This is a weekend of entangled themes, with parties for Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby, plus May the Fourth Star Wars nerd-ins all over. In South Florida all of that gets layered with the Fort Lauderdale Air Show, SunFest in West Palm Beach and farewell gatherings for the beloved Wynwood Yard in Miami. It is hard to figure out what to try to do first, but here are a few ways to dive into the weekend. As a great small philosopher once said, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Run four beer
The Florida Brewery Running Series sets up at Gulf Stream Brewing in Fort Lauderdale 11 a.m. Saturday for the May the Fourth Be With You Run For Beer, a fundraiser for Covenant House Florida. No one is saying you have to do this casual 5K-ish neighborhood run (there’s free beer at the end) in your best Chewbacca or Princess Leia outfit, but no one is saying you can’t. Tickets start at $30. Visit Facebook.com/GulfStreamBrewing, Facebook.com/FLBreweryRun.
May the horse be with you
Kapow Noodle Bar in Boca Raton is putting some serious prizes on the table 2 p.m. Saturday for a fashionable competition during its inaugural “out of this galaxy Kentucky Derby Party, sprinkled with a little bit of Star Wars.” There will be $1,000 in cash and prizes for the best Derby hat, and $500 for the couple in best Derby attire. We have consulted longtime Sun Sentinel fashion writer Rod Stafford Hagwood, who says that pairing seersucker and a Stormtrooper helmet is perfectly fine before Labor Day. Visit Facebook.com/KapowNoodleBar.
Beach music
There is really only one logical way to end your weekend at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show — with global EDM trailblazers the Crystal Method at McSorley’s Beach Pub on Sunday evening. For real. The oceanfront bar, overlooking the center of the Air Show action, and Miami music label Breaks Yo are throwing a May 5 party called Cinco de Breaks Yo! (6 p.m.-2:30 a.m.), featuring the Crystal Method (the duo is now a solo act with co-founder Scott Kirkland). Tickets: $30. Visit Facebook.com/McSorleysFTL.
Lozer, baby
It’s grand-opening weekend for Lozer Lounge in Pompano Beach (537 S. Dixie Highway), where the ska-punk theme of their Saturday-night May the Fourth Be With You festivities will give way to Revenge of the Fifth. Funny. Admission is free. Bands: The Sensibles, Walk With Wolves, Beat Obsolete. DJ Skidmark will be there. Someone called him the Jabba the Hut of DJs. Visit Facebook.com/TheSensiblesSka.
Beer nerds
Throwing the obligatory May the Fourth Be With You party 6 p.m. Saturday, the retro video-game den known as Glitch Bar in Fort Lauderdale is where I would go if I wanted to get my inner nerd on. Which is never. The reason I go to Glitch Bar is the surprisingly deep and varied beer selection. They are touting Saturday’s party with drink specials including $15 buckets of PBR tall boys. Do not be fooled. They are beer serious. Visit Facebook.com/GlitchBarAndArcade.
Dude abides
Broken Shaker at Freehand Miami also will play it both ways, with its no-cover Shaker Sunday Cinco de Mayo BBQ at 2 p.m. Sunday marrying mariachi music with sounds by Miami DJ duo Dude Skywalker (Fabio Galarce and Alex Borges). Visit Facebook.com/BrokenShakerMiami.
Weekend brunch
At BG Whiskey Creek Hideout in Dania Beach, the Sunrise Brunch & Paddle Series begins at 8 a.m. Sunday with a paddle board tour (kayaks available), followed at 10 a.m. by brunch, with entrée options not limited to French toast stuffed with Nutella and bacon, eggs Benedict and avocado toast, plus a complimentary mimosa or Bloody Mary (additional drinks start at $6). Cost is $45.95, paddle board/kayak included. Visit Facebook.com/BGWhiskeyCreekHideout.
Pepper spray
NoBo Brewing Co. in Boynton Beach on Sunday will have a Cinco de Mayo release of their Imperial Jalapeno with Agave, this version aged in tequila barrels. I’m sweating already. The beer, available in 22-ounce bottles, is a highlight of festivities that begin at 1 p.m. and include live music, a food truck and other releases. Visit Facebook.com/NoBoBrewing.
And they’re off!
Shortly after the Kentucky Derby on Saturday (post time 6:50 p.m.), Hunters Wilton Manors will be the setting for the inaugural KY Derby Vibrator Race and Hat Competition. You read that right, hat competition. A fundraiser for the Wilton Warriors SMART Ride team (which takes part in the annual SMART Ride AIDS/HIV charity bicycle ride to Key West), the vibrators will race in March Madness-style brackets, with supporters buying raffle tickets to bet on the “contestants.” The race is sponsored by Pride Factory. I don’t know how vibrators race. I don’t want to know. OK, I do want to know. All proceeds from the signature Woodford Mint Julep will be donated to the fundraiser. Admission is free, with a suggested $10 donation. And don’t forget the hat competition. Visit Facebook.com/HuntersFL.