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The first night of the annual documentary mini-festival happens to coincide with International Workers Day, and so the programming begins with Union, Martin Dicicco’s reporting on the rise of the Amazon Labor Union. The long weekend’s lineup also features unusual detective work in Seeking Mavis Bacon, musical mayhem in Devo, and comedic innovation in Thank You Very Much, the new biography of Andy Kaufman. Look for several familiar names from the Austin film scene with the local premiere of Time Passages, the newest film from Kyle Henry (Fourplay), edited by Karen Skloss (The Honor Farm) and produced by Jason Wehling (Saturday Morning Massacre). – Richard Whittaker

Returning after a long winter’s rest is local reading series Downpour ATX, whose mission is to build a community for writers and readers from marginalized communities. “Beckoning to our own fondness for place-based writing,” they say, “we take inspiration from the sudden deluges of rainfall in Texas – which can both serve as balms after a drought and formidable events of nature – and celebrate the newness, abundance, and energy that a downpour ushers in.” This week they’ll host three talented wordsmiths: poet KB Brookins (Freedom House), novelist Lilas Taha (Lost and Found in Thyme series), and attorney/writer Wajiha Rizvi. – James Scott

Hands together, parishioners, for da big man, aka the original Daddy, aka G-d. Hosts Chique Fil-Atio, Tangelo, and Stellar Manx promise extra sacrilegious sauce on the seventh annual serving of their National Day of Prayer drag celebration. They’ve also converted special guests Flex Brojas and Solovino just for the occasion. What can one say at such a divine display of drag debauchery but: Je-sus wept! – James Scott

David Longoria crafts folk tunes that feel both simple and complex. Longriver’s 2019 debut LP, Of Seasons, delivered easy rolling melodies that could belie his poetic allegories and subtle, Fahey-esque fingerpicking. Preparing his sophomore release, Longoria offers a taste with a take on the Flatlanders’ flowing “Keeper of the Mountain.” Little Mazarn adds support on the track and the show, with the 2024 Austin Music Awards Best Folk winner lingering in the sweet and mellow pull of last year’s Honey Island General Store EP. Ethan Smith opens, along with DJ Honky Tonk Amnesia spinning records throughout the night. – Doug Freeman

With soft, intentional singing and comforting guitar ruminations, Chicago’s Nico Play blows into town once again – toting his on-point indie acoustic catalog, very friendly for fans of João Gilberto or Natalia Lafourcade. Real name Nicolás Perea, the Mexico City-born artist most recently released March soother “Vente a Cenar.” An opening set from gooey Austin psych-popper Redbud resets their prior pairing last September at Cheer Ups. Luckily, it’s a bill absolutely worth repeat listens. – Rachel Rascoe

What did April and Andy name their three-legged, half-amazing, half-terrific mutt? What character did Will Arnett play in a season 2 guest starring role? Ben named his unfortunate claymation project “Requiem for a” what-day? If you can answer these questions, you need to be at Z’Tejas’ Avery Ranch location this Thursday, when Get It Games hosts Parks and Recreation trivia. It’s free to play for teams of one to six. The game starts at 7pm, but come early to order chips and queso for the table. – Carys Anderson

Rhiannon Giddens is primed for this moment. Long before Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter reignited a conversation about the longstanding but often masked role of Black people – particularly Black women – in country music, the banjo player had made a name for herself in the most traditional corners of the genre. As the lead singer, fiddler, and banjoist for the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Giddens wove folk, blues, and country – boundaries she skirted and melded further in her solo career. The two-time Grammy winner played banjo on Beyoncé’s latest album, giving widespread name recognition to a country stalwart. Charly Lowry, a singer of Lumbee/Tuscarora descent dedicated to bringing visibility to Indigenous people, opens. – Abby Johnston

Nonprofit Girlstart has a mission to offer STEM educational opportunities to youth who might otherwise be discouraged from exploring it, and they do it the fun way by engaging kids with hands-on activities. For Starry Nights, the org opens its unique studio and mini planetarium once a month through most of the year for kids and families to enjoy astronomy together, and this month, an Egyptian theme means activities like deciphering hieroglyphs and exploring engineering by constructing a pyramid. This is the last Starry Night until September, so don’t miss it! – Kat McNevins

How long does it take to become legendary? There’s no real answer, but local kiki houses Lepore and Juicy Couture have brought legend status to first Thursdays in just about two years. Tonight they celebrate this anniversary with a mini ball presented by sexual health heavy-hitters ASHwell and the Q Austin, meaning there’s money, honey. Competitors can win up to 150 bucks in ballroom categories like Majorette and Sex Siren. Legendary Akasha and BabiBoi Juicy are in the DJ booth, and the legendary Natalie Lepore is your master of ceremonies. –James Scott

Alejandra Almuelle has been responsible for some of the most compelling works of clay sculpture ever created in this city, many of them predicated on the human body and its potential as a record of experience. This latest exhibition of her artistry, a solo show at Women & Their Work, brings the human form front and center, clayborne with additions of graphite, beeswax, paper, resin, and gold and silver leaf. Adorned, embellished, emboldened, the flesh created from clay comes full circle, a cycle of memory and magic powered by beauty, the viewing of it an experience we recommend recording via your own wonder-hungry rods and cones. – Wayne Alan Brenner

I’ll admit it: I don’t believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein, or Superman. All I wanna do is bicycle! Bike Month ATX promises two-wheeler fun for the whole month of May. Break out the 10-speed, the recumbent, the cruiser, and join your fellow cyclists in the last nice weather days in Austin. There’s bike polo on May 5, or an all-level ride around Walnut Creek on the 19th. Help with meal delivery on the 22nd or pedal under a full moon on the 24th. Find pretty much every kind of bike fun under the sun (and moon!) at bikemonthatx.com, because those bicycle races? They’re coming your way. – James Scott

That's right: Cap City Comedy Club, the longtime cornerstone of Austin's comedy scene for nearly four decades is at a new venue in the Domain. And here's Valerie Lopez with a closer look at what's in store for the scene via the venue. Click for details!

Traveling in Mexico, you frequently encounter changarritos – portable food carts or tienditas run by hardworking entrepreneurs. The carts usually operate outside of any formal regulation and, in that way, mirror the resilience and creativity of Mexican culture. In 2005, artist Máximo González appropriated the concept of the changarrito as a way for artists to take their work directly to the people. The idea came to Austin’s venerable Mexic-Arte Museum in 2012, with dozens of artists displaying art and interacting with the public outside the Downtown gallery. The concept is back and will run through August. – Brant Bingamon