See what's happening in central Ohio this weekend
Leading off Pride Month, the Short North Alliance's inaugural Hops on High on Saturday is set to offer vendors, sales and specials at district businesses, a variety of vendors and of course, exhibitions at Short North galleries including the Owens & Kowalski Gallery at Stonewall Columbus.
Concerts are abundant this weekend, with funkmaster George Clinton and the Summer614 Music Festival scheduled to bring rap and R&B artists including MC Lyte, who at just 17, was rated the best female vocalist in hip-hop in the late '80s. Local singer-songwriter Najoura also is slated to perform and early next week, esoteric country crooner Orville Peck is on deck and gospel giant Tye Tribbett is lined up for an evening of powerful praise.
Along with these offerings, there's theater, art and comedy and more on the agenda! You can get the scoop on all of these events below. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.
Weathervane to open summer with 'Man of La Mancha'
Weathervane Playhouse, 100 Price Road, Newark, launches its summer season with "Man of La Mancha" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' 17th-century novel "Don Quixote," the play within a play is performed by the imprisoned Cervantes and fellow inmates as he awaits a trial with the Spanish Inquisition.
The Tony-winning musical features such numbers as "The Impossible Dream" and "I, Don Quixote," among others. Other performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday, as well as 7:30 p.m. June 4-8. Doors open 30 minutes before the show, which is recommended for adults. Tickets are $36, except on June 4, when seating is $18 general admission. (weathervaneplayhouse.org)
Singer Najoura to wrap Groove is at The Yard series for May
R&B singer-songwriter Najoura closes the free Groove is at The Yard series for May at Easton Town Center on Thursday evening. The Columbus artist has been a regular at Natalie's Grandview and has performed at Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Women and Girls' Fest and Land-Grant Brewing Co., among others.
Groove is at The Yard features weekly performers throughout the summer at The Yard, located north of Macy's and east of Nordstrom. Dates for June through September are to be announced. All concerts take place from 6-9 p.m. (bit.ly/4dVGrmM)
George Clinton to get funky at Mershon Auditorium
George Clinton, one of funk's most influential innovators, performs with Parliament-Funkadelic on Friday at Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St. The show begins at 7 p.m. with special guest Dumpstaphunk.
During the '70s, Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic dominated the R&B charts, with more than 40 hits, including three No. 1s. As a solo artist, Clinton is known for the No. 1 smash, "Atomic Dog." He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, along with 15 other members of Parliament-Funkadelic. In 2019, he and the collective received Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards. Ticket prices start at $42.50 (ticketmaster.com)
French textile artist to be showcased at High Road Gallery
"Window Views," an exhibit by Anne Bellas of Nantes, France, opens Thursday at High Road Gallery & Studios, 12 E. Stafford Ave., Worthington, with a display of 3D wood sculptures by Clintonville artist Ben Sostrom.
Bellas uses cotton, mostly from her great-grandmother’s linens, which she hand-dyes or prints, then uses to compose colorful textile paintings. Sostrom, a former theater and film actor and prop designer, uses unconventional techniques in his sculptures, blending elements of his scientific and theater backgrounds with dramatic use of light and form.
An opening reception is to be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday and an artists' talk is to take place from 6-8 p.m. June 8. The show runs through July 6. (highroadgallery.com)
Franklin Park to host buccaneers of all ages at Pirate Palooza
Ahoy, mateys! Don your best sea-faring garb and drop anchor at Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., where Pirate Palooza takes over from 5-9 p.m. Friday. As you check in, maps are to be provided to help you search for loot. Little swashbucklers can visit the craft area to make a free parrot to take on their journey, as well as a sand-art bottle for $4 while supplies last.
Be on the lookout for the rapscallion Cap'n Jack between 6-8 p.m. If you get peckish or parched, there are to be food trucks on-site, plus a bar for the grown folk to quaff a clap of thunder (that's pirate speak for adult beverages). See website for special-engagement admission rates and to register. (bit.ly/3WUvRpO)
Hops on High to usher in Pride Month in the Short North
Expanding on its monthly gallery hops, the Short North Alliance is offering a new seasonal series, Hops on High, to highlight different themes that make the arts district unique. To kick off Pride Month, the first hop in the series takes place from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday.
High Street is to be closed from West Starr Avenue to East Fifth Avenue during the event, which offers gallery exhibitions, vendors at the Hops on High Market, plus sales, specials and more at businesses in the area.
Entertainment includes music, poetry, theater, drag and improv comedy. Customers who fill their Hops Trail cards with stickers from five Short North businesses on Saturday and Sunday can receive a free treat from The Yard Milkshake Bar anytime during June. See website for a schedule. (shortnorth.org/hopsonhigh)
Rap roster at Summer614 Music Festival to include MC Lyte
Pioneering female rapper MC Lyte is to perform at the seventh annual Summer614 Music Festival, which is presented by Music is Therapy/Fame Productions from 3-11 p.m. Saturday at John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St. The lineup also includes hip-hop artists 8Ball & MJG, Scarface and R&B singers Chrisette Michele, Ro James and Bobby V.
In addition to local food and drinks, the festival features a wellness component emphasizing healing through music, inspired by impactful stories from Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children. Ticket prices are $60 general admission (bring a lawn chair) and $100 for premium-area seating. VIP and after-party tickets also are available. The outdoor concert is rain or shine. (summer614.com)
Tommy Davidson to appear live, in living color at The Kee
Known for his characters on the sketch-comedy hit "In Living Color" and roles in movies and television, comedian Tommy Davidson brings his stand-up act to The Kee, 225 Neilston St., at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Davidson has appeared in more than a dozen movies, including "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls," the gangsta-rap mockumentary "CB4" and on sitcoms such as "Martin," "Malcolm & Eddie" and "The Bernie Mac Show." He also has done extensive voiceover work, including Oscar Proud on "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder," a continuation of the acclaimed animated series, "The Proud Family."
Tickets for the show, which is open to 21 and older, are $40 general admission and $50 for VIP and meet-and-greet. (bit.ly/44VDRc9)
'Outlaw cowboy' Orville Peck to perform at KEMBA Live!
Mysterious masked minstrel Orville Peck plays at KEMBA Live!, 405 Neil Ave., on Monday, along with Durand Jones and Debbii Dawson. A self-taught musician, Peck’s haunting, steel guitar-driven melodies have an alternative vibe with a strong classic country influence.
Besides his own songs like the well-reviewed “Dead of Night,” he has covered other artists including Bronski Beat, k.d. lang, The Righteous Brothers and Lady Gaga. His recently released duets album, “Stampede Vol. 1,” features a team up with Willie Nelson on Ned Sublette's "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other" as the lead single.
Ticket prices are $36.50 general admission in advance, $42 general admission the day of the show and $85 for platinum seating. (promowestlive.com/columbus/kemba-live)
Tye Tribbett to bring modern gospel to Mershon Auditorium
Musical multihyphenate Tye Tribbett, known for his high-energy praise songs, is to make a stop at Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St., at 7:30 p.m. June 5. Tribbett is a singer, songwriter, keyboardist, choir director, radio-show host and pastor, as well as winner of three Grammy Awards.
In addition, he has racked up six No. 1 albums, five No. 1 radio singles and 11 Billboard Top 10 songs. Outside of the gospel sector, Tribbett has worked with such artists as Faith Hill, Will Smith, Usher, Don Henley, Justin Timberlake, India.Arie, John Mellencamp and Sting. He also appeared on Snoop Dogg's 2018 gospel album, "Bible of Love." Tickets start at $21.25. (ticketmaster.com)
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 things to do in Columbus and central Ohio this weekend
