Symphony Under the Stars on Mother's Day tops Ocala's weekend entertainment list

THIS WEEKEND

‘Newsies'

This Disney musical, set in New York City during the summer of 1899, is onstage through May 21 at the Ocala Civic Theatre. More at ocalacivictheatre.com

'Newsies' is onstage at the Ocala Civic Theatre through May 21.
'Newsies' is onstage at the Ocala Civic Theatre through May 21.

The Lisa Kelly and JB Scott Jazz Sextet

This performance, part of the Reilly Noir Jazz Series, will begin at 7:30 p.m. May 12 at the NOMA Black Box at the Reilly, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. “Guests will experience an engaging, entertaining show of ‘Classic Swing to New Orleans’ repertoire, with favorites from the Great American Songbook, to modern jazz, and tunes in the spirit of New Orleans,” organizers say. More at reillyartscenter.com

Shayna Steele

This soul performance will be featured from 7-9 p.m. May 12 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.

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Marion County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale

This event will be 8 a.m. to noon May 13 at UF IFAS Extension, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. Free admission. Bring a wagon.

Ocala Historic Home & Garden Tour

This event, organized by the Historic Ocala Preservation Society, will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 13. Starting location will be 712 E. Fort King St., Ocala.

“Six historic homes will be available for viewing around two of Ocala’s downtown Historic Districts,” organizers say. “Guests will have the opportunity to purchase separate tickets (in limited quantity) for three one-hour workshops on floral arranging, candle-making, and how to create a festive charcuterie board. Workshops will be at the Bryant House alongside local vendors who will have floral arrangements and gift items on display and for sale. Food & drinks will be available for purchase at select locations.”

Tickets available for purchase at SpringHomeandGardenTour.eventbrite.com and at Your Hearts Desire, 915 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.

Ocala TayTay Party

This celebration of Taylor Swift will be at 9 p.m. May 13 in the NOMA Black Box at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. “This Taylor Swift-inspired dance party features raffles of Taylor merchandise and select signed merchandise at the night's end. This event is open to all ages and encourages guests to dress up in their best Taylor-inspired outfits as they dance the night away,” organizers say. No seating; standing room only. Tickets $20 until May 12 at 11:59 p.m. Price is $30 the day of the show. More at www.reillyartscenter.com

Marion Civic Chorale Spring Concert

The final performance of “Some Enchanted Evening - Music from the Stage & Screen” will be at 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/

Symphony Under The Stars

Fine Arts For Ocala’s (FAFO) Mother’s Day tradition continues on May 14 at the Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E. Silver Springs Blvd. The Ocala Symphony Orchestra will perform as people enjoy their picnic meals. Tickets purchased online are $20 for adults 18 and older. Kids are free. At the gate, adult tickets are $25. Kids are free. Gates open at 3 p.m. The opening act is at 5 p.m. and the symphony starts at 7. Fireworks show will be at approximately 8:45 p.m.Bring your own food and beverages or purchase from vendors. Ocala Golf Club will be selling beer and wine. More at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fafos-symphony-under-the-stars-tickets-513054839837?aff=ebdsoporgprofile 

COMING SOON

Summer Spotlight XXVI

The Visual Artists’ Society presents this show, “which showcases the work of local and regional artists in a wide variety of mediums,” according to organizers. It will be up at the College of Central Florida Webber Gallery May 15-July 20. The gallery is located at the CF Ocala campus, 3001 SW College Road. An opening reception and awards ceremony is set for 5-7 p.m. May 26. The gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Admission is free. More at 352-854-2322, ext. 1552 and CF.edu.

The Malpass Brothers

This classic country band will be featured from 7-9 p.m. May 19 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.

Classic Albums LIVE: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ ‘Damn the Torpedoes’

This performance will be 7:30 p.m. May 19 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets from $20. More at https://www.reillyartscenter.com/ 

‘Gross Out’

The Discovery Center’s newest exhibit will be up May 20 through Aug. 26. The center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala, is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The center will be closed May 7-19 for exhibit installation.

“Science can be fun, but also gross,” the City of Ocala said in a news release. “This new exhibit will address some of the grossest science subjects, such as what blood is made of, how loud a burp is and the identification of animals by their waste.  Visitors will explore the world of creepy crawlies, gross smells and stinky science.”

General admission to the center is $8 per person or $28 for a family of four. Annual memberships are available. More at 352-401-3900 or www.mydiscoverycenter.org.

History lecture

Robert Jacob, author/historian on the pirates of the Florida coastline and the golden age of piracy, will speak at 2 p.m. May 21 in Green Clover Hall, 319 SE 26th Terrace, Ocala. Reception following the program at the nearby Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology. Admission free to members, $5 to nonmembers.

Streetlife Serenader 

This Billy Joel tribute will be onstage at the Reilly Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. June 3. Tickets $25-$40. More at reillyartscenter.com 

Opera Tampa

This company, based in Tampa, is the resident company at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. It will perform at 1 p.m. June 11 at the Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St., Ocala. The singers “will be performing a selection of arias from favorite operas and popular Broadway tunes,” organizers say. Tickets are free but must be picked up at the Circle Square Cultural Center box office during normal business hours. Limit two per household. More at.StrazCenter.org/OperaTampa/About-Opera-Tampa and https://www.csculturalcenter.com/events/opera-tampa-2023/ 

ONGOING

'Ocala: The Art of Community'

This exhibit is up through May 27 at the Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala. The show features the work of 50 MCA artist members inspired by images throughout the Ocala metro area. Gallery hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 

'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: Symphony, theater and more: Fun things to do this weekend in Ocala