5 things to do this weekend, including Star Wars Roller Derby and Somerville Open Studios

What’s the season of abundance? Is it spring with its blossoms and newborn animals, or is it fall when farmers are (hopefully) able to reap their bountiful harvests? Whatever the case, this spring weekend is filled with options. From local artists showing off their work to “Star Wars” characters duking it out at a roller derby, there’s enough to fill an entire spring season, let alone just one weekend. Plus, there’s Cinco de Mayo, Eastern Orthodox Easter, the National Baseball Poetry Festival at Worcester’s Polar Park and a tribute to Earl Scruggs from world-renowned banjo artist Tony Trischka. We could have made a list of 10 things to do.

Art, fashion and puzzles will be the focus of this weekend’s Somerville Open Studios, which marks the 25th anniversary of the community event. Over 350 artists will open their studio doors to visitors. They’ll show off their latest works, be available for conversation and some will even be demonstrating their practice. And here’s the kind of event promotion that I would personally like to see more often: print-out puzzle activities. Solve the word and visual games created by local puzzle master Eric Haines in order to learn more about public art in Somerville. If you simply can’t wait for the weekend, consider attending Thursday night’s free fashion show, Artwear, at the Crystal Ballroom with works from 15 local designers. Doors open at 6 p.m. and a cocktail hour begins at 7 p.m. for the Thursday event. Maps and lists of participating open studio artists are available online.

Local artist Elisa Hamilton is always up to something interesting, whether it’s starting a sidewalk dance party or turning a retro jukebox into an oral history machine. Opening Friday at the ShowUp gallery, Hamilton will unveil a new collection of works on paper, which she says are inspired by quilts her great-grandmother made. “She may not have thought of herself as an artist,” says Hamilton in a writeup on the gallery’s website. “Her work speaks in the language of line and pattern, as mine does today.” “Sightlines” aims to enter into a conversation with her ancestor through this work. Like much of Hamilton’s previous art, this collection taps into themes of storytelling, connection and art as a continuous dialogue. A reception will be held opening night from 5 to 8 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday and on Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What is Star Wars Day (“May the Fourth be with you”) if not for a day of space opera costumes and puns? If you’re looking for wordplay and outfits inspired by the film series, look nowhere other than Boston Roller Derby on Saturday. Don’t be surprised if you see names such as Darth Mauler, Stormy Trooper and R2-Deck-You on the track this weekend for a special double-header “Star Wars” theme night. It’s a family-friendly activity for those who enjoy athleticism and brawls with flair. Come in costume or regular attire. There will be a kids costume contest during the halftime of the first game and an adult contest held during the halftime of the second. A single ticket admission will have access to both of the day’s bouts, which start at 5 and 7 p.m. An after-party begins at 9 p.m. Tickets start at $16 for adults, $8 for ages 6 to 17 and free for those 5 and under. There will be a mask-only seating section on the bleachers.

We could all use a little more spice in our lives. Add in some music, and you’ve got yourself this Saturday’s Rhythm N’ Spice Hot Sauce Fest. Hot sauces from both local and international sources will be under one roof at The Foundry in Cambridge. In addition to the hot sauces “from mild to wild,” there will also be spicy cocktails and refreshments, activities for kids, salsa dance lessons and cooking demonstrations from local chefs. General admission is $15, and children under 13 can enter for free. The festival is split into two four-hour sessions, with the first starting at noon and the second starting at 4:30 p.m. If you go, pace yourself. Keep a glass of milk on standby. Hopefully, you’ll hold it together more than Conan O’Brien did on a recent “Hot Ones” episode, but if that’s your desired state, then go ahead and give that chicken wing a thorough licking. Also, be sure to check out Elisa Hamilton’s Jukebox installation while you’re there.

There are over 1,000 tulips in the center bed of Hayes Park in Boston’s South End, and an event on Sunday afternoon will surround these blooms with music, treats and a celebration of the return of spring. Take a moment to admire the bronze sculpture “West Canton Street Child,” which was added to the park in 1992, by prize-winning sculptor and former West Canton Street resident Kahlil Gibran. If you’re looking for a way to keep your hands busy at the start of the weekend, consider attending the community cleanup that starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Keep an eye on the weather. There’s a chance of rain on Sunday!