Things to do in Tallahassee: Hop on the Ferris wheel or catch a food festival
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Oysters in Apalachicola. spanakopita in Tallahassee. It's a good weekend to enjoy the flavors of the area at the Florida Seafood Festival, the Greek Food Festival and the smorgasbord of corn dogs and candy apples at the North Florida Fair.
It's also Mule Day in Calvary, Georgia, complete with Chicken Pilau dinner, cane grinding and a mule show and parade.
It's First Friday and there's a batch of new exhibits to check out from Venvi Gallery to Railroad Square.
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Blue Tavern is hosting an Evening of Ellington, Two Foot Level fires up the Bradfordville Blues Club and Disney Princesses serenade for Opening Nights.
The Florida State Seminoles are in Miami to take on the Hurricanes at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. FAMU faces Southern University Jaguars at 6 p.m. in Bragg Stadium.
Here's a roundup of entertaining happenings around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.
Take a spin at the North Florida Fair
Breathe in the cotton candy smells and hear the happy screams of riders at the 80th Annual North Florida Fair, which runs Nov. 3-13 at the North Florida Fairgrounds, 441 E. Paul Russell Road. Don't miss a stroll through the displays of home goods, prize hens, rabbits and goats. Catch the Show-me Swine racers, Magic Mayhem or the Cowboy Circus. There's a range of advance tickets deals and specials at various days and times. For details visit northfloridafair.com.
Ride out for Mule Day
The humble mule has a big day on Saturday. Calvary, Georgia, is home to about 200 people but on the first Saturday of November, the population swells to upwards of 30,000 (not counting mules) for the Calvary Lions Club's Annual Mule Day Festival at 156 McCraville Road in Calvary. Proceeds of the festival go to Lions Sight programs and local charities.
Mule Day features a Mule Show at 1 p.m. Saturday to remember the mule and its significant contribution to the area's agriculture. Come early to visit over 350 arts & crafts exhibitions, delicious food concessions, cane grinding, and syrup making. The event kicks off Friday with a Chicken Pilau dinner. On Saturday booths open at 8 a.m. and the Mule Museum opens at 9 a.m. Visit calvarylionsmuleday.com.
Celebrate the oyster at Florida Seafood Festival
59th Annual Florida Seafood Festival on Nov. 4-5 is a two day event annually drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the historic town of Apalachicola in scenic Franklin County. The Festival is held at the mouth of the Apalachicola river under the shady oaks of Apalachicola’s Battery Park.
The festival opens with the blessing of the fleet at 4 p.m. and the arrival of King Retsyo and Miss Florida Seafood, Autumn Loesch, at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Christian music headliner Hope Durst performs at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the festival runs from 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m. and features delicious seafood, arts and crafts exhibits, seafood related events, and music headliner Chris Cagle at 8:30 p.m. Some of the notable events include Oyster Eating and Oyster Shucking contest, Blue Crab Races, Photo Contest, Parade, 5K Redfish Run, The Blessing of the Fleet, History of the Festival Exhibit and Tonging For Treasure.
Holy baklava! Don't miss the Greek Food Festival
Load up on baklava, gyros, pastitsio and spanakopita at the Greek Food Festival presented by the Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5, at the church, 1645 Philipps Road.
This year’s entertainment line-up features performances by Greek dancers and a traditional Greek band. Work off your meal by dancing some of the oldest dance traditions – from the Kalamatianos to the famous Zorba.
Songwriters Tret Fure, Joe Crookston play Blue Tavern
Tommy Hoople's Delta Ringnecks kicks off the weekend at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday. Singer-songwriter Tret Fure fires it up at 7 p.m. and folk artist Joe Crookston gets cranking at 9 p.m. $10 includes both shows.
Fure, whose latest CD is "Stone by Stone" in 2020, is "a singer-songwriter who draws you into her personal world." Crookston is songwriter, guitarist, painter, fiddler, slide player, eco-village member. Whether he’s picking his 48 Gibson, weaving through lap slide songs or looping his fiddle, he will draw you in.
It's First Saturday Swim with Bluegill Bill from 5-7 p.m. at Blue Tavern. Bronwyn Chelette is bringing the banjo and guitar. Then from 8-11 p.m. enjoy "An Evening of Ellington," a night celebrating the music of Duke Ellington with Wayne Pearcy on trumpet, Sasha Tuck voice, Andrew Sallow piano, Allen Cadet-Civil bass, and Michael Bakan percussion. $10 cover.
The rest of the Blue Tavern week: 5-7 p.m. Tuesday is Brazilian music with Paddy League, followed by Blues Meets Girl from 8-10 p.m. $3 cover. Wednesday happy hour is from 5-7 p.m. with Benn Green and Kirill Litvak, followed by Open Mic Night at 8 p.m. Jim Crozier & The Girls play 5-7 p.m. Thursday, featuring Crozier, Ksena Zipperer & Angie Prather - also with Ben Banks and Mike Stone. Songwriters in the Round takes over at 8 p.m. with Craig Daniel Hardin, featuring Mary Z. Cox, Ric Edmiston, and Michael Brawer. $5 cover.
Get on the Two Foot Level at Bradfordville Blues Club
Tallahassee's Two Foot Level brings their high energy five piece ensemble to the backwoods of Bradfordville Blues Club at 7:30 p.m. Friday night. The band blends an amalgamation of instruments and genres mixing Bluegrass, Americana, Folk, Reggae and Rock into a roots stew. The band consists of Ruben Fields on guitar; Ross Beck on Clawhammer Banjo; Todd Bevis on Upright Bass; Dillon Bradley-Brown on Drums; and Jason McMillan on Mandolin who team up on original material. Advance tickets are $20 at bradfordvilleblues.com. Cover at the door is $25. Bring an appetite for Ms. Ernestine's famous fried catfish and sausages.
Ben Prestage brings his one-man band to the BBC at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. A consummate entertainer, Ben dazzles with his many homemade cigar box guitars, broom stick bass, banjo, drums and cymbals, and myriad other instruments. Prestage's shows are funky, gritty, soulful and fun. Advance tickets are $20 at bradfordvilleblues.com. Cover at the door is $25.
The BBC's Juke Joint Jam continues Sunday starting at 3 p.m. The jam is open to all comers at all levels and is free to participants and the public. This month will feature a free Harmonica Clinic presented by Chris Balding starting at 1 p.m. Chris will help you learn "How to Get the Most Out of Your Amp" demonstrating different amp sizes mics and techniques. Thank you to the November sponsor, Tapestry Senior Living Lakeshore.
Leap into a weekend of 'Evening of Dance'
Florida State University’s School of Dance will present “An Evening of Dance,” an annual event to showcase the inventive choreography and diverse performance talent of the university’s students and faculty.
Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 4-5 in the Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre in Montgomery Hal on the FSU campus. Hall School of Dance Associate Professor Hannah Schwadron will facilitate a pre-show discussion.
Tickets are $20 adults, $17 senior citizens, $12 children and $10 for FSU students; visit dance.fsu.edu.
Disney Princess at Opening Nights
Disney Princess: The Concert comes to Tallahassee's Ruby Diamond Concert Hall at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, performing the beloved music of Disney's Princesses as part of Opening Nights.
Cast members include Christy Altomare, Broadway's original Anya in Anastasia, Susan Egan, Broadway's original Belle in Beauty and the Beast and the voice of Meg in Hercules; Isabelle McCalla, Broadway's Jasmine in Aladdin; and Syndee Winters, Broadway's Nala in The Lion King. Concertgoers are encouraged to dress up in their best royal attire. Tickets are $50-$65. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu.
Bach Parley presents Autumn Curiosities
The Tallahassee Bach Parley is excited to present Autumn Curiosities – a quirky and fun program of works from Chaconnes to Capriccios that showcase a variety of musical personalities. The concert of Baroque Music for Strings and Viola da gamba will have an open dress rehearsal at 3 p.m. Saturday with the concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. John's Episcopal Church, 211 N. Monroe St.
Bach Parley Director Valerie Arsenault remarks that the concert’s title was inspired primarily by Carlo Farina’s Capriccio Stravangante, which features familiar instruments making unusual sounds, such as dogs barking or cats fighting.
For more information, visit bachparley.org.
EXHIBITS
Venvi Art Gallery: First Friday opening reception for “Deco-Lyricism” by Dr. Selena Nawrocki is from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Venvi Gallery, 2901 E. Park Ave. Nawrocki blends the boundaries between axonometric renderings and Fine Art in her first solo exhibition with Venvi. “Deco-Lyricism'' will be open through Feb. 12. Hot Tamale, an acoustic duo made up of Adrian Fogelin and Craig Reeder, will perform from 5:30-8 p.m. Visit venviartgallery.com.
SideTrax Studio: A new gallery, music venue as well as art workspace will be open for First Friday from 5-9 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Breezeway Market, along with other interesting shops, across from the Mickee Faust Theatre in Railroad Square Art Park, 608-1G Railroad Square. The gallery name comes from the proximity to the railroad tracks that give this popular art park its name. It was established in the summer of 2021 by Wendy Morgan, artist, in collaboration with Richard Bertram, musician, and features painting, sculpture, photography, and pottery in addition to in-studio concerts. First Friday is a fun, community-based gathering in Railroad Square.
OTHER EVENTS
Great Oaks Pub at Southwood: The Great Oaks Pub, 3750 Grove Park Drive, welcomes back the legendary Brand Brothers Band from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4. The quartet is composed of Glen Brand, Terry Brand, Tony Chapman and Rick Weathersby. The group has been entertaining Tallahassee for decades and features the best of '60s and '70s pop and soul. No cover. Call 850-942- 4653 for reserved seating.
Mark Leadon Band: Mark Leadon Band with Bill McGuire, Richard Bevis, and Jack Nettles will perform from 7-10 p.m. at First Friday at Railroad Square Craft House in Railroad Square.
Punk'n Chuck'n: Don't discard your Halloween masterpiece. Chuck it into the streets of Railroad Square. Mickee Faust's annual Punk'n Chuck'n event is the first Sunday after Halloween, 2-4 p.m. Nov 6. There is a $2 entry fee per pumpkin. Free to watch. BYO soggy punk'n to hurl. Costumes & artistic chuck'n performances are encouraged. Kids and dogs are welcome!
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"Misery': Theatre Tallahassee presents an adaptation of the Stephen King novel at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Theatre Tallahassee, 1861 Thomasville Road. Misery follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car crash by his “number one fan.” Tickets are $25-$15 Visit Theatretallahassee.org.
Crooked River Lighthouse Full Moon Climb: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in Carrabelle. See breathtaking views of the bay and Carrabelle Beach under the glow of the full Beaver moon. Advance reservations for a climb timeslot are required. $8 for adults and $3 for children. All climbers must be at least 44 inches tall. Contact 850-697-2732.
FSU's Homecoming Live Featuring Social House: FSU’s Homecoming Live is rescheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Tucker Civic Center even though FSU’s Homecoming in general was pushed back to the spring. A select group of student performers entertain the audience and the evening culminates with Social House. For tickets, visit tuckerciviccenter.com.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Weekend fun: catch a fair ride, savor Greek Food, Florida Seafood fest
