What's Happening: 'Free Fridays,' 'Live & Local,' outdoor movie, summer reading, more
JUNE 10
“FREE FRIDAYS” CONCERT: Catch the next performance of the city’s popular “Free Fridays” concert series from 8 to 10 p.m tonight at the Bo Diddley Plaza downtown amphitheater, located at 111 E. University Ave. The free concert series highlights a different act each week, with Heavy Petty performing tonight. Heavy Petty is a Tom Petty tribute band. Attendees are encouraged to bring their blankets and lawn chairs to Bo Diddley Plaza to enjoy the concert under the stars. For more information, including a list of upcoming performances, visit bodiddleyplaza.com/upcoming-events.
JUNE 16
LIVE & LOCAL SPRING CONCERT SERIES: Gainesville is once again celebrating local talent with its free Live & Local Spring Concert series at Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave. This series is held on Thursday nights every month. The line ups will include emerging bands, singer/songwriters and independent artists, and it will offer a diverse mix of musicians who are local or connected to Gainesville's music community. Each all-ages show will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. On June 16, the series is going full rock ’n’ roll with the Lo-Minds and Shine from Shine & The Shakers. This show is going to shred, so be prepared! For more information, visit musicgnv.com/liveandlocal.
JUNE 17
TIOGA OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT SERIES: The 2022 Tioga Movie Night Series continues at 7 p.m. June 17 with “Soul.” Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and enjoy the movie under the stars. This is a free outdoor movie screening. Tioga’s restaurants and coffee shop will be open before and during the film so attendees can purchase dinner or snacks to round out the evening. According to IMDB.com, “Soul” follows a New York jazz pianist who, after landing the gig of a lifetime, suddenly finds himself trapped in a strange land between Earth and the afterlife. This film is rated PG and has a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. Upcoming movies in the Tioga Outdoor Movie Night Series include “Sing 2” on July 8 and “Clifford the Big Red Dog” on Aug. 12.
ONGOING THROUGH JULY 31
SUMMER AT THE LIBRARY: Dive into Summer at the Library: Oceans of Possibilities with the Alachua County Library District through July 31 with programs for all ages and opportunities to win prizes all summer. Participants will receive a free tote bag with a book upon registering while supplies last. Sign up and track your reading and summer fun using our Beanstack website or app for chances to win a tablet from PDQ Restaurant and weekly pizza prizes from Five Star Pizza. Register online at aclib.us/summer or any library branch. All 12 library locations will hold special programs throughout the summer for kids, teens and adults, including art classes, STEM activities, craft lessons and story times. Registration is required for some programs; visit aclib.us/events to sign up. Summer highlights include “Ocean Tales,” which will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesdays in June and July, live on Zoom and Facebook. Meet marine animal friends, including manatees, sea turtles and dolphins from Florida zoos, museums and aquariums. In “Battle of the Books,” teens can register and receive three free books for this annual trivia competition. Patrons ages 11 to 17 can sign up now and select which library branch team they’d like to compete with during the “Battle of the Books” at 2 p.m. July 23 on Zoom. Visit aclib.us/summer for the full schedule of programs and reading lists for all ages, including 2022 Summer Picks for elementary and secondary school readers created by the Alachua County Library District and Alachua County Public Schools. All Summer at the Library programs are free and open to everyone.
ONGOING THROUGH AUGUST
“UNAPOLOGETIC!”: The Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center is featuring artistic works by Gainesville artist Yvonne Ferguson. The show is entitled “Unapologetic!” and features images of cultural and human rights icons as well as notable and groundbreaking musicians. Describing her subject matter, Ferguson said, “My creative passion is fueled by the people of the African Diaspora. I love the culture, creativity and fortitude of its people. I am inspired by our ceaseless adaptability and how the essence of our being always creates something out of anything.” Ferguson displays her work through her online gallery, Diasporic Pigments. Visit the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center at 837 SE Seventh Ave. This exhibit will run through August 2022. Admission is free. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and by appointment for schools and other groups. Call 226-8321 or email info@cottonclubmuseum.com for more information. All safety recommendations are being followed with masks required inside. Hand sanitizers and purified air will make the exhibit both safe and enjoyable.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: 'Free Fridays,' 'Live & Local,' outdoor movie, more
