Best bets for the weekend: Tioga concert, fire station tour, Mother's Day events

TIOGA CONCERT NIGHT: Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a performance under the stars by Nameless Faces at the Tioga Town Center Amphitheatre. This is a free outdoor concert. Don't forget to visit the Tioga Town Center restaurants for dinner before the show, or to grab take-out to enjoy during the concert. Parking is available near the Tioga Town Center, 33 SW 130th Way in Newberry. FutureTioga Concert Night performances include Jamie Davis on May 27, Ed Roth on June 10, The Project on July 1, Elio Piedra on July 22, Scott Wilson and the Global Jazz Ensemble on Aug. 5 and one more performance TBA on Aug. 26.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK FIRE STATION OPEN HOUSE: Join Gainesville Fire Rescue for a fire station open house focusing on Hurricane Preparedness Week. From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Gainesville Fire Rescue Station No. 1, 525 S. Main St., attendees will be able to tour the station, meet firefighters and learn how to prepare for hurricane season. Representatives from the American Red Cross will be on hand during the free event, and attendees can learn about the nonprofit’s role in hurricane response. Attendees also will be able to make a pillow case go kit as well as receive information from GFR Emergency Manager Chief Withers and a representative from the Alachua County Emergency Management Office. For more information about the event, visit bit.ly/firestation22.

CARSON SPRINGS WILDLIFE MOTHER'S DAY TOUR: Spend Mother’s Day weekend with the mother figure in your life at Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, attendees can bask in the beautiful spring weather as they experience up-close encounters with more than 30 rare species of animals, witness big-cat and rhino feedings, and meet the conservation’s clouded leopard cub, Tosh. The site also offers many photo opportunities. All proceeds from admission go to animal care. Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation is located at 8528 E. CR 225. Tickets are $35 for adults, $10 for ages 3-11 and free for ages 2 and younger. For more information, visit bit.ly/carsonspringsmom22.

WATER PARK COMMUNITY DAY: Camp Kulaqua opens its River Ranch on specific days during the spring and summer at a discounted rate with no reservations required, and it will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday for Mother’s Day. The venue features a 15,000-square-foot wave pool as well as a lazy river, water slide and volleyball courts. The public is allowed to bring food and coolers, but no glass containers or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the water park. Camp Kulaqua requests that modest swimsuits be worn. The water park is located at 23400 NW 212th Ave. in High Springs. The discounted rate is $16 per person; free for children ages 3 and younger. Future community days include May 15, May 30, July 3, July 10, July 24 and Aug. 7. For more information, visit kulaqua.com.

MOTHER’S DAY DANCE CONCERT: Celebrate Mother’s Day as young performers from Next Generation share their gift to the women in their lives who are helping them grow into strong, mature, caring individuals. The group’s annual Mother’s Day Concert is designed to entertain and provide the dancers the opportunity to grow in technique and as performers. Join Next Generation at 4 p.m. Sunday at Eastside High School Theatre, 1201 SE 43rd St., with the potential dancers in your family and then leave with a smile on your face for a Mother’s Day dinner! Works will include neo-classical ballet, traditional ballet, jazz, contemporary works, tap and musical theatre works with music from Strauss to RedOne — “Dream Girls” to “Hair Spray.” Choreography includes new works from Dance Alive National Ballet principal dancers Rachel Ridley and Tales Ribeiro with additional works staged by DANB principals Jessie Dominguez and Andre Valladon. One work, “Desposito,” will be performed in honor of the company’s dear friend, Ukrainian ballerina Oksana Maslova. These 25 dancers look forward to sharing their gifts with you. This performance by Next Generation provides support for DANB’s educational programs. The Next Generation is a group of student dancers who present numerous programs and activities for community service projects in support of Dance Alive National Ballet’s mission and programming. Since September 2021, the group has participated in 19 DANB performances at home and on the road, and presented and performed in 17 community service activities. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. For more information, visit pofahldancestudio.com/works.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Best bets: Tioga concert, fire station tour, Mother's Day events