Party Picks:

• OOST • Acid Night w/ Milton Bradley aka Alien Rain + Will Jr.
• LOFT: Diggy Doug • Pushin Wood • Black Dynamite • Duke Hugh
• Rave Haven
• Think Pink
• The Get Down / w Timothy Ravor & Friends

Events:

Bevrijdingsfestival Groningen

I’m going to start off this special weekend guide with the largest event taking place this Sunday which, of course, is the annual Liberation Day festival held in the Stadspark. The festival will be boasting a great line-up which includes acts from Tom Walker, Alma and the Groningen rap favourite Kraantje Pappie, to just name a few. As if free music is not enough already, the festival also includes other free activities which you can attend such as free tai chi classes or an escape room. If the line-up in Groningen can’t convince you, make sure to check out the program of one of the other 14 festivals taking place throughout the entire country before staying at home though. In total, over 300 different artists will be playing this Sunday to celebrate freedom and democracy in the Netherlands so make sure to join in for the party.  

Bedtalks: Internationals Talk About Freedom

Don’t want to leave your bed but still want to go to the Bevrijdingsfestival? Then Bedtalks is the next best option. Here, you’ll have a comfy (yes, the discussants will be sitting on a bed), yet outdoor setting to discuss what freedom means to you, considering your own cultural background. This is an excellent opportunity to find out whether your ideas of freedom overlap with the ones that others hold and if not, where they do not match. There will be three separate discussion rounds for which you can sign up, each with an outcome that might surprise you.

Stories of Us - Photo Exhibition

If you are looking for something less loud and crowded this Sunday, then the ‘stories of us’ exhibition might be something for you. Taking place in the Synagogue in the Folkingestraat, the portraits of the people aim to highlight the stories and underlying emotions of those who have helped, escaped or even had to fight in a conflict. The people portrayed are all from Groningen themselves, making the viewer realise that the faces we see on news stories of conflict regions are not as far away from us as we might assume. For students, the entry to this exhibition is free.

Ecstatic Dance Groningen Sunday Morning May 5!

This Sunday morning ecstatic dance into freedom is a bit different from your average Liberation Day festivities. During this 2-hour dance meditation, the DJ will take you on a tour around the world - kind of like the one in the club last Saturday, just better and for a higher entry fee. And without talking or wearing shoes. Oh, and you also have to leave any alcohol at home because that's definitely not part of finding your zen when meditating like this (for those who can’t help it, try Beer Yoga instead). Jokes aside, this is probably quite an interesting way to start off Liberation Day, the best part being that you can continue dancing somewhere else right afterwards.  

GIF of the Week