Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee

Love is in the air with Valentine's Day coming on Wednesday. Let us count the ways to spark romance this weekend and into next week.

Love shrimp? There's a festival for you at St. George Island. Craving soulful blues? Catch the Valentine's Day Party with soul legend Johnny Rawls at BBC at The Legion. Love stinks? Hit the House of Music. Love Rocks? Check out Opening Nights Complexion Ballet.

Dance fans can also bond over an "Intimate" evening with the Tallahassee Ballet.

And Blue Tavern is cooking up a Mardi Gras party on Tuesday. Good times are rolling. On Thursday songwriter extraordinaire James McMurtry brings his "wordy" story songs to The Moon.

Here's a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.

Concert: Texas songwriter James McMurtry brings Florida stories to concert at The Moon

1. Valentine's party with Johnny Rawls

Red hot blues set the mood for sweethearts on Valentine's Day with Johnny Rawls bringing some soul love to the BBC at the Legion from 8-11 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14. Tickets are $20. Visit bbclegion.com.

Rawls is a soul blues legend with a career spanning more than 50 years. An internationally recognized recording artist, music producer, and songwriter who tours extensively, Rawls has done it all.

2. In the mood for Shakespeare

Southern Shakespeare Company is presenting the madcap comedy "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised) (again)" at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, at Tallahassee Community College's Turner Auditorium. Tickets are $10-15.

In this updated version of London's longest-running comedy, three actors attempt to perform all of Shakespeare's work in just 90 minutes. Hilarity ensues! Tickets available at SouthernShakes.org/complete-works-abridged

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3. Salty fun at SGI ShrimpFest

The St. George Lighthouse Association will host the 3rd Annual SGI ShrimpFest from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, in the western parking area adjacent to Lighthouse Park. This year’s festival will be a one-day outdoor event offering fresh local shrimp dishes, great live musical entertainment and shopping with many unique vendors.

Adding to the festivities this year, there will be a curated group of arts and crafts vendors showcasing unique products, local nonprofit exhibitors, raffle items, a beer and wine station, hot cocoa and coffee, and a live musical performance by The Blues Factor Band. Tickets for the event are $5 for ages 13+ and are available online below or in person at the Lighthouse Gift Shop. Visit sgishrimpfest.com/

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4. Tallahassee Ballet gets 'Intimate'

The Tallahassee Ballet premieres "Intimate," a new performance blending dynamic choreography, live music and visual arts at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, and Saturday, Feb. 10, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11. This concert will unfold at The Tallahassee Ballet’s facility, 2910 Kerry Forest Parkway, where the audience will move from studio to studio, each space showcasing choreography, live music, artwork, and costumes.

Scheduled just before Valentine’s Day weekend, "Intimate" promises to be a romantic date night, a lively Galentine’s celebration, or a memorable evening out with loved ones. The program features the premier of several new works by emerging choreographers as well as the return of two duets from Tallahassee Ballet’s repertoire.

For tickets, which start at $75, visit TallahasseeBallet.org.

5. Love Stinks! at House of Music

Love Stinks! Let's Drink! A no-cover-charge event with the sounds of Tallahassee party band Public Address, on stage, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at House of Music, 2011 S. Monroe St. This ain’t no Valentine love fest. Come as you are and who you are. Bring a friend or find a friend.

Then celebrate love with a Valentine's Day Dinner & Show with guitarist Clive Carroll starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at House of Music. All dinner prices include show ticket. Clive Carroll is an internationally acclaimed guitarist who has worked with guitar legends such as John Williams, Tommy Emmanuel, Xuefei Yang, Ralph Towner, D’Gary, and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. Tickets run from $20 to $65, depending on food options, which range from champagne and dessert to surf and turf.

Bonus event: Catch the groove with Complexions Contemporary Ballet

Rock meets ballet for Opening Nights when Complexions Contemporary Ballet, led by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, present a dance to impress on Valentine's Day at 7:30 p.m. Feb 14 in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.

Praised as "game changing" and "matchless" by critics, their program showcases company favorites alongside "Love Rocks," a dynamic fusion of Lenny Kravitz's music with ballet, promising an exhilarating, fun, and thrilling experience. Tickets are $30-$45. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu.

Bonus event: Bach Parley doubles down on Triple Play Bach

“Bach Triple Play” is the theme for the Bach Parley performances on Feb. 10 and 11, both at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 211 N. Monroe St. Music Director and violinist Valerie Arsenault will join Kim Jones on baroque cello, Eva Amsler on traverso, and Shalev Ad-El on harpsichord. The program includes three pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, two by his second oldest son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and one by his youngest son, Johann Christian Bach. Tickets are $10; free childcare available. Visit bachparley.org.

Bonus event: Catch beads and Mardi Gras spirit at Blue Tavern

Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., puts the fat in Fat Tuesday with King Cake, drink specials, and wall to wall party music starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13. Bring your Carnival spirit for Mardi Gras at the tavern! Music from a variety of carnival traditions by Joe Goldberg & The Function, Chris Seepersaud & Hot Tamale

At 6 p.m. join a parade around the neighborhood from the tavern south to 4th, west to Duval, north to 6th, and back to the tavern.

There will be lots of costumery, hand percussion, horns, kazoos, whatever you bring or borrow! Come join in. Blue Tavern will also have some bags of beads & "throws" for anyone who wants to participate. Admission is free all night and includes a slice of King Cake for good luck!

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OTHER EVENTS

Black History Arts and Culture Festival: The third annual Black History Arts and Culture Festival presented by Florida Division of Arts and Culture and the Division of Historical Resources from 5:30-9 p.m. Friday at the R.A. Gray Building, 500 S. Bronough St. Live performances from Avis Berry and Revival, Ayoka Afrikan Drum and Dance, and the Omega Lamplighters’ The Mighty Light Step Team. This community festival celebrates the achievements of Black Floridians and will showcase the rich tapestry of Black Arts and Artists in Florida.

Blue Tavern: Happy hour with Two Clever runs from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., followed at 8 p.m. by Songwriters in the Round with Craig Daniel Hard and special host Erice Shepard. This month's show features the songs of Dennis Dunn as performed by friends and family: Deb Berlinger, Jon Copps, Bobby Cutts, Danny Goddard, Carrie Hamby, AnnErice Heerema, Dave Leporati, Mark Patton, Shanice Richards and Brian Zinsmeister. $10 cover. 2nd Saturday Old Time Jam runs 5-7 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. by a double header with D. Scott Riggs on blues guitar and local songwriter Grant Peeples with fiddle player Maddy Walsh at 9 p.m. Grant Peeples on up for happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night with Doc Russell. On Thursday from 5-7 p.m. Miles Sullivan plays happy hour, followed at 8 p.m. by Seep's Gumbo Nation, featuring different musicians. $5.

Camp Gordon Johnston: In commemoration of Black History Month, the Camp Gordon Johnston Museum is presenting an exhibit in honor our country’s African American Servicemen. This exhibit will include the history of two African American Infantry Regiments, the 369th and the 370th, both of which served with distinction in WWI. The exhibit is on display through March 2. The museum is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Corner Pocket Bar and Grill: Party with Tom & the Cats for the 6th annual Super Bowl Saturday Night starting at 8:15 p.m., Feb. 10, at Corner Pocket, 2475 Apalachee Parkway. $5 cover.

926 Bar and Grill: Say you saw them in Tallahassee. Militarie Gun, which is headed for Bonnaroo and Coachella this year, plays at Saturday, Feb. 10 at 926 Bar, 926 W. Tharpe St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:15 p.m. Also on the bill are Pool Kids, a Tallahassee band that is on roll and just toured in Japan and got added to the Shaky Knees fest in Atlanta. $20 advance, $23 day of show.

The Moon: Texas songwriter James McMurtry, one of the best songwriters of his generation, plays The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St., at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. BettySoo is the opening act. Tickets are $25 and $30; visit moonevents.com.

Sidetrax Studio: Musical performance by Richard Bertram, Charlie Nuzzo & Stan Rosenthal, 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Sidetrax in the Breezeway at Railroad Square, 602 McDonnel Drive.

The Sound Bar: Tallahassee Muses presents the “Valentine Vixens” concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, to benefit Music Therapy at Big Bend Hospice, at The Sound Bar, 1105 W. Tharpe St. $10.

Tallahassee Museum: Acoustic duo Hot Tamale will perform upbeat family-friendly musical fare "sidewalk-style” at the Tallahassee Museum from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, weather permitting. They will be playing in front of the Cafe by the playground and singing popular kid's song. Regular museum admission fees apply.

Have an event coming up? Email details to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 5 fun things to do around Tallahassee this weekend