Scene Calendar: Fun things to do in Gainesville Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2021

MUSIC

Music at Holy Trinity: 5 p.m. Sunday, Holy Trinity Church. 100 NE First St. Free. (holytrinitygnv.org) Annual St. Andrew's Day Service in its 26th year featuring the Holy Trinity Choir, bagpipes, Scottish singing and dancing, and conductor/organist John Lowe. A reception (wine and hors d’oeuvres) will follow.

“A Swingin’ Little Christmas!”: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $10-$60. (performingarts.ufl.edu, 392-2787). Ring in the holidays with Jane Lynch (“Glee”), Kate Flannery (“The Office”) and Tim Davis (“Glee”). This heartfelt, hilarious performance of “A Swingin’ Little Christmas!” will feature lively, finger-snapping takes on classic holiday tunes as well as nostalgia-steeped originals.

Black Violin: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Jacksonville. Tickets: $39.50-$49.50. (floridatheatre.com, 904-355-5661) Black Violin is led by classically trained string players Wil B. on viola and Kev Marcus on violin. Joining them onstage are DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes. The band uses their unique blend of classical and hip-hop music, often described as “classical boom,” to overcome stereotypes and encourage people of all ages, races and economic backgrounds to join together to break down cultural barriers.

Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2021: 8 p.m. Thursday, Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Jacksonville. Tickets: $43-$83. (floridatheatre.com, 904-355-5661) Jazz saxophonist Dave Koz is bringing back his annual Christmas show. Joining him this year are guitarist Jonathan Butler, saxophonist Richard Elliott and trumpeter Rick Braun.

THEATER

“Journal Entry”: 5:30 p.m. today and Dec. 9, Black C Art Gallery, 201 Southeast Second Ave., Suite 111. Tickets: $15. (bit.ly/journaltickets) "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?

“Oliver!”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 19, Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets: $23 general admission, $19 seniors, $12 students. (gcplayhouse.org) Based on the novel “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens, the show, set in Victorian London, follows the trials and tribulations of young orphan Oliver as he seeks safety and to be loved. Masks required.

“Miracle on 34th Street”: 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 23; extra showings 7 p.m. Dec. 21, 2 p.m. Dec. 22 and 7 p.m. Dec. 23, Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets: $10-$47. (thehipp.org) A last-minute replacement Santa for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade claims to be the real Kris Kringle, and the belief of a little girl brings love, happiness and the heart of the holiday spirit to all.

“Friends! The Musical Parody”: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Jacksonville. Tickets: $39-$49. (floridatheatre.com, 904-355-5661) “Friends! The Musical Parody” is the comedic musical that lovingly pokes fun at TV’s “Friends,” celebrating the adventures of your favorite group of 20-something friends as they navigate the pitfalls of work, life and love in 1990s Manhattan. Recommended for mature audiences.

“A Christmas Carol”: Noon and 3 p.m. Saturdays plus 7 p.m. Sundays beginning Thursday through Dec. 23; extra showings 2 and 5 p.m. Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Dec. 21, 7 p.m. Dec. 22 and 2 p.m. Dec. 23. Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets: $15-$42. (thehipp.org) Hippodrome’s very own adaptation of the holiday classic returns. Unite with family and friends in a Gainesville holiday tradition of singing and storytelling for all ages.

“Gruesome Playground Injuries”: 8 p.m. Thursday sneak-peak performance, then 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Dec. 3-19, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 619 S. Main St. Tickets: $5 sneak preview, then $20 general admission, $15 seniors, military and students. (bit.ly/playgroundinj21) Doug and Kayleen meet at the nurse’s office in their elementary school. Over the next 30 years, these scar-crossed lovers meet again and again, brought together by injury, heartbreak and their own self-destructive tendencies.

ET CETERA

Old Tyme Farm Days and Swap Meet: All day today-Saturday, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, 3076 95th Drive, Live Oak. Tickets: $12 adults on Saturdays, $10 adults on Fridays, $8 adults Sundays-Thursdays, $2 children. (suwanneelights.com/tickets)

Celebration Pointe Tree Lighting: 5:30-9 p.m. today, Celebration Pointe, 5001 Celebration Pointe Ave. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Holiday event featuring the lighting of a 40-foot tree, a special holiday dance performance by Danscompany of Gainesville and live music from Prime Time.

High Springs Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: 6-8 p.m. today, High Springs Chamber of Commerce, 25 NE Railroad Ave., High Springs. Free. (bit.ly/highspringstree21) Family event featuring vendors with free treats for kids, Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves, a Christmas train, Christmas music and more.

Christmas Express: 6-10 p.m. today-Saturday, Dec. 3-4, Dec. 10-12, Dec. 17-23 and Dec. 26, Kirby Family Farm, 19630 NE 30th St., Williston. Tickets: $15.99 ages 10 and older in advance, $20 ages 10 and older at the gate, $10.99 ages 3-9 in advance, $15 ages 3-9 in advance, free ages 2 and younger. (kirbyfarm.com/the-christmas-express) Annual Christmas train plus rides, a petting zoo, Santa and vendors. The highlight of the evening is a featured train ride through thousands and thousands of Christmas lights pulled by an old-fashioned locomotive.

Suwannee Lights: 6-10 p.m. daily through Jan. 2, 2022, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, 3076 95th Drive, Live Oak. Tickets: $12 adults on Saturdays, $10 adults on Fridays, $8 adults Sundays-Thursdays, $2 children. (suwanneelights.com/tickets) Drive or walk through more than 10 million beautiful, colorful lights along with moving displays, Craft Village, Santa’s workshop and more.

Chomp the Block: 6-10 p.m. today, Celebration Pointe, northwest corner of Interstate 75 And Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Event to kick off the football weekend with live music, food, lawn games and kids' activities in the promenade.

Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park Sinkhole Guided Walk: 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, 4732 Millhopper Road. Cost: $4 per vehicle, $2 pedestrian or bicyclist. (bit.ly/devilsmill) Ask questions and learn about the area and its history while exploring the park with a ranger.

Guided Hike on Rim Ramble: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park North Entrance, 4801 Camp Ranch Road. Admission: $4 per vehicle. (bit.ly/rrhike21) This 1.5 mile trail meanders through a dense upland forest and sinkhole-rich topography. The terrain varies from level ground to gently rolling hills. This hike takes participants into areas of the park that are not open to the public. The walk originates at the La Chua Trail Horse Barn. Sign-up at the Interpretive Trailer located by the Horse Barn.

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation Tour: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation, 8528 E. County Road 225. Tickets: $25 adults, $10 ages 2-11, free ages 1 and younger; $45 motorized-vehicle tours. (carsonspringswildlife.org, 468-2827, contact@cswildlife.org) Take a tour — on foot or in a tour vehicle — of Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation with big-cat feeding demonstrations and up-close encounters with the animals.

Rooterville Animal Sanctuary Self-Guided Tours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Rooterville Animal Sanctuary, 5579 Darwood St., Melrose. Cost: Suggested $10 donation per person or $30 for a family of four. (rooterville.org) Take a map of the sanctuary at the gate to see highlights of Rooterville to help you find your way. Guided tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Historic Haile Homestead Tour: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Historic Haile Homestead, 8500 Archer Road. Entrance: $5 ages 13 and older, free ages 12 and younger. (hailehomestead.org) The Historic Haile Homestead is unique in the nation for its "Talking Walls."

Morningside Cane Boil and Fiddle Fest: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Morningside Living History Farm, 3540 E. University Ave. Free. (bit.ly/caneboil21) Celebrate bygone American traditions of celebrating the fall harvest and live, home-spun music. Demonstrations of historic skills, playing games and plein air drawing plus southern food and guided nature walks.

Horse Feeding: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Mill Creek Farm Retirement Home for Horses, 20307 NW CR 235A, Alachua. Entrance: Bag of carrots. (millcreekfarm.org) The Retirement Home for Horses provides lifetime care to elderly horses seized by law enforcement agencies, rescued by the SPCA or humane societies, as well as horses retired from government service such as police patrol or state and federal parks.

Two Hawk Hammock Happy Hour: 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Two Hawk Hammock, 17950 NE 53rd Lane, Williston. Tickets: $5 ages 13 and older, free for ages 12 and younger. (bit.ly/hammock2021) Live music, food and drinks, barn animals and trapeze flights with Gainesville Circus Center.

Light Up Tioga: 4-8 p.m. Sunday, Tioga Town Center, 13085 SW First Lane, Newberry. Free. (tiogatowncenter.com) Annual tree lighting and holiday festival featuring live entertainment, Santa, vendors and more.

Sweetwater Wetlands Park Wednesday Bird Walks: 8:30-10 a.m. Wednesdays through May 25, 2022, Sweetwater Wetlands Park, 325 SW Williston Road. Admission: $5 per vehicle; $2 for pedestrians, vans and bikes. (alachuaaudubon.org) Discover the rich diversity of birds at one of north central Florida's premier birding hotspots during a two- to three-hour guided walking tour. Birders of all levels welcome. Walks are led by volunteers from Alachua Audubon Society with assistance from Sweetwater Wetlands Park rangers.

Barnyard Buddies: 3-4 p.m. Wednesday, Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E. University Ave. Free; registration required. (bit.ly/barnbuddies2021) Weekly program where youngsters, with an adult, can meet and greet farm animals by helping staff with afternoon feeding. Number of participants will be limited. All attendees must register for each session. Tickets will be made available the Thursday before the next program. Facial coverings are required for all participants over the age of 6 unless exempt. Animals love donations of carrots, squash, apples, sweet potatoes and melons.

“Union Academy and Friends”: 7 p.m. Thursday, Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave. Also streamed via Zoom. Free; registration required. (bit.ly/unionacad, bit.ly/unionacadzoom) Local historian Alfred Awbrey will share his research into the fate of the buildings that once housed Union Academy, Gainesville's first school for African Americans. Capacity will be limited to 50 people and masks are required.

CASTING CALL

“The Importance of Being Earnest”: 7-9:30 p.m. Dec. 4-5, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 619 S. Main St. This is the second round of auditions to replace those people cast in February 2020 who are no longer able to commit to new show dates. (acrosstown.org/category/auditions) Performance dates: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 28-Feb. 20, 2021. No prepared monologues required– expect cold readings from a provided script. British dialects are welcome but not required. Available roles: John Worthing (male, also called Jack. Masquerading as Ernest); Understudies for various roles (you will play the role on certain nights); and backstage personnel. Masks are required while not on stage. Ages and genders are flexible at the discretion of the director. All races, colors, sizes, genders, gender-identities and experience levels welcome.

ART

Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention: The Cade’s latest museum-wide theme, “Toys and Games,” and exhibit, “The Great Indoors,” welcomes explorers young and old to build their own fortress and accept their very own quest into some of their favorite video game worlds; “Measurement Rules,” an interactive exhibit, on display through Jan. 2, 2022. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. $12.50, $10 seniors and college students, $7.50 ages 5-17, free ages 4 and younger. 811 N. Main St. (371-8001, cademuseum.org)

Cedar Key Arts Center: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today open studio for Plein Air, Sketch and Play with Clay; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday open studio for Play with Clay; 1-3 p.m. Monday Beginner Woodworking with Bill Young, Session 5 of 5; 9 a.m. Wednesday Boat Builders; 2:30-5 p.m. Wednesday Shark Sewing Club. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, 457 Second St., Cedar Key. (543-5801, cedarkeyartscenter.org)

Florida Museum of Natural History: “Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies” on display through Jan. 9, 2022. The exhibit is $8 for adults; $7 for Florida residents, seniors and non-University of Florida college students; $5.50 for ages 3 to 17; and free to museum members and UF students with a valid Gator 1 Card. “Tiny Titans” uses authentic specimens, lifelike models and realistic artwork to transform the area into a “Jurassic Park” day care and showcase the rarely seen world of dinosaur parenting. Standing exhibits include the “Our Changing Climate: Past and Present,” “Butterfly Rainforest,” “Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life & Land,” “Northwest Florida: Waterways & Wildlife,” “South Florida People & Environments,” “Exploring Our World,” “Fossil Plant Garden” and “Florida Wildflower & Butterfly Garden.” All standing exhibits are free, but regular admission fees apply to enter the “Butterfly Rainforest” exhibit: $14 for adults ($12 for Florida residents and seniors) and $7 for ages 3-17. Admission is free for museum members and UF students with a valid Gator 1 card. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. 3215 Hull Road. (floridamuseum.ufl.edu, 846-2000)

Gainesville Fine Arts Association Gallery: “Winter Showcase” on display through Jan. 2, 2022. Gallery hours are 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 1314 S. Main St. (gainesvillefinearts.org, info@gainsevillefinearts.org)

Harn Museum of Art: “Tempus Fugit: Time Flies,” a reflection on time and its many meanings, on display through Jan. 23, 2022; “Plant Life: Exploring Vegetal Worlds in the Harn Museum Collection,” featuring 12 works that were chosen because something in them provokes critical reflection on the strange entanglements of humans and plants, on display through Feb. 20, 2022; “Shadow to Substance,” which 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, on display through Feb. 27, 2022; “Plural Domains: Selected Works from the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation Collection,” drawn exclusively from the collection of the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2002 by Ella Fontanals-Cisneros to foster cultural exchange and enrichment of the arts, on display through April 24, 2022; “Global Perspectives: Highlights from the Contemporary Collection,” a celebration of global interconnectedness, on display through Sept. 25, 2022; “Florida Impressions: Gift of Samuel H. and Roberta T. Vickers” includes celebrates the transformative gift to the Harn Museum of Art from Samuel and Roberta Vickers who formed one of the world’s most extensive collections of Florida-themed art; “Everyday to the Extraordinary: Highlights from the Korean Collection” includes objects from everyday life alongside exemplars of artistic production. Ceramics in the exhibition span nearly 2,500 years of history, from the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BCE–668 CE) to the present, while paintings date from the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) and into the 20th century. On display indefinitely; Ongoing exhibitions include “ClayCurvyCool,” “Elusive Spirits: African Masquerades,” “Highlights from the Asian Collection” and “Highlights from the Modern Collection.” Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, 3259 Hull Road. Free. (392-9826)

Matheson History Museum: “When Johnny Came Marching Home: Some Gave All – All Gave Some,” remembering those who came home from war with both physical and mental wounds, on display outside; “Trailblazers: 150 Years of Alachua County Women,” celebrating the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in the United States, on display online; “Lights of Conversation” on display outside; “COVID-19 Community Archives” on display online; “McCarthy Moment: The Johns Committee in Florida” on display online. Hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 513 E. University Ave. (378-2280, mathesonmuseum.org)

Melrose Bay Art Gallery: “Ebb Tide: Works In, On and Of Paper,” featuring the work of Amy Richard, on display through Sunday; Members' Art & Print Pre-Holiday Sale runs through Sunday. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday or by appointment. 103 State Road 26, Melrose (475-3866, melrosebayartgallery.com)

University Galleries: “O-B-S-O-L-E-S-C-E-N-C-E,” featuring the creative output of 24 individuals invited to participate in an interdisciplinary workshop hosted by artist Amalia Pica, on display through Dec. 3; “Plural Domains: Selected Works from the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation Collection” on display through Dec. 3. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. 400 SW 13th St. (arts.ufl.edu/university-galleries)

ALTERNATIVE ART SPACES

Lanza Gallery and Art Supplies: Noon-5 p.m. Sunday Artist Reception honoring all the Lanza Gallery house artists with additional art works for that day. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Friday. 23645 W. U.S. 27, High Springs. (lanzagallery.com, 474-1049)

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Entertainment Calendar: Fun things to do Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2021