can hop on and off a fleet of vintage wooden subway cars. (Saturday & Sunday, Brighton Beach, FREE)

9. Have a historic time at KowTeff’s seventh annual Juneteenth Celebration, with an African marketplace, dance classes, a health and wellness expo, and live music, dance, and martial arts. (Saturday, Bed-Stuy Restoration Plaza, FREE)

10. Let it all hang out at the 35th annual Mermaid Parade, the largest art parade in the country and the start to every fabulous Brooklyn summer. Plus an official after-party with NY Night Train! (Saturday, Coney Island, FREE)

11. Contribute to culture at the Visual Caffeine Celebration, with music from DJ 2 Fast and DJ Cabin, and performances by Poisoned Pen, Rhinocerous Funk, Spiritchild, and more. (Saturday, Silent Barn, $10)

12. Revel by the waterside at the 6th annual Summer Solstice Party, with Gotham FX, the Reverse Engineers, and A Devil’s Broadcast, plus food, dancing, and a roaring fire. (Saturday, North Brooklyn Boat Club, $5 before 8pm; $10 after)

13. Howl at The Moon Show, a queer performance series featuring music from the Moon Choir, Yva, and Moonheart, poetry from Tala Abu Rahmeh and Itiola Jones, and more. (Saturday, Jack, $5–$15)

14. Have your heart broken at A Night of Victorian Tragedies, a night of storytelling where the audience gets to vote on which tale is the most tragic. (Saturday, Green-Wood Cemetery, $25)

15. Get immersive at the Spring Cabaret Party, an interactive theatrical experience with botanical fantasia, herbal elixirs, electric music, and live performances. (Saturday, Mister Rogers, $15)

16. Believe in life after love at Rock n’ Roast’s Thanks for Cher-ing, a karaoke battle between queens and comedians where everyone gets roasted by the judges. (Saturday, Hell Phone, FREE)

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Delight in dance with The People Movers (#17). Photo via Facebook

17. Luxuriate in this lovely weather at the Leimay Block Party, with music and dance performances by The People Movers, Liam Benzvi, Lucy Kerr, Hee Ran Lee, and more. (Sunday, Leimay-Cave, FREE)

18. Dance it out in the daytime at Faith Lift, a pride party with DJs Logan’s Run, Xander Oliver, and BRGZR spinning gospel, deep house, disco, funk, and Motown. (Sunday, C’mon Everybody, FREE)

19. Devolve into verse at the Brooklyn Poets Anthology Reading, with Marina Blitshteyn, Nick Flynn, Jacqueline Johnson, Amy Lawless, and more. (Sunday, Pioneer Books, FREE)

20. Whirl through a wild night at Catch 73, a night of multidisciplinary performances from a canary torsi, Jess Barbagallo, Kim Brandt, the HawtPlates, and more. (Sunday, Invisible Dog, $15)

Want more? Check out our full events calendar and add your own event today!

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Oriana Leckert :Oriana is a writer, editor, and cultural hipstorian [sic] who is kind of obsessed with Brooklyn. She is the author of "Brooklyn Spaces: 50 Hubs of Culture & Creativity" (Monacelli, 2015) and creatrix of the website of the same name. She is the events editor for both Brokelyn and Greenpointers, and her writing has appeared on Slate, Atlas Obscura, New York Post, Matador, Hyperallergic, Gothamist, Curbed, Brooklyn Magazine, Brooklyn Based, and more. Follow her at @orianabklyn.