Best Bets: Fun things to do this weekend in Ocala/Marion County
THIS WEEKEND
SambaDá
This Brazilian fusion music will be featured from 7-9 p.m. April 21 at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex, 1510 NW Fourth St., Ocala. It is part of the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series, which presents a weekly concert April 14 through June 23 (excluding May 26.) Admission is free; bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Earthfest
This festival, described as the City of Ocala’s Arbor Day celebration, will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 22 at Tuscawilla Park, 800 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala. Activities for adults and kids, including Youth Fishing Derby, 10 a.m.-noon. More at www.ocalafl.org/earthfest or 352-368-5517.
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Bear & Robert
The singer-songwriter couple will perform at The Will McLean Foundation’s Sunday Sampler Concert Series at 2 p.m. April 23 in the historic Dunnellon Depot, 12061 S. Williams St., Dunnellon. A $15 donation (cash please) will be collected at the door. More at https://www.facebook.com/willmcleanfestival/
College of Central Florida Percussion Ensemble and Brass Ensemble
These groups will perform at 3:30 p.m. April 23 at the Webber Center on the CF campus, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala. The concert is free and open to the public. More at CF.edu/VPAEvents or 352-873-5810.
COMING SOON
‘METAMORPHOSIS’
An opening reception for this student and emerging artist exhibition will be 5:30-7 p.m. April 24 at Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., in the first and second floor lobbies. An award ceremony will be on the first floor at 6:30 p.m.
“Guests will experience the work of students and emerging artists on display while enjoying music by Janet Skehan of J & J Flute. Complimentary refreshments will be provided,” organizers say. More at 352-629-8447 or www.ocalafl.org/culturalarts.
College of Central Florida Jazz Ensemble
The group will perform its spring concert at 7:30 p.m. April 25 at the Dassance Fine Arts Center on the Ocala campus, 3001 SW College Road. This performance also will feature the CF Jazz Band. The concert is free and open to the public. More at CF.edu/VPAEvents or 352-873-5810.
Bassel & the Supernaturals
This funk group will be featured from 7-9 p.m. April 28 at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex, 1510 NW Fourth St., Ocala. It is part of the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series, which presents a weekly concert April 14 through June 23 (excluding May 26.) Admission is free; bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Ladies Night Out
The second annual edition of this event, sponsored by North Central Florida Media, will be 4-8 p.m. April 28 at the College of Central Florida Vintage Farm, 4020 SE Third Ave., Ocala.
“For a $10 admission, guests 21 and up may sip on two complimentary drinks, shop with market vendors, indulge in mini spa services, snap a free selfie photo, snack on light hors d oeuvres and register to win Morgan Wallen and Bryan Adams concert tickets,” organizers say. More at www.937kcountry.com and windfm.com
The Magic Bronze
This handbell ensemble will be in concert at 4 p.m. April 29 at the Congregational Church, 15421 S. U.S. 301, Summerfield. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at thecongregationalchurch.org or by calling (352) 693-4545. Proceeds benefit the Magic of Bronze and the Infant & Toddler Pantry, a mission of the church.
'(POP) Music Americas: from Rio to The Big Apple’
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra presents its season finale concert at 7:30 p.m. April 29 and 3 p.m. April 30 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. “This concert will feature iconic pieces such as ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with pianist Evan Haile and new works such as ‘Fifteen: Symphonic Fantasy on the Art of Andy Warhol,’ which will have its Southern U.S. premiere during the concert,” the Reilly says. More at reillyartscenter.com.
Ocala Youth Symphony’s 24th Spring Concert
This performance of classical works and contemporary pieces will be at 3 p.m. April 30 at First Christian Church, 1908 E. Fort King St., Ocala. Free admission; a love offering will be accepted.
‘Newsies'
This Disney musical, set in New York City during the summer of 1899, will be onstage May 4-21 at the Ocala Civic Theatre. More at ocalacivictheatre.com
Free First Saturday at the Appleton
The Appleton Museum of Art has free admission on May 6, since that is the first Saturday of the month. The museum is at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
‘Music in the Air’
The Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band will perform this concert at 2 p.m. May 6 and 3 p.m. May 7 in the Browne Greaton-Cole Auditorium on the campus of Marion Technical Institute, 1614 E. Fort King St., Ocala. Free, but donations accepted.
“We will feature our principal horn player, Bob Heifner, performing Gary Kuo's exciting ‘Wingspan.’ Les and Marcia Muncaster return to perform Les' arrangement of ‘Partners in Life,’ celebrating the relationship between a first responder and their K-9 partner. There will be some other fun music, some marches, and some band favorites. The KOSs Brass Quintet will provide some early entertainment 35 minutes prior to each concert,” organizers say.
Marion Civic Chorale Spring Concerts
The performances of “Some Enchanted Evening - Music from the Stage & Screen” will be 3 p.m. May 7 at St. George Anglican Cathedral, 5646 SE 28th St., Ocala, and 3 p.m. May 14 at Countryside Presbyterian Church, 7768 SW State Road 200, Ocala. Concerts are free; donations welcome to support the Grat L. Rosazza music scholarship. More at https://www.facebook.com/groups/marioncivicchorale/
ONGOING
'Upcycled: Turning Waste Into Wonder'
This exhibit is up at the Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala, through April 29. “Fifty local and regional artists display works created from repurposed, recycled, and/or found objects and materials,” organizers say. Gallery hours at the Brick: 10-a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays.
2023 CF Student Art Exhibition
This annual show is up through May 4 at the CF Webber Gallery, located on the CF Ocala campus, 3001 SW College Road. The gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and admission is free. More at 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.
‘Plantastic’
The Discovery Center’s “Plantastic” exhibit is up through May 6 at the center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala.
“Follow Bobbi the Botanist on an adventure to see all the ways that plants power our world. Check out the mini hedge maze and be the insect in the larger-than-life flower garden,” the City of Ocala said in a news release.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. General admission to the center is $8 per person/$28 for a family of four. More at 352-401-3900 or the Discovery Center page at www.ocalafl.org.
'Revolutionized Textile & Fiber: The Art of Ingrid Humphrey'
An art exhibit, “Revolutionized Textile & Fiber: The Art of Ingrid Humphrey,” is up through May 25 at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala. It is free and open to the public. More at 352-629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
'Blessed be the Birds'
An art exhibit, "Blessed be the Birds,"by Courtney Kravig-McGuire, is on display at the Clerk's Office at Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., through June 9. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This exhibit is free and open to the public. Learn more at www.direct.me/theinkyibis, 352-629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
'Big and Bold'
This exhibit is on view in the Edith-Marie Gallery at the Appleton Museum of Art through May 21. All works are modern and contemporary art, many of which have never been on display at the Appleton.
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This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala/Marion County weekend fun includes Earthfest, concerts
