Gainesville and Alachua County's entertainment week ahead — Dec. 5-11

HAPPENING NOW

Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration at the Historic Thomas Center: 6- 8 p.m. Dec. 7, 302 NE Sixth Ave. The giant holiday tree can be viewed at the Spanish Court. There will be light refreshments. Santa will visit with the children. The joyful sounds of holiday music on the hammered dulcimer and autoharp by Jim and Joyce Lillquist of the Gypsy Guerrilla Band will be heard along with the dulcet carols sung by the Singers of the Reformation and the Gainesville Harmony Show Chorus. Children of all ages will enjoy the snow falling at the Thomas Center entrance throughout the event. There will be horse and wagon rides provided by the Duckpond Neighborhood Association for a small fee.

Tamayo, The Boas, Estro: 9 p.m. Friday, High Dive, 210 SW 10th Ave. Suite A. A night of local music. $8 ADV, $10 DOS. https://highdivegville.veeps.com

Ben Brainard, Jeff Horste: 8 p.m. Saturday, High Dive, 210 SW 10th Ave. Suite A. $25 ADV, $30 DOS. Brainard is a comedian, originally from Daytona Beach, now living in Orlando. Horste showcased his comedic talent at Comedy Central twice.

A Not-So Silent Night with DJ Franco and DJ Omy: 10 p.m. -2 a.m., Saturday, High Dive. General admission, $5. https://highdivegainesville.com

Christmas at Butler Event: 4-7 p.m. Friday, Butler Plaza and Town Center. Holiday-themed activities. Live performances from Gainesville Dance Academy, Gainesville Youth Chorus, P.K. Yonge, Dance Ink of Gainesville, Sun Country Sports Center Gymnastics, Sun Country Dance Theatre, Mayra Kucera Strings Academy, The Rock School’s Band and Choir, IndepenDance Studio, and Sedoctaves. Sound equipment donated by Guitar Center. Attendees will enjoy sweet treats from Butler favorites Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Trader Joe’s, and Nothing Bundt Cakes (opening Spring ‘22). Other delicious options include Grub Burger Bar, T-Yummi, Chicken Salad Chick, and Foxtail Coffee Co. Massage Envy will offer free chair massages while Orangetheory and CycleBar plan to engage guests with games and races. Kids can stop by the Cricket Wireless table for a fun holiday experience.

2021 UF Poinsettia Sale: Dec. 9-11, Greenhouse #1363 behind Field Hall adjacent to the Plant Science Facility. Thursday shopping by appointment only, with no appointment — open to everyone Friday -Saturday.

A Peter White Christmas: 8 p.m. show, 7 p.m. doors open Dec. 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, in partnership with The Florida Theatre. (Ticketmaster .com $66.00-- $116.50) Tickets for A Peter White Christmas go on sale at 10 a.m. now at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Box Office Ticketmaster.com)

Gainesville Modern Quilters: Now through Jan. 30, Hotel Indigo, Celebration Pointe, 4949 Celebration Pointe Ave. More than 20 quilts created by the members of the guild will be on display. Attendees will have the option to purchase some of the quilts. Gainesville Modern Quilters is the local chapter of the international Modern Quilt Guild. The group meets monthly to learn new skills, plan projects and events.

LAST CHANCE

Sunday Evenings at Holy Trinity: 6 p.m. Dec. 12, Holy Trinity Church, 100 NE 1st St. in downtown Gainesville. Jazz Vespers Featuring unique service of readings and jazz standards, presented by Ned Davis and friends.

Dance Alive National Ballet presents the 55th year of the Nutcracker at three regional venues — the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the Legacy Park Multipurpose Center in Alachua, and the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala. (www.dancealive.org) Phillips Center: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18-19, 352-392-ARTS, Phillips Center Box Office https://performingarts.ufl.edu/events/dance-alive-national-ballet-the-nutcracker/ Nutcracker in Alachua 7 p.m. Dec. 9 Free at Amphitheatre at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center, Nutcracker in Marion County, 7 p.m. Dec. 14, Reilly Arts Center in Ocala. Tickets, www.reillyartscenter.com/events

Between Heaven & Earth, The Paintings of Alyne Harris: Now through Jan. 15, 2022; part of the City of Gainesville’s Of This Place permanent art collection. This exhibit is a community cultural asset and features 200 paintings by Gainesville native Alyne Harris, who paints to express both her lived experiences and her profound spiritual life. Harris' work draws heavily from African-American traditions including jumping the broom in her wedding scenes. Her paintings call on viewers to travel the paths of their own recollections, an exchange that becomes part of the work itself. Her work reminds the viewer that revisiting the past can connect us with the present and the future.

Black C Art Gallery, Journal Entry performance piece: Now through Saturday, Dec. 11. The gallery is currently transformed into a black box theatre for the duration of the new performance piece. Conceived and created by dancer/choreographer Ani Collier, director/writer Lauren Warhol Caldwell and actress Sara Morsey, "Journal entry” incorporates text, poetry, music, and movement. The story revolves around a mystery text found inside a journal. What lies inside? What lies on the other side?….

GFAA GALLERY: Perfect for holiday gifts there are smaller original artworks for sale in the gift shop . Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Friday 1 - 6 pm and Saturday 11 am - 4 pm. 1314 S. Main Street.

Lione Bart’s Oliver: Consider Yourself At Home: Thursday - Sunday through Dec. 19, The Gainesville Community Playhouse (GCP), Vam York Theater, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. (.gcplayhouse.org) GCP invites you to “Consider Yourself At Home” with Lionel Bart's classic musical, Oliver! Based on the novel, Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens.

CASTING CALL

Oscar Wilde’s "The Importance of Being Earnest," Directed by Andrea Young. Auditions 7 - 9:30 p.m. today, Dec. 5 Performance dates: January 28-February 20, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. (carolyne@acrosstown.org, 352-275-7790). This is the second round of auditions to replace those people who were cast back in February, 2020, and not available to commit to new show dates.

UPCOMING

Sunday Assembly: 11 a.m., Dec. 19, Pride Center at the Liberty Center, 3131 NW 13 St. in person and via Zoom,.Masks required if not fully vaccinated. (sagainesville.weebly.com SundayAssembly32601@gmail.com) Guest speaker Angela Betancourt., studying to become a Functional Health Coach and is a licensed Massage Therapist. The topic: “10 Ways to Boost Your Health and Happiness,” and focus on seasonal challenges. Discussion following presentation. Music will be provided by our SA musicians with the opportunity to sing along.

Valley Maker (Austin Crane): Dec. 18, High Dive, 210 SW 2nd Ave. When The Day Leaves Released via Frenchkiss Records earlier this year and making a stop here in Gainesville for his North American tour.

Story Time on the Green: Holiday Edition: 10 a.m. Dec. 14 - 18, Alachua County. Library staff will share holiday tales and lead activities perfect for infants through 5-year-olds at library green spaces and parks. (abrooks@aclib.us or 352-334-3914)You can join in merry songs, fingerplays, and storyboards to spark your child's imagination and communication and reading skills.

• Tuesday, Dec. 14: Possum Creek Park, 4009 NW 53rd Ave.; Cone Park Branch, 2801 E. University Ave.,Lois Forte Park, 120 NW 260th St., Newberry

• Wednesday, Dec. 15: Headquarters Library courtyard, 401 E. University Ave.; Hawthorne Branch, 6640 SE 221st St.; Wilson Robinson Park, 13975 SW 174th St., Archer; High Springs Farmers Market, 23517 NW 185th Road.

• Thursday, Dec. 16: Veterans Memorial Park playground area, 7400 SW 41st Place, Gainesville. Smokey Bear Park, 2300 NE 15th St., Gainesville. Library Partnership Branch team. Waldo Branch, 15150 NE US Highway 301. Hitchcock Baseball Park playground, 15120 Main St., Alachua

• Saturday, Dec. 18: Park by the fire station, corner of NE Cholokka Boulevard and NE Seventh Ave. Micanopy.

Tools to Quit Tobacco group: 6-8 p.m., Dec. 21, Palms Medical Group – High Springs, virtual options available via computer or phone. Pre -registration required by calling 866-341-2730. Free. Receive tips on how to deal with triggers, withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse, and also receive up to 4 weeks of FREE nicotine patches, gum or lozenges. This group more than doubles your chance of quitting for good.

ONGOING

Florida Impressions" exhibition: New exhibit, Harm Museum or Art, 3259 Hull Road Hull Road. https://harn.ufl.edu/linkedfiles/pressrelease-floridaimpressions.pdf permanent exhibition includes more than 50 paintings depicting the state's environment, people and history, and celebrates the transformative gift of 1,200 works of art from Sam and Robbie Vickers; includes works by Martin Johnson Heade, Thomas Moran and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

The Harn Museum: Plural Domains: Selected Works from the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation Collection. The exhibition aims to advance cultural understanding and educational dialogue among Latin American artists and global audiences. Plural Domains will span both venues, with works on view at the Harn Museum of Art from now through April 24, 2022 and the University Galleries from now to Dec. 3, 2021.

Shadow to Substance: Now through Feb 2022, The Melvin and Lorna Rubin Gallery, The Harn Museum, 3259 Hull Road. The exhibition creates a chronological arc from the past to the present into the future using historical photographs from the Harn and Smathers Library collections and through the lens of Black photographers working today.

Good News Arts: Collaborates with local, regional, and national artists to provide creative education opportunities, exhibitions, and cultural programming to the community. Good News Arts serves as a community center, free and accessible to all. Located in High Springs at the First Avenue Centre, 23352 W HWY 27, Suite 80.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens: 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. or dusk today, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Drive. Admission, $10 adults, $5 children ages 5-13, free for children under 5 years old accompanied by parents. (kanapaha.org) Dogs on a leash and up to date on vaccines with no history of aggression are allowed in the park. Garden hours: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday - Wednesday, and Friday, closed Thursday. 9 a.m.- 7p.m. or dusk Saturday and Sunday.

Afternoon Adventure Camp: 2 - 5 p.m. Wednesdays at the Cade Museum, 811 S. Main St. This mid-week opportunity will focus on challenges that boost kids' creativity and imagination. Cade Museum educators help children ages 5-11 engage in a broad range of hands-on STEAM experiments and activities. In the Creativity Lab and Fab Lab, children will explore and improve skills in 3D design, coding, robotics, and more. Cade’s educators will be available to help children in kindergarten through 5th-grade address homework challenges. Registration is open. Members receive a discounted rate.

Little Sparks ages 0-5: 12:15 -1 p.m. Saturday, Cade Museum, 811 S. Main St. Children will receive a personal Little Sparks kit with all of their own supplies, plus make and takes that extend the fun and learning at home. Our BRAIN and Sweat Solution exhibits will also be open for Little Sparks noon – 5 p.m.

Matheson Museum: “When Johnny Came Marching Home: Outdoor exhibition, located on the westside of the main Matheson building behind the set of flags along Sweetwater Branch. (378-2280, mathesonmuseum.org)This sculpture was designed by Ken Mc Gurn and fabricated by Matthew Pollard. The exhibit honors all of those who served. McGurn served in the Army and Army Reserves from 1963- 1979. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1965 and Germany from 198-1970. Current exhibits in person and online include “Trailblazers: 150 Years of Alachua County Women,” celebrating the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in the U.S.; McCarthy Moment: The Johns Committee in Florida on display online and in person. Hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 513 E. University Ave.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville's entertainment week ahead — Dec. 5-11