First Friday Art Walk, last chances at 'Dracula': Fun things to do this weekend in Ocala
THIS WEEKEND
'Dracula'
This show is onstage through Nov. 6 at the Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. The Carpathian Count returns once again, as always, to Victorian England, delivering nefarious deeds and innumerable victims. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 ages 18 and younger. NOTE: The subject matter in this play is not appropriate for children. More at 352-236-2274 or https://ocalacivictheatre.com/.
First Friday Art Walk
First Friday Art Walk will be held 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 4 in downtown Ocala. Hands-on art activities, local artists selling their wares, participating businesses with extended hours, live music and entertainment, including The Mudds Jazz and Blues Band.
Second annual Ocala Food & Wine Festival
This festival will be Nov. 4-6 at the World Equestrian Center, 1750 NW 80th Ave., Ocala. Organizers describe it as a "celebrity chef-led celebration featuring three days of culinary competition, beer, wine and spirits education and samples of extraordinary cuisine." Ticket details and more at https://www.ocalafoodandwinefest.com/.
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Dixie Echoes
Christ’s Church of Marion County, 6768 SW 80th St., Ocala, welcomes the Dixie Echoes to the concert stage at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4. Free and open to the public; donations gratefully accepted. More at 352-861-6182.
Block Party on Broadway
The Marion Cultural Alliance hosts the Block Party on Broadway fundraiser at the Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala, Nov. 4-26. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Nov. 4 with open gallery hours from 7-9 p.m.; tickets $50 for MCA members and $55 for non-members. Exclusive VIP access available. More at www.mcaocala.org, admin@mcaocala.com or 352-369-1500.
McIntosh 1890s Festival
This festival will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 in downtown McIntosh. Shopping, food, vendors, arts and crafts, antiques and more. More at https://mcintosh1890sfestival.com/.
Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band
The Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band will perform its 11th annual "Veterans Light the Stars" concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E. Fort King St., Ocala. Free and open to the public. Featuring a variety of musical selections, fireworks, and a special guest appearance by Les and Marcia Muncaster. Bring blankets and lawn chairs; bleacher seating will be available. More at (352) 390-0491 or https:/kingdomofthesunband.org.
COMING SOON
'Best of the Season' exhibition
The Visual Arts Society presents an exhibition at the CF Webber Gallery, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, Nov 7- Dec. 8. This annual favorite includes a variety of styles and mediums. “Best of the Season” is one of two annual opportunities for society members to display their works. Opening reception Nov. 18 from 5-7 p.m. Free and open to the public. More at 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.
'Breaking Bread' film screening
The College of Central Florida Ira Holmes International Film Series continues Nov. 8 with this 2019 Israeli film, which explores Israel’s groundbreaking A-Sham Festival. Note: May Contain Mature Content. There will be two screenings: 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., and 7 p.m. at the CF Ocala campus, 3001 SW College Road, Building 8, Room 110. Films at CF campus are free and open to the public; Appleton attendance is free to museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission. more at 352-854-2322, mcginnel@cf.edu or www.CF.edu.
'Water'
The CF Wind Symphony and the CF Patriot Singers will present “Water” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Dassance Fine Arts Center at the CF Ocala campus, 3001 SW College Road. "This collaboration includes musical selections that celebrates our connection to water – from the Mississippi River to the bottom of Lake Superior to a home aquarium – which connect the audience to Earth’s most precious element," the school said in a news release. " 'Water will feature performances by guest composer Joshua Mazur. The CF Wind Symphony is directed by Ash and the CF Patriot Singers are directed by Dr. Jason Longtin." More at CF.edu or 352-854-2322, ext. 1419.
Down East Boys
Christ’s Church of Marion County, 6768 SW 80th St., Ocala, welcomes the Down East boys to the stage Nov. 11 for an evening of gospel music and community. Free and open to the public; donations appreciated. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and showtime is 6:30 p.m. More at www.ccomc.org.
Sister Hazel
The Billboard chart-toppers return to the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala, on Nov. 11. Performance is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets from $25 at the box office from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. More at www.reillyartscenter.com or 352-351-1606.
Marion Civic Chorale Concert Series
The Marion Civic Chorale community chorus performs Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. at Countryside Presbyterian Church, 7768 SW State Road 200, Ocala. All concerts are free and open to the public; donations to fund the annual Grat L. Rosazza music scholarship are gratefully accepted and much appreciated. More at www.marionchorale.com
Jewish Choral Music Through the Ages
The Shabbatones pour Hebrew, Ladino and Yiddish favorites into an exciting mix of new music arrangements on Nov. 13 at Highlands Presbyterian Community Church, 1001 NE 16th Ave., Ocala. The program features secular, religious and folk songs played and performed in unique ways. Guest performances by Cantor Deborrah Cannizzaro of Congregation Schaarai Zedek of Tampa and conducted by Maestro Will Kesling. Performance starts at 5 p.m. More at www.shabbatones.org.
ONGOING
Brown & Brown Farms Fall Extravaganza
Brown & Brown Farms, 13940 U.S. 301, Oxford, has re-created its traditional 8-acre Corn Maze. Also featured: pumpkin house/patch, crafters, artisans, vendors, live music, food trucks, special events and activities for the whole family. The extravaganza runs every weekend through Nov. 13. It is open 3-10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Ticket information at BrownandBrownfarms.com. More details at 352-615-4419 or Suzanne@BrownandBrownFarms.com.
Blow Up II - Inflatable Contemporary Art
Larger-than-life inflatable art has transformed the Edith-Marie Appleton Gallery and museum lobby at the Appleton Museum, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. This exhibition, up through Dec. 11, explores the imaginative and often whimsical ways artists use air as a tool for creating large-scale sculpture, with work from eight renowned artists of the medium. Special events will be announced throughout the life of this exhibit. More at www.appletonmuseum.org or 352-291-4455.
‘Looking on the Brighter Side'
This exhibit from Jennifer Weigel is up through Jan. 9 at the Ocala Recreation and Parks Administration building, 828 NE Eighth Ave., and Eighth Avenue Adult Activity Center, 830 NE Eighth Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Free and open to the public. A city news release describes Weigel as "a multi-disciplinary mixed-media, conceptual artist" whose work "utilizes a wide range of media to convey her ideas, including assemblage, drawing, fibers, installation, jewelry, paint, performance, photography, video and writing." More at www.jenniferweigelart.com, 352-629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces.
'Colorful Pleasures'
This art exhibit from Christine Dozier is up through Jan. 17 at the Ocala International Airport, 1770 SW 60th Ave., Suite 600. Free and open to the public. Dozier, an Ocala resident and Memphis native, works in oils and acrylics. More at www.christinedozier.com, 352-629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces.
'A Floral Retrospective'
This exhibit of Gregory Dirr's work is up through Dec. 9 at the Clerk’s Office in Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. Free and open to the public. Boca Raton-based Dirr is described in an Ocala city news release as "an interdisciplinary visual artist, creating work as a cathartic response to his surroundings with a focus on environmental conservation." The clerk's office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. More at www.gregorydirr.com, 352-629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces.
'Squares Without Stitches'
This exhibit is up at the Barbara Gaskin Washington Adult Activity Center, 210 NW 12th Ave., Ocala, through Jan. 12. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free and open to the public. More at www.ocalafl.org/recpark, 352-368-5517 and Ocala Rec Park on Facebook.
Photographs by Steven Benson
The Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, presents “Invented Observations: Photographs by Steven Benson,” on exhibit through Nov. 6 in the Balcony Gallery for Florida Arts. Benson is a professor at Daytona State College and is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Midwest Fellowship. His work has been displayed in numerous collections, including the Museum of Fine Art Houston, Detroit Institute of Arts and Museet for Fotokunst in Denmark. More at 352-291-4455 or www.AppletonMuseum.org.
'Finding Beauty'
This exhibit features costumes, set photos, interactive experiences and sketches, along with a plethora of fabrics and video of the costume design process. These objects, from the Appleton Museum’s permanent collection, inspired the art and design for the Ocala Civic Theatre’s recent production of "Beauty and the Beast." This exhibit runs through the winter of 2022. The museum is at 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. More at www.appletonmuseum.org.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala, Florida weekend entertainment includes First Friday Art Walk
