Scene Calendar: 'Free Fridays,' Elio Piedra, Gainesville Orchestra, more
MUSIC
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) Michael Claytor and Ricky Kendell will perform.
Elio Piedra: 7-10 p.m. Friday, Tioga Town Center, 13085 SW First Lane, Newberry. Free. (tinyurl.com/eliopiedra24) Tu Fiesta Radio Presents Elio Piedra, a musician, drummer, entertainer, singer, arranger, composer and voting member at LARAS & NARAS Academy at Professional Musician.
Megan Moroney: 7:30 p.m. Friday, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340C A1A South, St. Augustine. Tickets: $29.50-$54.50. (904-209-0367, theamp.com) The country singer will perform as part of her “The Lucky 2.0” tour with special guest Logan Crosby.
Gainesville Orchestra: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Santa Fe College, Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall, 3000 NW 83rd St. Tickets: $20-$52. (gainesvilleorchestra.com) The annual end-of-season spectacular will feature the theme “The Wonderful Music of Oz.”
Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras: 8-11 p.m. Friday, Heartwood Soundstage, 619 S. Main St. Tickets: $25-$75. (heartwoodsoundstage.com) Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras is “the ultimate party cover band” fronted by actor, model and restaurateur Tom Sandoval.
Hogtown Opry: 7 p.m. Saturday, University Auditorium, 333 Newell Drive. Tickets: $40-$100. (hogtownopry.com, 392-2787) Annual event in its second year featuring bluegrass, old-time tinged originals, twin fiddling and old-time swing music.
The Hails: 2 p.m. Sunday, High Dive, 210 SW Second Ave. Tickets: $20. (highdivegainesville.com) “Farewell, Old Friend” — High Dive’s last show.
Women in Blues Showcase: 2-7 p.m. Sunday, Heartwood Soundstage, 619 S. Main St. Tickets: $20-$25. (heartwoodsoundstage.com) Annual concert celebrating the blues and the important role female performers have played, do play and will play in keeping the genre vibrant.
Young Annasemble: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thomas Center, 302 NE Sixth Ave. Free. (annasemble.org) Family Spring concert featuring music selections varying from musicals to spirituals and folk music.
Thievery Corporation: 7 p.m. Thursday, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340C A1A South, St. Augustine. Tickets: $50-$55. (904-209-0367, theamp.com) The electronic musicians will perform with special guest Matthew Dear.
Perpetual Groove: 8-10:30 p.m. Thursday, Heartwood Soundstage, 619 S. Main St. Tickets: $20-$25. (heartwoodsoundstage.com) This new chapter for Perpetual Groove showcases the continuing evolution of their music and performances. This is a band that is fully realized and ready to bring their new sound, storytelling and live experience to the masses.
THEATER
Circus Inside Out: 6 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Gainesville Circus Center, 1925 NW Second St. Cost: $5, free ages 12 and younger. (tinyurl.com/cio24) Spring showcase featuring youth performers of aerial acrobatics, dance, juggling and more.
“Once On This Island Jr. — The Musical”: 1 p.m. Saturday, Thomas Center, 302 NE Sixth Ave. Free. (tinyurl.com/ootijtm24) Adapted from the Broadway musical, “Once on This Island Jr.” retells Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” with dance and Caribbean-inspired songs.
“Swampland Obscura”: 7 p.m. Saturday, Gainesville Circus Center, 1925 NW Second St. Tickets: $10. (gainesvillecircus.com) Show featuring the final performance of Liz Bouton, aerialist and instructor who has been with GCC since its inception. Bouton coaches all levels of aerial silks and lyra. She has been a soloist with the Dusty's Ragtime Circus and CircusPalooza for the past several seasons. Bouton has a passion for all things bizarre, so the Circus Center is saying farewell with an ostentatiously obscure new production.
“A Technicolor Promise”: 10:30 a.m. Sunday, First United Methodist Church, 419 NE First St. Free. (fumcgnv.org) A retelling of Noah and the ark. This intergenerational production includes a procession of animals, the "flood zone" and other interactive ways to get people of all ages involved with the story. Everyone is invited to dress up as their favorite animal.
DANCE
“Fire and Ice”: 1 p.m. Saturday, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $23 general admission, $20 ages 3-11, free ages 2 and younger. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Dance Sun Country presents their 17th annual recital, featuring the theme “Fire and Ice” with approximately 45 dances. Many dance styles will be featured, including classical ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, musical theatre, lyrical, contemporary dance and clogging.
ET CETERA
Weekly Walk and Talks: 3-4 p.m. Friday, 27025 N. SR 121, Alachua. Free; RSVP appreciated. (alachuaconservationtrust.org) Guided hike.
King of the Bay Fishing Tournament and Festival: 5-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Pete's Pier Marina, 1 SW First Place, Crystal River. Cost: $5, free ages 12 and younger. (petespier.com) Pete's Pier will be alive with fishing, live music, vendors, beer and wine, food trucks and more.
“Florida Skies (Spring)”: 7 p.m. Fridays through May 31, Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, 3000 NW 83rd St. Tickets: $7.19 for adults; $6.17 ages 4-12, ages 60 and older, UF affiliates, military and first responders. (showpass.com/florida-skies-spring-4) Join James Albury, former co-host of the PBS TV Show “Star Gazers,” as he takes you on a personally guided tour of the night sky using the GOTO Chronos Space Simulator.
Dash and Bash 5K: 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Stadium North Lawn. 157 Gale Lemerand Drive. Cost: $35. (tinyurl.com/dab5k24) Inaugural event supporting Pediatric Trauma Services at UF Health and featuring a 5K race around the University of Florida, passing by UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, and a post-race “bash.”
Newberry Watermelon Festival: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Countryway Town Square, 1739 SW 248th Drive, Newberry. Free entry; items and food for sale. (tinyurl.com/nwf24a) Annual event in its 79th year featuring more than 100 vendors, food, crafts, games, entertainment and a kids’ zone.
World Tree Kangaroo Day: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, 3000 NW 83rd St. Tickets: $10 general admission; $6 ages 4-12, ages 60 and older, active military and veterans, teachers, police, firefighters, first responders, EMT/EMS, health care workers (all with valid ID), UF students and staff with current Gator1 ID; $3 Electronics Benefits Transfer recipients (up to four total tickets with card, any combination of adults/children); free ages 3 and younger, SF Students, staff and retirees (with current SFID), and zoo members. (sfcollege.edu) Celebrate Matschie’s tree kangaroo, an endangered species native to a small area of Papua New Guinea. Plus kangaroo-themed crafts and games.
Journey to Juneteenth: Florida Emancipation Celebration: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, 837 SE Seventh Ave. Free. (tinyurl.com/jtjfec24) Festival celebrating the emancipation of enslaved people in Florida on May 20, 1865. The event includes vendors, performances, activities and educational opportunities.
Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation Tour: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation, 8528 E. County Road 225. Tickets: $35 adults, $15 ages 2-11, free ages 1 and younger; $45 motorized-vehicle tours. (carsonspringswildlife.org, 468-2827, [email protected]) Take a tour — on foot or in a tour vehicle — of Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation with big-cat feeding demonstrations and up-close encounters with the animals.
Oakmont Slacker Run: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oakmont, 11701 SW 30th Ave. Cost: $40. (oakmontrun4cac.org) All proceeds benefit the Child Advocacy Center. Annual event in its fifth year featuring .4K, two free beers per adult runner and a free donut located in the beer garden, free Kona Ice for the kids, DJ Elio, a sticker for the car so you can prove you ran a race, medals, yard games, local vendors, raffle, Super Soaker wet zone, balloon toss and more.
Gainesville Asian Festival: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave. Free entry; items and food for sale. (gainesvillefl.gov) Family friendly event celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with food trucks, vendors, performances and tabling.
Historic Haile Homestead Tour: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays, Historic Haile Homestead, 8500 Archer Road. Entrance: $5 ages 12 and older, free ages 11 and younger. (hailehomestead.org) The Historic Haile Homestead is unique in the nation for its "Talking Walls.''
Sweet Corn Festival: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through May 26, Amber Brooke Farms, 3250 NE 140th Ave., Williston. Tickets: $15 in advance, $18 at gate, free ages 2 and younger. (amberbrookefarms.ticketspice.com/williston-sweet-corn-festival-2024) Celebration of sweet corn featuring fresh corn from the cob, corn hole contests and games, specialty food items and more.
Gainesville Gaviatas Annual Water Show: 11 a.m.-noon Saturday, H. Spurgeon Cherry Westside Pool, 1001 NW 31st Drive. Free; suggested $5 donation. (tinyurl.com/ggaws24) Annual show featuring routine performances.
Horse Feeding: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Mill Creek Farm Retirement Home for Horses, 20307 NW CR 235A, Alachua. Entrance: Bag of carrots. (millcreekfarm.org) The Retirement Home for Horses provides lifetime care to elderly horses seized by law enforcement agencies, rescued by the SPCA or humane societies, as well as horses retired from government service such as police patrol or state and federal parks.
North Florida BBQ and Brew Festival: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Champions Park, 24617 SW 30th Ave., Newberry. Free; items and food for sale. (tinyurl.com/nfbabf24) Festival to showcase the finest barbecue delights from across North Florida plus vendors, brews and live music.
Hog Roast: Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Gainesville Harley-Davidson, 4113 NW 97th Blvd. Free entry; items and food for sale. (gainesvilleharley.com) Annual event in its 23rd year featuring Sweet Meats Butcher Shop serving a roasted whole ho, live music from Clay Brooker, bounce house, games, raffles and prizes. Proceeds benefit Girls Can Do It Too.
Downtown High Springs Artwalk: Noon-5 p.m. Saturday, downtown High Springs. Free entry; items and food for sale. (facebook.com/downtownhighsprings/events) Monthly event featuring local artists and makers, as well as specials from downtown businesses.
Ice Cream in the Park: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Rockwood Park, 2221 NW 22nd St. Free. (alachuaconservationtrust.org) Ice cream social. Vegan options available. Ice cream is first come, first served.
“Zula Patrol: Down to Earth”: 3-3:30 p.m. Saturdays through May 25, Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, 3000 NW 83rd St. Tickets: $6.17-$8.22. (showpass.com/zula-patrol-down-to-earth) While on a routine fossil-hunting expedition, The Zula Patrol turns up evidence that the villainous Deliria Delight has been traveling back in time to Earth's prehistoric past to illegally dump her company's toxic trash. The Zula Patrollers must find and catch her before her actions cause catastrophic consequences. In the process, our heroes learn all about the formation and development of Earth, and the life forms that call it home.
“Music 360 — Gustav Holst's The Planets”: 5-6 p.m. Saturdays through May 25, Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, 3000 NW 83rd St. Tickets: $6.17-$8.22. (showpass.com/music-360-gustav-holsts-the-planets-4) An immersive journey of sight and sound as audiences experience the majesty of Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite “The Planets” while visiting the planets of our Solar System. Gustav Holst wrote “The Planets” between 1914 and 1916, and each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst.
Two Hawk Hammock Happy Hour: 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Two Hawk Hammock, 17950 NE 53rd Lane, Williston. Tickets: $5 ages 13 and older, free ages 12 and younger. (twohawkhammock.com) Live music, food and drinks, and barn animals.
May Flowers Mental Health Awareness Month 5K: 10 a.m. Sunday, Fit2Run, Celebration Pointe, 4871 Celebration Pointe Ave. Free. (celebrationpointe.com/events/mental-awareness-month-5k) All skill levels are welcome. Support awareness of mental health challenges and celebrate those who have overcome it.
Water Park Community Days: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Kulaqua River Ranch, 23400 NW 212th Ave., High Springs. Cost: $18, free ages 3 and younger. (kulaqua.com) Annual discounted swimming days. Operators request that modest swimsuits be worn. Also, feel free to bring food and coolers, but no glass containers or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the water park.
Sunday Assembly: 11 a.m. Sunday, Pride Center located in the Springhill Professional Center, 3850 NW 83rd St., Suite 201. Free. ([email protected], sagainesville.weebly.com) Sunday Assembly will host Rick Gold, who has participated in and provided leadership to the Humanistic Judaism movement for 25 years. He is a board member of the Society for Humanistic Judaism. After moving to Gainesville in 2014, Gold has served as lead volunteer for the Gainesville Humanistic Judaism Community and Florida Jews for a Secular Democracy. The title of his talk will be “The Institutions of the Humanistic Judaism Movement.” Music will be provided by Sunday Assembly musicians with the opportunity to sing along. It also is possible to attend via Zoom.
Journey to Juneteenth: Flag Raising and City of Gainesville Kickoff: 9-10 a.m. Monday, City Hall Plaza, 200 E. University Ave. Free. (tinyurl.com/jtjfrjcogk24) Part of the city’s annual Juneteenth celebration.
Journey to Juneteenth: Film Screening: 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, 837 SE Seventh Ave. Free. (tinyurl.com/jtjfm24a) Viewing of a newly created documentary explaining emancipation in Florida: “Before Juneteenth: Emancipation in Florida.” A question-and-answer period will follow. Light refreshments will be served.
Sweetwater Wetlands Park Wednesday Bird Walks: 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays through May 29, Sweetwater Wetlands Park, 325 SW Williston Road. Admission: $5 per vehicle; $2 for pedestrians, vans and bikes. (alachuaaudubon.org) Discover the rich diversity of birds at one of north central Florida's premier birding hotspots during a two- to three-hour guided walking tour. Birders of all levels welcome. Walks are led by volunteers from Alachua Audubon Society with assistance from Sweetwater Wetlands Park rangers.
Barnyard Buddies: 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays through May 29, Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E. University Ave. Free. (bit.ly/barnbuds) Weekly program where youngsters, with an adult, can meet and greet farm animals by helping staff with afternoon feeding. Animals love donations of carrots, squash, apples, sweet potatoes and melons.
CASTING CALL
Acrosstown Repertory Theatre’s Pre-Professional Workshop Open Auditions: 6 p.m. Sunday, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 3501 SW Second Ave., Suite O. Class price: $225. (acrosstown.org/2024-pre-professional-workshop) Prepare two contrasting one-minute monologues. One should be classical and one contemporary, and both should be memorized.
ART
Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention: “Imagination in Motion: Animation and Optical Illusions,” a world of endless possibilities where reality blurs and creativity takes center stage. Unveil the secrets of animation’s evolution, immerse yourself in optical illusions and discover the science behind your favorite animated films; “Reel Revolution: The Rise of Animation,” where attendees can explore how the future of animation is being shaped within the minds of visionaries just like them. Step through time to uncover the origins of some of the most well-loved movies, shows and characters of all time. Tickets: $12.50, $10 seniors and college students, $7.50 ages 5-17, free ages 4 and younger. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. 811 N. Main St. (371-8001, cademuseum.org)
Cedar Key Arts Center: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through May 28 CKAC Members Art Sale 2024. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 457 Second St., Cedar Key. (543-5801, cedarkeyartscenter.org)
Gainesville Fine Arts Association Gallery: “Disruption” on display through May 25; “Weeklong Solo/Curated Shows and Member Postcards” on display May 28-June 22; “From Land To Sea: Clay Exploration,” featuring works by Verónica Villasen?r and Marcelo Buzzi, on display May 29-June 1. Gallery hours are 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 1314 S. Main St. (gainesvillefinearts.org, [email protected])
Harn Museum of Art: “Surrealism at the Harn,” a centennial celebration, on display through June 2; “Gateway to Himalayan Art” on display through July; “Windows and Mirrors,” staff selections from the photography collection, on display through Nov. 3; “Metamorphosis: Reshaping Contemporary Art,” featuring artists who are rethinking traditional materials and techniques to create innovative works of art, on display through Oct. 26, 2025; “Kaleidoscope of Colors in Asian Art,” introducing a fresh perspective for visitors’ exploration and appreciation of Asian art through the prism of colors, on display through April 26, 2026. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. 3259 Hull Road. (392-9826)
Matheson History Museum: “Return to Forever: Gainesville’s Great Southern Music Hall,” showcasing dozens of John Moran‘s performance photos from his two years as the Great Southern Music Hall house photographer. Also featured is a display of Bo Diddley artifacts, including one of Bo’s signature square box guitars. Written by music journalist Bill DeYoung and designed by historian Rick Kilby, this unique exhibit celebrates a golden age in the University City’s musical history, the likes of which may never be seen again. On display through June 8; “Weaving a Community: 30 Years of the Matheson History Museum,” an all-encompassing view of the Matheson’s history and its origins; “When Johnny Came Marching Home: Some Gave All – All Gave Some,” remembering those who came home from war with both physical and mental wounds, on display outside. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. 513 E. University Ave. (378-2280, mathesonmuseum.org)
Melrose Bay Art Gallery: Works by Julie Robitaille on display through May 26. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday or by appointment. 103 State Road 26, Melrose. (475-3866, melrosebayartgallery.com)
Santa Fe College’s Blount Hall: A large art collection from local collector Hector Puig on display. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Corner of West University Avenue and North Sixth Street.
UPCOMING CONCERTS
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. May 24, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) Orbiter, Chimes and Shehehe will perform.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. May 31, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) The Impostors, a Beatles cover band, will perform.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. June 7, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) Mindwalk will perform contemporary jazz.
Jazz on the Green: 7-9 p.m. June 8, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Gruv Therapy will perform on the stage in the promenade, food and drinks, lawn games and more.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. June 14, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) Loosey’s Downtown Showcase.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. June 21, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) Little Wings Studio Showcase.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. June 28, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) Mei, Now Leaving Space and The Mermers will perform.
Bryan Bielanski: 10 p.m. July 1, University Club, 18 E University Ave. Free. (ucnightclub.com) Imagine Nirvana and the Beatles had a kid together who became an acoustic rock singer-songwriter — that's Bryan Bielanski. Although he is inspired by some of the rock greats like Tom Petty and REM, he has a distinct musical style and lyrics that make audiences think deep thoughts and feel like they're really alive.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. July 5, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) Pet Detectives will perform ’90s alt-rock covers.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. July 12, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) The ox Showcase featuring Short Stack, Cooper and Wiley Gaby.
Jazz on the Green: 7-9 p.m. July 13, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) D.R. Band and Soul Fire will perform on the stage in the promenade, food and drinks, lawn games and more.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. July 19, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) The Gainesville Big Band will perform jazz/swing.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. July 26, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) MusicGNV Showcase: Tribute to Gainesville Bands.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. Aug. 2 Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) TBD.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. Aug. 9, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) Stereo Vudu will perform rock, blues and funk.
Jazz on the Green: 7-9 p.m. Aug. 10, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Swing Theory will perform on the stage in the promenade, food and drinks, lawn games and more.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. Aug. 16, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) D.R. Band and Soul Fire will perform R&B, neo-soul and funk.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. Aug. 23, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) PULP Arts Showcase.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. Aug. 30, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) The Lions of Jah will perform reggae.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. Sept. 6, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) FEST 22 Showcase.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. Sept. 13, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) TBD.
Jazz on the Green: 7-9 p.m. Sept. 14, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Brazil Side B will perform on the stage in the promenade, food and drinks, lawn games and more.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. Sept. 20, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) Morningbell will perform psychedelic rock and soul.
“Free Fridays” Concert: 7-9 p.m. Sept. 27, Bo Diddley Plaza amphitheater, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series) Savants of Soul will perform soul.
Jazz on the Green: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 12, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Marty Liquori Jazztet will perform on the stage in the promenade, food and drinks, lawn games and more.
Jazz on the Green: 7-9 p.m. Nov. 9, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Ed Roth Trio will perform on the stage in the promenade, food and drinks, lawn games and more.
Jazz on the Green: 7-9 p.m. Dec. 14, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Natalie Rella Jazz will perform on the stage in the promenade, food and drinks, lawn games and more.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Weekly Walk and Talks: 3-4 p.m. May 24, 27025 N. SR 121, Alachua. Free; RSVP appreciated. (alachuaconservationtrust.org) Guided hike.
“Treasure Island”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays May 24-June 9, Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets: $24 general admission, $20 seniors, $12 students. (gcplayhouse.org) Picture a world where pirates rule what we call Earth. Humanity’s desire to find hidden treasures will take them to heights they never imagined. Based on the masterful adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, “Treasure Island” is an epic adventure from Ken Ludwig. It begins at an inn on the Devon coast of England, and quickly becomes an unforgettable tale of treachery and mayhem featuring a host of legendary swashbucklers including the dangerous Billy Bones, the sinister two-timing Israel Hands, the brassy woman pirate Anne Bonny, and the hideous form of evil incarnate Blind Pew. Sail the vastness of space to find Captain Flint’s treasure in this coming-of-age tale that is out of this world! Join Jim Hawkins as he navigates the universe longing for adventure with the infamous Long John Silver, perhaps the most famous hero-villain of all time. Silver’s greedy quest for gold, coupled with his affection for Jim, cannot help but win the heart of every soul who has ever longed for romance, treasure and adventure.
“Drive a Little; Laugh a Lot”: 7 p.m. May 24-25, 2 p.m. May 26, Chief Theatre, 25 E. Park Ave., Chiefland. Tickets: $15. (chief-theatre.org) Cabaret described as featuring Broadway’s most bitter and beautiful love songs.
“Tinker Bell in Pixie Hollow”: 2 p.m. May 26, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $25 general admission, $15 ages 3-17, free ages 2 and younger. (performingarts.ufl.edu) With “Tinker Bell in Pixie Hollow,” Dance Alive National Ballet’s resident school, Pofahl Studios, dances into spring and summer with students showcasing a year’s worth of work doing what they love. In this story, Tinker Bell learns that all of us need “to yourself be true.”
Water Park Community Days: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. May 27, Kulaqua River Ranch, 23400 NW 212th Ave., High Springs. Cost: $18, free ages 3 and younger. (kulaqua.com) Annual discounted swimming days. Operators request that modest swimsuits be worn. Also, feel free to bring food and coolers, but no glass containers or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the water park.
Weekly Walk and Talks: 3-4 p.m. May 31, Tuscawilla Preserve, 406 SE Tuscawilla Road, Micanopy. Free; RSVP appreciated. (alachuaconservationtrust.org) Wetlands and bird hike.
“Cabaret”: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays June 7-23, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 3501 SW Second Ave., Suite O. Tickets: $25 general admission; $20 students, seniors, military and teachers. (acrosstown.org) In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920s draw to a close, a garish master of ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all of their troubles at the Cabaret. With the emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, “Cabaret” explores the dark, heady and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Cliff, a young American writer newly arrived in Berlin, is immediately taken with English singer Sally Bowles.
“Dead Man’s Cellphone”: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays June 7-30, High Springs Playhouse, 23416 NW 186 Ave., High Springs. Tickets: $15 general admission, $10 students and ages 65 and older. (highspringsplayhouse.com) An incessantly ringing cellphone in a quiet café. A stranger at the next table who has had enough. And a dead man — with a lot of loose ends. So begins “Dead Man’s Cellphone,” a wildly imaginative new comedy by Sara Ruhl. A work about how we memorialize the dead — and how that remembering changes us.
Brew at the Zoo: 4-7 p.m. June 8, Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, 3000 Northwest 83rd St. Tickets: $60, $25 for non-drinkers. (showpass.com/brewatthezoo2024) For ages 21 and older. All ticket sales include admission to the zoo, animal encounters, beer and food tastings, live entertainment, food trucks, games and commemorative souvenir cup. All funds raised will directly support the zoo and its mission to educate, inspire and secure a future for wildlife. Held rain or shine.
Water Park Community Days: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. July 14, Kulaqua River Ranch, 23400 NW 212th Ave., High Springs. Cost: $18, free ages 3 and younger. (kulaqua.com) Annual discounted swimming days. Operators request that modest swimsuits be worn. Also, feel free to bring food and coolers, but no glass containers or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the water park.
“In The Heights”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays July 19-Aug. 11, Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets: $24 general admission, $20 seniors, $12 students. (gcplayhouse.org) “In the Heights,” created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood — a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can decide which traditions you take with you and which ones you leave behind.
“The Wizard of Oz — Youth Edition”: 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays July/August, High Springs Playhouse, 23416 NW 186 Ave., High Springs. Tickets: $15 general admission, $10 students and ages 65 and older. (highspringsplayhouse.com) Join Dorothy and her loyal companion Toto as they “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” through the Land of Oz, determined to reach the Emerald City, where the great and powerful Wizard of Oz will help them get home. Of course, along the way, Dorothy encounters witches (both good and bad), Munchkins, talking trees and winged monkeys. But most importantly, she befriends three unique characters: a scarecrow with no brain, a tin man with no heart, and a lion with no “nerve.” Their journey to happiness — and self-awareness — is a glowing testament to friendship, understanding and hope in a world filled with both beauty and ugliness.
Black Business Expo: Time TBA July 20, Santa Fe College, 3000 NW 83rd St. Free entry; registration requested. (GBPinc.org) Event dedicated to celebrating and promoting the achievements of Black-owned businesses in the community.
Zach Williams and Tim Tebow: 7 p.m. Sept. 5, O’Connell Center, 250 Gale Lemerand Drive. Ticket prices vary; see website for more information. (tinyurl.com/williamstebow) An evening of worship and inspiration, with a message of love, hope and God’s grace highlighting the importance of persevering in Christ through life’s challenges.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Scene Calendar: Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras, Hogtown Opry, more
