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158th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation @ Knott House Museum
History reverberates on May 20 in Tallahassee when church bells ring out at 9 a.m. and re-enactments replay the day 158 years ago when Florida’s enslaved people got word of their freedom. The Emancipation Proclamation was read on the Knott House steps in 1865, two years after it was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. A dramatic reading of the Emancipation Proclamation will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday on the steps of the Knott House Museum, 301 E. Park Ave. This year’s program features John Anderson as Frederick Douglass and the Mina String Quartet from the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. Free lunch and family-friendly activities will follow across the street in Lewis Park.
Havana Reggae Festival 2023
Experience the joy of reggae, featuring the music of Wayne Stoddart & the Righteous Rockers Movement, De Lions of Jah, Zander, Chris Layne, Redeemed Vybes and Lili Forbes at Havana Reggae Festival, from noon-5 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at 5F Farm Center, 8583 Salem Rd, Quincy. Tickets are $20, $25 at the gate. Visit havanareggaefest.com.
RoadHouse celebrates a big 30th birthday
Local band RoadHouse celebrates its 30th anniversary at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the House of Music, 2011 S. Monroe St. The longtime favorite will celebrate 30 years of “rockin’ the house with their brand of rockin’ rhythm and blues. Lead by guitarist and lead vocalist Keith Renfroe, this five-piece band has played steadily since 1993 and started as a blues band but mostly playing blues rock. These days it’s a mix of classic rock, blues and more. Bring your dancin’ shoes. $12 at the door.
James Hood’s ‘Mesmerica’ lands at planetarium
A hypnotic music and art experience, the international award-winning “Mesmerica” will come to Tallahassee — the only Florida city on its 20-stop tour — on May 19-20 and May 26-27 at various times at the Challenger Learning Center planetarium, 200 S. Duval St. Tickets are $12-$44. Created by Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist James Hood, the projection show designed for planetariums is inspired by his third studio album, “Mesmerica.” The soundtrack will play on a surround sound system as 3-D animated visuals engage audiences on a 360-degree projection in the 50-foot-high dome.
Jubilee Festival at the blueberry farm
Head to the blueberry farm for the Jubilee Festival from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at Jubilee Orchards, 12008 Miccosukee Road. Activities will include a showcase of land management practices, soil enhancement advancements that reduce greenhouse gasses, and a demonstration of Forest School – an international practice of exposing young children to nature. The day will also be filled with hay and pony rides, music, vendors, and food. Due to a short picking season this year, U-pick blueberry picking will not be a part of this year’s festival.
Open House @ Old Lloyd Train Depot
The Gulf Wind Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Inc. is hosting its free Depot Day open house from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the historic Lloyd Depot in Jefferson County. A free hot dog lunch will be served. A centerpiece of the Lloyd Historic District and Florida’s oldest remaining train station, the depot was built in 1858 by the Pensacola & Georgia Railroad. Numerous railroad artifacts and memorabilia will be on display. The occasion also marks the chapter’s 50th anniversary. For more information, visit the chapter website at gulfwindnrhs.org. The depot is located at 8781 Old Lloyd Road, just east of State Road 59.
Southwood’s Great Oaks Pub
The Leon High School class of 1961 will have its 62 year reunion celebration from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, May 19 at Great Oaks Pub with a double-header with “Branded,” featuring Terry Brand, and later a set of strictly oldies from the 1957 through 1961 era with the “Southwood Swingers” featuring Barry Kay on keys, Chuck McMurry on guitar, Jimbo St. John on Bass, Terry Brand on guitar and Scott Johnson on drums. This event is open to the public.
May the Fourth Be With You Wine Tasting5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at Goodwood Museum, 1600 Miccosukee Road. Celebrate Star Wars Day with a sampling of wines that are out of this galaxy. Goodwood Museum and Sommelier Sarah Duke plan a night of Star Wars-themed wines and costumes.
Lake Hall: Thursday Night Paddle SeriesWeekly paddles at Lake Hall every Thursday starting at 6PM. The park closes on a sliding scale each night dictated by sun set. The park entrance fee is $6.00 (the ranger station closes at 5:30 and they typically do not charge for entry after this time). While there is no fee for this event ALL paddlers must have filled out the ACKC insurance waiver.
Fire Bettys: Electronic ShowJoin us Thursday night at 9pm for Experiment 002 and take a mind-bending trip into the sound of the future! Our electrifying music party will transport you to another dimension with cutting-edge beats and non-stop excitement.
Raise a toast to Cinco De Mayo
Longtime Tallahassee band Tom & the Cats is on the prowl for “Nuthin but a Cinco de Mayo Party” from 6-10 p.m. Friday at Hurricane Grill & Wings, 6800 Thomasville Road. No cover. Dance the night away with friends. The Great Oaks Pub in Southwood, 3750 Grove Park Drive, is having a Cinco de Mayo party featuring the sounds of Lunar Urge from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday on the outdoor gazebo. Lunar Urge features classic rock. No cover, full restaurant and bar.
Full Moon ClimbCrooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle holds a Full Moon Climb from 8-10 p.m. Friday, May 5. Climb to the top of the tallest lighthouse on the Forgotten Coast and see views of the bay and Carrabelle Beach under the glow of the full moon. Advance reservations for a climb timeslot are required. Cost is $8 for adults and $3 for children. All climbers must be at least 44 inches tall. Contact 850-697-2732.
Leon Sinks: First Saturday HikeIf it is the first Saturday of the month, it is time for a hike at Leon Sinks! We will meet at 9 am in the parking lot and hike the trail together to see the beautiful geological features of the area while walking on wooded hiking trails. Right off US 319 south of Tallahassee, the Leon Sinks Geological Area contains 5 miles of trails leading to a series of sinkholes big and small.
Rose Show and Festival celebrates sweet 102
Thomasville’s Rose Show and Festival in beautiful downtown Thomasville, Georgia, is in full flower this weekend, with events Friday and Saturday, April 28-29. The beloved traditional events of the Rose Show & Festival, including the Rose Parade (7 p.m. Friday) the Show & Shine Car & Truck Show (10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday), rose and flowers shows (Friday and Saturday) and Street Dance (8:30 p.m. Friday) will all return for this two-day event. Other ways to enjoy the rose-themed festivities include historic tours at Thomasville’s local museums and a visit to the Thomasville Rose Garden. Visit thomasvillega.com.
50th Stephen C. Smith Regatta hoists the sails
The 50th Stephen C. Smith Memorial Regatta, a benefit for the American Cancer Society, sails away this weekend, April 28-30, at Shell Point. The Regatta includes races for yachts rated under the PHRF handicapping system, catamarans such as Hobie Cats, smaller day sailors including Sunfish, and windsurfers, the most numerous and arguably the most colorful participants in the Regatta. Races are held both Saturday (starting at 11 a.m.) and Sunday (starting at 10 a.m., only windsurfers on Sunday), with other events for sponsors, spectators, and participants on Saturday night. The public is invited to view the races on Saturday and Sunday and get lunch at the Regatta Grille, and to participate in the auction of donated items on Sunday afternoon beginning after the trophy presentations (about 2 p.m.).
PyramidPalooza Music Festival plays Lake Ella
The 2nd Annual PyramidPalooza Music Festival will feature art vendors, food trucks and a jam-packed lineup from noon-3 p.m. Saturday, at the American Legion on Lake Ella, 229 Lake Ella Drive. Pyramid Studios presents the event, featuring its own The Electric People and Tallahassee musicians playing on dual stages – indoors and out! Outside, festivalgoers will hear musical stylings of eclectic one-man-band Dylan “R.P.” Allen at noon and singer/songwriter Rachel Hillman at 1 p.m. Inside the hall, the lineup includes Brett Wellman & the Stone Cold Blues Band at noon and Del Suggs at 1 p.m. Then at 2 p.m. the Electric People take the stage.
Tallahassee Indie Bookstore Crawl
Join your favorite local bookstores on Independent Bookstore Day Saturday, April 29, for the Tallahassee Indie Bookstore Crawl. Participating stores include: Common Ground Books. Cosmic Cat Comics. Fat Cat Books. Fallout Comics. Lake of Fire Bookstore. Midtown Reader. My Favorite Books. Pick up a postcard at any of the participating booksellers and gather stamps as you visit each bookstore. Once you’ve collected all of your stamps, turn your postcards in at any of the indie bookstores to be entered into a raffle for gift baskets with prizes. For store hours, visit individual store’s websites and/or social media pages.
Hot ticket: Theatre Tallahassee goes ‘Tik, Tik … Boom!’
Before “Rent,” there was “Tick, Tick … Boom!” Theater Tallahassee, 1861 Thomasville Road, continues its run of this autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award–winning composer of “Rent,” in this story of an aspiring composer who questions his life choices on the eve of his 30th birthday. The show runs at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday with additional shows May 4-7. Most shows are sold-out! Visit theatretallahassee.org.
Tallahassee Garden ClubSpring Extravaganza, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29, hosted by the Tallahassee Garden Club at 507 N. Calhoun St.
Tallahassee WindsThe symphonic band that performs under the auspices of FSU’s College of Music, will feature works by Leonard Bernstein, Gustav Holst, and others during the last performance of its current concert season on at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, in Opperman Music Hall. It’s free.
8th Annual Word of South Festival of Literature & Music
The festival kicks off with Ben Folds and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra on Friday and packs in more than 60 artists and groups on Saturday and Sunday. Women in Jazz get a special tribute on Sunday and look for singer Allison Russell, blues legend Bobby Rush, guitarist Tommy Prine (son of the late John Prine) and Pulitzer Prize author-historian Jon Meacham. And more, much more throughout the weekend. Ben Folds, singer-songwriter and author, performs with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra to kick off the 2023 Word of South Festival at Adderley Amphitheater in Cascades Park at 7 p.m. Friday, April 21. Although Friday’s event is ticketed ($27-$50), the rest of the events are free. Word of South, known for its “mu-aushup” performances, showcases authors who write about music, musicians who also are authors, authors and musicians trading places, and everything in between.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party
For the first time in Tallahassee! Fans of all ages will experience the thrill of watching their favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks in the DARK! The popular family entertainment tour brings audiences the only opportunity to watch their favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks – Mega Wrex™, Tiger Shark™, Boneshaker™, Bigfoot® and more, plus the all-new Gunkster™ – LIGHT UP the floor in outrageous monster trucks competitions and battles. Event performances will also feature a dazzling dance party, spectacular laser light shows and Hot Wheels toy giveaways. Plus, a special appearance from the car-eating, fire-breathing transforming robot MEGASAURUS, and the electrifying high-flyers of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, Freestyle Motocross! Special kids pricing is available for all shows providing a BIG value for the whole family! The exciting Crash Zone Pre-Show Party will be held 2-1/2 hours before every performance. The unique experience provides fans access to the competition floor to see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks! Each pass includes an autograph card plus a souvenir pass and lanyard exclusive to Crash Zone attendees! Passes will be available to purchase while supplies last.
FSU Baseball Home Game Weekend vs. Virginia Tech Baseball
Friday, April 21st at 8pm, Saturday, April 22nd at 3pm, and Sunday, April 23rd at 11am. All games this weekend are at Dick Howser Stadium.
Catch Fishy Fashion at Riverfront Festival
The Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce is throwing its Carrabelle Riverfront Festival from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 22, along the waterfront. The fabulous Fishy Fashion Show with zany costumed characters showcases creativity and the TCC Dance Company and the Dancing Witches will be performing. Families will enjoy the Soccer Collies, a group of rescued Border Collies, who will be playing an interactive doggie version of soccer. There’s a children’s nautical and coastal-themed costume contest, free bouncy house and mini train rides. The streets will be filled with food, live music, dance, arts and craft vendors, and natural and cultural exhibitors. Admission is free. For more info, visit CarrabelleRiverfrontFestival.com or call 850-697-2585.
Revisit powerful ‘Diary of Anne Frank’
The Monticello Opera House, 185 West Washington St. in Monticello, presents “The Diary of Anne Frank,” running April 21-May 7, in a powerful, updated adaptation for the stage. This moving and profoundly important drama follows Anne’s precarious coming-of-age time as she and her family hide from the Nazis in a secret annex space above her father’s former office in Amsterdam. There will be a special fundraising performance on April 23, hosted by the Holocaust Educational Resource Council (HERC). Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. with Lobby and Bar open at 7. Sunday matinee performances are at 2 p.m. with Lobby and Bar open at 1 p.m. Tickets are $23 for the shows (discounts and upgrades are available). Visit monticellooperahouse.org calling 850/997-4242. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door for all performances. The event will feature a 34-banner travelling exhibit in the downstairs Perkins Performance Hall titled”Let Me Be Myself”: The Life Story of Anne Frank.
Explore exotic ‘Eden Altered’ at LeMoyne Arts
“Eden Altered,” featuring mixed media artists Linda Hall and Dimelza Broche, is a whimsical, surreal, imaginative exhibit focusing on the chaos of nature on display at LeMoyne Arts, 125 N. Gadsden St. The artists explore the beautiful and the macabre with elegance and magic. This visual adventure into an altered Garden of Eden evokes a sense of wonder as viewers experience otherworldly textures, powerful use of color, anthropomorphized creatures, femininity, and exploration of self. Linda Hall will give the Procession of Holding and Letting Go performance and artist talk from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26. Free for LeMoyne Arts members and children under 12, $5 for non-members. Craft Beer by DEEP Brewing.
Great Oaks Pub at SouthwoodFinn and the Kingsnakes, a five-piece group featuring two female singers, and multi-part harmony, checks in from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, April 21, at Great Oaks Pub, 3750 Grove Park Drive. No cover. Call 850-942-4653 for reservations.
House of MusicThe Georgia Honeys, The husband and wife song writing team of Kelly and Linda Love, take the stage at House of Music, 2011 S. Monroe St., at 8 p.m. Saturday. $12.
Spring TCC ConcertCapital City Bands and Tallahassee Community College presents its annual family-friendly free “Spring Concert” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 21, at TCC’s Turner Auditorium, 444 Appleyard Drive. Director of Bands Lisa M. Foltz conducts the evening of concert band music.
Four festivals take to the streets and parks all around town: Tallahassee Bike Fest at Apalachee Regional Park, Pridefest: Pride in the Plaza downtown, LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival downtown and the Cool Breeze Art and Smooth Jazz Festival at Cascades Park. It’s possible take in more than one with a short stroll.
Art’s blooming at Chain of Parks Art FestivalLeMoyne’s 23rd Annual Chain of Parks Art Festival festoons downtown with colorful art from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Bloxham, Lewis and Randolph “Chain of Parks,” downtown.
Tallahassee Bike Fest rallies at Apalachee ParkThe 2nd Annual Motorcycle Rally in the Capital City revs up starting at noon Friday, April 14, and running through Sunday at Apalachee Regional Park, 7550 Apalachee Parkway. The canopy roads and rolling hills are a draw for bikers and their families. The Tallahassee Bike Fest, a black-woman and veteran-owned and operated organization, raises money for veterans and has a focus on female riders.
Pridefest: Pride in the Plaza at KlemanEvery spring, the community gathers on the streets of the Capital City to participate in the celebration to promote peace and understanding for the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the family friendly celebration, which runs from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 15, in Kleman Plaza. Indivisible Pride is the theme for Tallahassee Pridefest, featuring pageants, parties, and a street festival in the downtown area of Tallahassee. Visit facebook.com/TallahasseePridefest.
Cool Breeze Art and Smooth Jazz FestivalThe 5th Annual Cool Breeze Art and Smooth Jazz Festival featuring guest jazz pianist Bob Baldwin gets grooving at Cascades Park this weekend. The festival will feature a youth music workshop, live music, art, food truck vendors, and recognition of community leaders across three days of festivities.
Tab Benoit brings the Bayou blues to The MoonRenowned Louisiana Bayou blues guitarist Tab Benoit is on tour throughout 2023, with a Tallahassee performance at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St., set for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 16. Also performing will be guitarist Alastair Greene, who released “Alive In The New World” on Benoit’s Whiskey Bayou Records label this past January; and Special Guest, Larry McCray. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 general admission; $45 reserved. For details, visit moonevents.com.
FSU School of Theatre staging ‘Secret in the Wings’The School of Theatre at Florida State University presents “The Secret in the Wings” by Tony award-winning playwright Mary Zimmerman as the final show of its 2023-2024 season. The play, which is a selection of dark fairytale adaptations, opens Friday and runs through April 23 at the Conradi Studio Theatre. Performance times are 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets for “The Secret in the Wings” are $10-$35 and can be purchased online, by phone at 850-644-6500, or at the Fine Arts Ticket Office in the Fine Arts Building at 540 West Call Street. For tickets and more information, visit tickets.theatre.fsu.edu.
FSU Flying High CircusShows are April 14-16 and April 21-22. It’s free for FSU students. Advanced tickets are $23.50 for adults and $17.50 for children, reserved. General admission is $13.50 for adults, $8.50 for children. For more information, visit circus.fsu.edu/performances.
Live Music:
Due South: 6-10 p.m. Saturday at The Ritz Amphitheater and Park, in Thomasville, Georgia. $30 general admission, $40 at gate. Music & food with an art backdrop featuring music byRed Hoss Suckas, Few Miles South with Headliner Reckless Kelly.
The Fish Camp: Tom & the Cats makes its first appearance at The Fish Camp, 12062 Waterfront Drive on Lake Iamonia, to celebrate Tommy Brown’s and Jim Apgar’s birthdays Saturday April 15. Double Take Featuring Matt Burke will play from 3-4:30 p.m. Tom & the Cats performs from 5-8 p.m.