Summer Party Time

You’ll find a little bit of everything in Racine County this summer weekend. It kicks off with an outdoor party and continues with basketball, a new musical comedy, a nighttime boat parade and much more. Come along with Real Racine.

First Friday is amazing. Where is the best place to be on a Friday evening in August? First Friday in Downtown Racine is a good answer! The event runs from 4 to 9 p.m. at the shops, galleries and gathering spots along Main and Sixth streets. Catch free live music (and a cold beverage) at Monument Square with Back to Maryland. Other musicians appearing Downtown are: Mark Paffrath at Crosswalk Park on Main between Third and Fourth streets; Nick Ramsey and The Family at Paul Harris Plaza at the end of Sixth Street; and the Vibratones at Indian Motorcycle of Racine, 522 Sixth St. First Friday also includes free admission all day to the Racine Art Museum (RAM), 441 Main St., where you can see a brand-new exhibition “Contemporary Glass at RAM – the Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser Collection. Meanwhile, at the Racine Arts Council, 316 Sixth St., the opening reception for the “In Living Color” exhibition is 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. More info. at www.firstfridaysracine.com

Basketball x 3. The sixth annual Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament this Saturday and Sunday is “still crazy fun after all these years,” according to the organization’s website. The Macker is presented locally by Racine Youth Sports on the parking lots behind the Gateway Technical College campus, 1001 Main St. This year, approximately 140 teams are expected. Play starts at 8 a.m. Saturday and continues through Sunday afternoon. The annual slam dunk contest is planned for around noon on Sunday. It’s free for spectators. Visit www.macker.com

New at the Malt House. Burlington’s Young Haylofters take the stage this weekend with “Seussical the Musical Jr.” The kids (and adults) will enjoy this musical adaptation of the famous Dr. Seuss characters like the Cat in the Hat, Horton the elephant and the Whos. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Malt House Theatre, 109 N. Main St. “Seussical” continues Aug. 13-16. All seats are $8. Tickets at The Coffee House at Chestnut and Pine, 492 N. Pine St., the Haylofters website (www.thehaylofters.com) or 262-763-9873.

One more time. The Music and More Concert Series season winds down with the last noontime performance on Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, 716 College Ave. The free concert runs from 12-1 p.m. This week’s lineup is Ryan Andersen, cello; George Lindquist, classical guitar; Lynda Lee Schlitz, vocals and Matthew Schroeder, guitar. Donations are welcome and benefit Health Care Network, HOPES Center and the Hospitality Center. The church is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. Parking in the church lot or the nearby Living Light Community Center. The Music and More 2015 season finale is 7 p.m. next Friday (Aug. 14) with the Muzika Piano Trio, pianist Anna Kojovic-Frodl, violinist Darlene Rivest, cellist Michele Venturella, flutist Frank Suetholz, pianist Alejandro Alumbreros and vocalists Bob Bensen and Ami Bouterse. Admission is $10 at the door.

For the dogs. The Greater Racine Kennel Club All Breeds Dog Show is at a new location this year because of construction on Pershing Drive. The show has been moved to Caledonia-Mount Pleasant Park, 9614 Hwy K, Franksville. This popular dog show regularly brings dogs and owners from throughout the United States and Canada. There are also vendors with pet-related items. Show hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. Free admission; parking is $5.

Light the night. A long-time favorite is making a comeback Saturday night. The Venetian Night Parade, a parade of lighted, decorated boats, is sponsored by the ReefPoint Marina. Boaters will be competing for a free, one-year boat slip at ReefPoint (first prize) or a $250 marina gift certificate (runner-up). The parade starts at 8:30 p.m. and can be viewed from the Racine Harbor and along the Root River below the Main Street bridge.

Car show trio. We’re well into the car show season. Racine County has trio of them this weekend. Coffee and Cars Rendezvous is from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St., Mount Pleasant. It’s free. In Downtown Union Grove, Back to the Past 7 welcomes cars, tractors and motorcycles to Main Street (Highway 45) starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. There will be two DJs spinning hits all day. The show benefits Fisher House for veterans. Details at 262-939-2160. Rounding out the weekend is Borzynski’s Farm & Floral Market Car Show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 11600 Washington Ave. (Hwy 20), Mount Pleasant. There is also a corn roast, door prizes and live music. The car entry fee is $7. Free to spectators.

For daily updates, “like” us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/realracine), follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/realracine) or watch us on Instagram.