Events

EVENTS This Week—George Hrab, Mary Roach, SSA Week, Day of Reason + MORE

Next Thursday, May 2, is the National Day of Reason, a response to the US National Day of Prayer. Groups all over the country are gathering to celebrate at capitols, courthouses, and public squares as well as with potlucks and even a Freethought Slam. Some events are highlighted below, but check the official website for more.

The Day of Reason falls within SSA Week, April 29–May 6, a chance to support the work of the Secular Student Alliance and its members, the students who are out there reaching out to other young people, standing up to church/state violations in their schools, hosting secular and science events, and much more, all of which is especially remarkable when you consider how broke students usually are! During SSA Week, all donations will be doubled, so this is the perfect time to support the future (and the present) of the secular movement.

Lucky Chicagoans (Chicagoites?) get a chance to see both Mary Roach and Rebecca Skloot in one event, talking about Mary’s latest book and science writing in general, and Colorado has a couple of kick-ass events going on: a free concert by Shelley Segal in Colorado Springs and Skepticamp Denver 2013, which is in its 10th year already. And Canada, you are about to be Hrabbed: George Hrab is appearing in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary.

If you haven’t already registered for one or more May cons, you still have time! Meet Heina at the Freethought Alliance Conference in Anaheim the first weekend in May. AmyRebeccaDebbie, and Veronica from Norwegian Skepchick will all be at Women in Secularism 2in DC, May 17–19. Nicole will be representing CosmoQuest at BaltiCon, a huge sci-fi/fantasy convention, one of at least two going on May 24–27. The other is the feminist sci-fi con in Madison, WisCon 37Finally, there’s Canada’s Imagine No Religion 3, in Kamloops, May 17–19.

Featured Events for April 26–May 2

Below are some highlights of events around the U.S. (listed by region), in Canada, Japan, and the UK. You can find a ton more going on all over the world in our events calendar.

Don’t see your area listed here or in the calendar? Shoot us an email, or let me know in the comments what area you are interested in.

 

NORTHEAST

Washington, DC, Sat., April 27

CFI-DC is hosting a symposium, “Why Tolerate Religion?” with several speakers, including Wendy Kaminer, Barry Lynn, and more. $60; $50 members; $25 students. Register here.

Providence, RI, Thurs., May 2

The Humanists of Rhode Island are having a potluck party to celebrate the National Day of Reason.

Newport News, VA, Tues., April 30

The Jefferson Lab Science Series this Tuesday is on “The Higgs Boson and Our Life,” with Dr. Fabiola Gianotti of CERN.
 

SOUTHEAST

Orlando, FL—Multiple

Sun., April 28: The Orlando Freethought Exchange is holding its first Get to Know an Atheist church forum, where they talk with churches about who they are and what they believe and disbelieve.
Thurs., May 2: The Central Florida Freethought Community (CFFC) is hosting a National Day of Reason event, featuring Teresa MacBain, Dan Barker, and David Silverman.

Winter Park, FL, Sun., April 28

Former minister Teresa MacBain is giving her 2012 Atheist of the Year speech to the Orlando Freethinkers & Humanists. $5.

Albany, GA, Sun., April 28

Albany Georgia Atheists (AGA) are going on a day canoe trip on the Flint River.

Savannah, GA, Sun., April 28

Coastal Atheists and Secular Humanists (CASH) are having a potluck picnic at Forsyth Park. RSVP to let them know what you’re bringing.

Covington, KY, Wed., May 1

SSA Speakers from various schools will be speaking to the Tri-State Freethinkers.

Greenville, SC, Thurs., May 2

The Piedmont Humanists are celebrating the Day of Reason with a Freethought Slam.

 Memphis, TN, Sun., April 28

Roy Van Arsdale, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Memphis, is giving a talk to the Memphis Freethought Alliance on the formation of the Mississippi Valley.

 

SOUTHCENTRAL

Little Rock, AR, Sun., April 28

Founder of the Sake Society of Arkansas, sake brewer, and sommelier Ben Bell is giving a talk to the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers on “Japan’s Sake Science.”

Dallas, TX, Fri., April 26

Joelle Proust is giving a free lecture on “What Noetic Feelings teach us about the Relations between Emotion & Cognition” at SMU Dedman College.

Houston, TX, Tues., April 30

The Greater Houston Skeptic Society’s Skeptics in the Pub features retired NASA senior scientist Don Kessler, who will talk on “Earth-Orbiting Debris—A Threat to Our Infrastructure.”
 

MIDWEST

Chicago, IL, Mon., April 29
Normal, IL, Mon., April 29

Bloomington-Normal Freethinkers are hosting Darrel Ray, founder of Recovering from Religion, who will speak on “Sexuality and Secularism.”

Skokie, IL, Sun., April 28

The Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago is hosting a talk by Brant Rosen, “Wrestling in the Daylight: A Rabbi’s Path to Palestinian Solidarity.”

Lansing, MI, Sun., April 28

The Mid-Michigan Atheists & Humanistsdinner meeting features political activist Walt Sorg on “How Gerrymandering is Destroying Representative Democracy and What Can Be Done about It.”

Minneapolis, MN, Sun., April 28

The MN chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State is hosting a talk by Rev. Steven Baines on “The Perils of Politicized Pulpits.”

Saint Paul, MN, Thurs., May 2

Minnesota Atheists are meeting up at the state capitol for the National Day of Reason. Family friendly.

Rolla, MO, Sun., April 28

To celebrate the Day of Reason, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Rolla is hosting a talk, “The Dark Legacy of Malevolent Unreason,” by Veronica Hambacker.

St. Louis, MO, Sun., April 28

Climate Reality – St. Louis is hosting a discussion with Peter Sinclair, producer of Climate Denial Crock of the Week on YouTube.

Cleveland, OH, Thurs., May 2

Cleveland Freethinkers, the Center for Inquiry Northeast Ohio, and the Northern Ohio Freethought Society are getting together in Cleveland Public Square to celebrate the National Day of Reason and Apostasy.
 

SOUTHWEST

Mesa, AZ, Thurs., May 2

The Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix is hosting a potluck to celebrate the Day of Reason.
 

WEST

Coronado, CA, Sun., April 27

The San Diego New Atheists and Agnostics are getting together to bike the Silver Strand.

Los Angeles, CA, Sun., April 27

Atheists United is sponsoring a free event at CFI-LA, attorney Eddie Tabash on “The Future of Atheism.”

San Francisco, CA, Sat., April 27

Join the Bay Area Atheists/Agnostics/Humanists/Freethinkers/Skeptics for “A Tale of Two Cults,” a talk by Lance Goller, former Jehovah’s Witness.

Colorado Springs, CO, Fri., April 26

Join the Freethinkers of Colorado Springs for a free performance by atheist singer/songwriter Shelley Segal.

Highland Ranch, CO, Sat., April 27

Skepticamp Denver 2013 is in its 10th year, pretty impressive for a conference run by attendees, who are also the speakers. It’s not too late to register!

Layton, UT, Sun., April 28

Ogden Postmormons and Friends and Davis Weber County CALM are having a family-friendly picnic at Layton Commons Park.

 

NORTHWEST

Portland, OR—Multiple

Sat., April 27: Skeptics 20s-30s are getting together at North Clakamas Aquatic Park for some water slides, wave pool, hot tub awesomeness.
Mon., April 29: The Freedom From Religion Foundation Portland Area is hosting a talk by Dani Tofte on PREP4kids, a Christian outreach program in public schools.
 

CANADA

Calgary, AB, Tues., April 30

The Centre for Inquiry Calgary is hosting George Hrab, “Where the Heck is Calgary?” $17; $12 for members. Tickets are available here.

Edmonton, AB, Wed., May 1

George Hrab will be in Edmonton on Wednesday, hosted by the Society of Edmonton Atheists. Tickets are $15 for SEA members, $17 for non-members, or $20 at the door.

Vancouver, BC—Multiple

Fri., April 26: Centre for Inquiry Vancouver is hosting a panel discussion: “The Science of Vaccines.”
Sun., April 28: The Centre for Inquiry Vancouver is hosting an evening with George Hrab. Tickets range from $8 to $20 and are available here.
Wed., May 1: BC Humanists Vancouver are hosting Chris Stedman, who will talk about his book Faitheist.
 

JAPAN

Okinawa, Sat., April 27

Rational Thinkers of Okinawa are getting together to discuss how to come out as a skeptic to friends and family.

 

UK

Edinburgh, Sun., April 28

The Edinburgh Secular Society is hosting a talk by Dr. Manfredi La Mana of St Andrews University on “Rationality, Morality, and Religion.”

London, Sun., April 28

The Conway Hall Ethical Society is hosting a talk by journalist and author Will Storr on “Adventures with the Enemies of Science.”

 

Want to promote your skeptical, atheist, humanist, science, or just all-around geeky event or group on our events calendar? Click here to send us the details.

Melanie Mallon

Melanie is a freelance editor and writer living in a small town outside Minneapolis with her husband, two kids, dog, and two cats. When not making fun of bad charts or running the Uncensorship Project, she spends her time wrangling commas, making colon jokes, and putting out random dumpster fires. You can find her on Twitter as @MelMall, on Facebook, and on Instagram.

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