Best bets: Chomp the Block, 'Free Fridays,' 'Fahrenheit 451,' jazz music, Sept. 11 event
CHOMP THE BLOCK: Celebration Pointe’s Chomp the Block events have returned for the 2022 season! The official block party of the Florida Gators will be held every Friday before home football games. The events feature food and drinks from onsite restaurants and food trucks, live music, giveaways and games along with special appearances by the Gators’ Spirit Team. Celebration Pointe is located just off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. A Chomp the Block party is held each home-game Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. with a kids’ zone with child-friendly games such as a bounce house, face painting and balloon animals. Whiskey Jones will be on hand to play live music today. This year’s Chomp the Block schedule includes more live performances by Benny and the Band on Sept. 16, Heavy Pedal on Sept. 30, Jamie Davis on Oct. 7, You’re Gonna Get It! on Oct. 14, and Gainesville Retro Society on Nov. 11. The exclusive block parties are part of a comprehensive, ongoing partnership program with the Florida Gators. In addition to Chomp the Block parties, the agreement includes Celebration Pointe hosting Gator Talk Radio with Florida Athletics coaches, which is held at 6 p.m. on most Mondays at The Keys Grill & Piano Bar inside Celebration Pointe. For more information, visit celebrationpointe.com.
“FREE FRIDAYS” CONCERT: Catch the next performance of the city’s popular “Free Fridays” concert series from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Bo Diddley Plaza downtown amphitheater, located at 111 E. University Ave. The free concert series highlights a different act each week, with Pet Detectives performing ’90s rock and alternative covers today. Attendees are encouraged to bring their blankets and lawn chairs to Bo Diddley Plaza to enjoy the concert under the stars. For more information, including a list of upcoming performances, visit bodiddleyplaza.com/upcoming-events. Future dates include Wax Wings with special guests performing original folk rock on Sept. 16; The Late Night Losers with special guests performing alt-rock on Sept. 23; RC and Showtime performing R&B and soul on Sept. 30; The Last Waltz, a The Band tribute band, performing Oct. 7; Morningbell performing psychedelic rock and soul on Oct. 14; and The Imposters, a The Beatles tribute band, closing this year’s series on Oct. 21.
“FAHRENHEIT 451”: The Hippodrome Theatre is taking on Ray Bradbury’s classic, “Fahrenheit 451,” exploring a dystopian world turned away from science, art and individuality. In this futuristic world, the written word is forbidden, and firemen burn books instead of fighting fires. Society is forced to choose between a regimented existence or risk everything for the right to think. Originally published in 1953, this science-fiction classic reverberates even more today. Catch a showing at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 18. Tickets are $20 to $50. The Hippodrome Theatre is located at 25 SE Second Place. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit thehipp.org.
JAZZ ON THE GREEN: Join Celebration Pointe for live music, food and drinks, lawn games and more as The Shuffle Tones play live music on the stage in the promenade from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Spread a blanket under the setting sun and catch some live music while the kids play games on the lawn. Celebration Pointe is located off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road at Celebration Pointe Avenue. For more information, call 333-9333 or visit celebrationpointe.com. Future Jazz on the Green events are planned for Oct. 8, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10.
SEPT. 11 MEMORIAL EVENT AND STAIR CLIMB: The city of Gainesville and Alachua County are observing the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. with an annual stair climb and a remembrance ceremony of the day and the lives lost. On this National Day of Service and Remembrance, community leaders ask that residents honor the victims of the attacks by observing the day with acts of kindness, generosity and service beginning with a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. — the moment when the first airplane struck the World Trade Center in New York City. The event is free and open to the public. Seating will be available in the south end zone of the stadium for those who wish to watch the memorial event. Members of the public also are invited to participate in the stair climb, marking the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is located at157 Gale Lemerand Drive. Fore more information, visit gainesvillefl.gov.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Best bets: Chomp the Block, "Fahrenheit 451," jazz music, 9/11 event
