What's Happening: Florida Emancipation Day Celebration, Sun Country recital and more
MAY 20
FLORIDA EMANCIPATION DAY CELEBRATION: Celebrate Florida Emancipation Day at the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, 837 SE Seventh Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 20. This free indoor and outdoor festival, in partnership with the city of Gainesville’s “Journey to Juneteenth,” begins with a march led by neighborhood organizations at 9 a.m. from Depot Park to the Cotton Club Museum. Entertainment will include Lanard Perry presenting a live jazz band and Negro spirituals by Joy Banks and 1000 Voices, dance and spoken word along with a memorial service for fallen Black Civil War soldiers. The day also will include soul food for purchase from vendors and food trucks, art displays, T-shirts and more. The Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center is an organization dedicated to enriching the experiences of all who wish to grow in knowledge and appreciation of the history and culture of African-derived cultures, highlighting those in Gainesville and North Central Florida. For more information, visit cottonclubmuseum.com.
MAY 20
“LET’S GO TO THE MOVIES”: Dance Sun Country will present their 16 th annual recital, featuring the theme “Let’s Go to The Movies,” beginning at 1 p.m. May 20 at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. This year’s program features approximately 40 dances and includes performances by all students and classes, from the youngest Dance Tots through advanced-level dancers. Many dance styles will be featured, including classical ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, musical theatre, lyrical, contemporary dance and clogging, and will include dance themes such as “Fame,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Footloose,” “Singing In The Rain,” “The Lion King,” “Harry Potter,” “Twilight,” “Encanto,” “Mama Mia,” “9 to 5,” “Toy Story,” “Annie” and “Pirates of the Caribbean,” as well as many others. Tickets for the show are available through the Phillips Center Box Office only. They are $21 for general admission, $18 for ages 3-11, and free for ages 2 and younger. For additional information, contact Sun Country Sports Center at 331-8773 or visit performingarts.ufl.edu.
MAY 20
FIRST NIGHT OF THE HOGTOWN OPRY: The inaugural event of Hogtown Opry kicks off at 7 p.m. May 20 at the historic University Auditorium, 333 Newell Drive, located next to the bell tower on the University of Florida campus. Gainesville actor Gregg Jones will be Master of Ceremonies. Imagine a Florida Opry if it were starting in 2023 — more than a concert — a musical experience, with three bands plus great guest players, both regional and national, and a focus on original songs — bluegrass, roots, Americana — and well-loved standards in a beautiful, historic auditorium. Opening the show will be the Hogtown Opry Band (otherwise known as Patchwork Plus). Leader Cathy DeWitt will join fellow crooners Jolene Jones, Annie McPherson and Janet Rucker, and has invited guests including Brink Brinkman on guitar, Geof Perry on violin/fiddle and Maggie Rucker on vocals to join in the fun. Special guests Nancy Luca and Anna Marie Kirkpatrick will join the band to close the set. After Intermission, it will be time to sit back and enjoy award-winning Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin. The duo combines their talents and blend elements to create their signature sound that includes old-time, bluegrass, jazz, blues, Celtic and country. Completing the evening will be Grammy award winner Louisa Branscomb backed by guitar master Allen Shadd, Josh Harris, bass favorite Barbara Johnson, emerging artist Lucy Becker on vocals and fiddle, and special guests Valerie Smith and Joe Zauner stepping in too. A brainchild of Gainesville music visionary Bill Killeen, the night promises elements of the raucous and the sublime in musical entertainment. Tickets are $40 to $100 and are available through the University of Florida Ticket Office at performingarts.ufl.edu. VIP Orchestra seats are available by calling 392-2787. The University Auditorium, originally known as the Memorial Auditorium and sometimes called the University of Florida Auditorium, is a historic building. For more information, visit hogtownopry.com.
MAY 21
WATER PARK COMMUNITY DAY: Camp Kulaqua opens its River Ranch on specific Sundays during the spring and summer at a discounted rate with no reservations required, and it will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. May 21. The venue features a 15,000-square-foot wave pool as well as a lazy river, water slide and volleyball courts. The public is allowed to bring food and coolers, but no glass containers or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the water park. Camp Kulaqua requests that modest swimsuits be worn. The water park is located at 23400 NW 212th Ave. in High Springs. The discounted rate is $16.50 per person; free for children ages 3 and younger. Future community days include May 29, July 9, Aug. 6 and Aug. 13. For more information, visit kulaqua.com.
MAY 21
SUNDAY ASSEMBLY: Sunday Assembly Gainesville will feature guest speaker Julie Naim, a Master Gardener who presents programs for the Alachua County Extension Service to help people have success in their garden and landscaping. She will talk about the web of life in North Florida and how we are a part of that web. Music will be provided by Sunday Assembly musicians. Sunday Assembly Gainesville is a secular congregation that celebrates life at 11 a.m. the third Sunday of each month. The group will meet at the Pride Center in the Liberty Center, 3131 NW 13th St. It also is possible to attend via zoom. Sunday Assembly Gainesville is a chapter of the Global Secular Sunday Assembly Movement. For more information, visit sagainesville.weebly.com or email SundayAssembly32601@gmail.com.
MAY 26 THROUGH JUNE 11
“CLUE”: Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie that was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, “Clue” — the latest production from Gainesville Community Playhouse — is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery. The tale begins at a remote mansion where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party with murder and blackmail on the menu. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Led by the butler, Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up. “Clue” is the comedy whodunit that will leave both cult-fans and newcomers in stitches as they try to figure out … who did it, where and with what! Catch a show at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays May 26 through June 11 at Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $23 for general admission, $19 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit gcplayhouse.org.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: Hogtown Opry, Water Park Community Day and more
