Planet Weekend Picks, May 25-28

Friday, May 25

Dark Star Orchestra at McCarter Theatre – Grateful Dead tribute band kicks off the holiday weekend. Matthews Theatre, 7 p.m.

Are You There, McPhee?, McCarter Theatre – World premiere of John Guare’s play focusing on a playwright sucked into the tangle of lives of a pair of abandoned children. Berlind Theatre. Pre-show talk 45 minutes before performance. Tickets $20 and up. Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 3 and 8 p.m., Sunday 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Star Watch with the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton – Check out the stars at the Simpson Observatory at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville, weather-permitting. 8-11 p.m., free.

Saturday, May 26

Princeton Annual Memorial Day Parade – The Spirit of Princeton leads the annual Memorial Day Parade along Nassau Street, begins at 10 a.m. Gear up for the parade with a pancake breakfast for charity. The annual Rotary Club of Princeton Pancake Festival fundraiser runs from 8 to noon on Palmer Square. All you can eat buffet for $10. Music from the the Blawenburg Dixieland Band. Proceeds benefit Princeton High 101 college scholarship fund.

Community Park Pool Grand Opening Celebration – Directly after the Memorial Day parade, head over to the new pool complex at 400 Witherspoon to check out the facilities. Food, games, free t-shirts while they last, juggling demo at 1. Ceremony will probably start at 11:45 a.m.

Battle of Princeton Reenactment, Princeton Battlefield Society – Battle reenactment with General George Washington at the Princeton Battlefield, 500 Mercer Road. Refreshments available, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., free.

Cafe Improv at the Arts Council of Princeton – Music, poetry, and comedy. Tickets just $2., pop in any time 7-10 p.m. For a full line-up of performers visit www.cafeimprov.com.

Sunday, May 27

Battle of Princeton Reenactment, Princeton Battlefield Society – Battle reenactment with General George Washington at the Princeton Battlefield, 500 Mercer Road. Refreshments available, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., free.

Monday, May 28

In case you didn’t get your fill of Memorial Day parades, you can catch one in West Windsor at 11 a.m. along Clarksville Road, or you can head to Main Street in Cranbury for the 1 p.m. parade featuring Ed Goldberg and the Odessa Klezmer Band.

We wish all our readers a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend and we extend heartfelt thanks to all those who have served our country in the military.