'Baskerville' at OCT, live music and more: Fun things to do this weekend in Ocala

Ocala Star-Banner
·8 min read

THIS WEEKEND

Megan Taylor, Christian Gonzales and Trafton Crandall n 'Baskerville' at OCT.
Megan Taylor, Christian Gonzales and Trafton Crandall n 'Baskerville' at OCT.

'Baskerville'

The latest show at Ocala Civic Theatre is onstage through April 7. "In this dizzy delight starring the iconic detective duo (Sherlock and Watson), our intrepid investigators and masterminds of mayhem prowl the desolate moors of Devonshire in 1890s England, chasing a howling hellhound with a nose for trouble," OCT says. "Legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes (James Ray Taylor III) and his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson (Brian Creary) seek to solve the mystery of the Baskerville family curse before a new heir is doomed to die." More at ocalacivictheatre.com

Jah Movement (Reggae)

This concert is part of the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series and will take place 7-9 p.m. March 29 at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex, 1510 NW Fourth St., Ocala. Concerts will take place every Friday through May 17. Free admission. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. More at www.ocalafl.gov/levittamp or on Facebook @LevittAMPOcala

COMING SOON

'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'

The College of Central Florida’s Musical Theatre Department will perform “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” a new musical inspired by the Victor Hugo novel and including songs from the Disney film. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. April 4, 5 and 6 and 3 p.m. April 7 at the Dassance Fine Arts Center on the CF campus, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for non-CF students. CF students, faculty and staff free with valid ID. For tickets and information, call 352-873-5810 or visit CF.edu/VPAEvents

Metalachi (Heavy Metal Mariachi)

This concert is part of the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series and will take place 7-9 p.m. April 5 at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex, 1510 NW Fourth St., Ocala. Concerts will take place every Friday through May 17. Free admission. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. More at www.ocalafl.gov/levittamp or on Facebook @LevittAMPOcala

The Reilly Noir Series: Carlos Vizoso Band

This show will be onstage at 7:30 p.m. April 5 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets from $25.

Central Florida Master Choir 2024 spring concert: 'Soaring Spirits'

The performances will be at 3 p.m. April 7 at the Dunnellon Presbyterian Church and 3 p.m. April 21 at the Countryside Presbyterian Church on SR 200. The choir will be under the direction of Harold W. McSwain and accompanied by GayLyn Capitano and the New Moon String Ensemble. "The major work will be 'Mass No. 3 in B-flat Major' by Franz Schubert," organizers say. "The second half will include secular music, such as 'I Bought Me A Cat', 'I’ll Be Seeing You,' 'Ezekiel Saw de Wheel' and 'Amazing Grace.' ” Free-will offering will be taken.

‘Story Walk: A Journey Through the Forest and Around the World’

The city of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department, in partnership with Community Stages, presents this event April 13 at Scott Springs Park, 2825 SW 24th Ave. "The shaded walking trail at Scott Springs Park will offer a unique opportunity to enjoy mini plays along the path," organizers say. "Stories from different parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, and Asia will be performed by a talented troupe of young artists. Guests can expect to be captivated by energetic and engaging performances. The diverse performance styles will ignite guests’ imaginations and sense of adventure while immersing them in storytelling from around the world."

Sessions will be held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and will run approximately one hour. $5 per family; registration required. Visit www.ocalafl.gov/RecPark or access the Community Stages website. More at the Fort King Visitors Center, 352-368-5533.

The Ocala Symphony Orchestra: Melodious Accord

This performance will be at 3 p.m. April 14 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets from $15."The Ocala Symphony Orchestra Chorus presents a concert of choral Americana, featuringarrangements of shaped-note tunes by Alice Parker, original works by Stephen Paulus, RandallThompson, and spirituals," organizers say.

Earthfest/Ocala's Arbor Day Celebration

The city of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department is sponsoring this event 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20 at Tuscawilla Park, 800 NE Sanchez Ave. Kids activities, Youth Fishing Derby from 10 a.m. to noon, eco-friendly vendors, animal rescues, food trucks, live entertainment. More at www.ocalafl.gov/earthfest or 352-368-5517.

ONGOING

'The 2024 CF Student Art Exhibition'

This annual event at the College of Central Florida showcases the work of Visual Arts and Digital Media students. The exhibition will be up through April 30 at the CF Webber Gallery, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala. "The exhibition provides a platform for students to display their work in a professional environment and highlights the variety of artistic expressions and dynamic skill sets of CF students," organizers say. The Webber Gallery is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. More at CF.edu/Webber or 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.

'Karen Glaser: Swamps and Springs' and 'Across the Threshold of India: Photographs by Martha Strawn'

These two photography exhibits are up through July 7 at the Appleton Museum of Art. The Glaser show includes photos "from the magnificent Everglades to the pristine rivers and springs of north central Florida," the museum says, while the Strawn show "takes us on a visual journey farther from home. The High Springs-based artist shares her travels throughout India to document one of the world’s longest and least-known religious practices — the art of sanctifying space through the creation of threshold diagrams."

The Appleton, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. More at 352-291-4455 or appletonMuseum.org

'Outsider Aviary: Robert W. Smeltzer’s Birds of America'

This exhibit, from the permanent collection of the Appleton Museum of Art, "features a selection of hand-carved birds by Robert W. Smeltzer (1906-1997), all inspired by John James Audubon’s (1785-1851) 'Birds of America,' " the Appleton says in a news release. The exhibit is up through Aug. 4. The Appleton is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. It is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. More at 352-291-4455 or appletonMuseum.org

'Turtle Travels'

This exhibit at the Discovery Center is up through May 11. The center is at 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala, and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. "Explore the world of turtles and tortoises to learn about their various habitats, migration patterns, and the threats they face," the city of Ocala said in a news release. General admission: $8 per person or $28 for a family of four. More at 352-401-3900 or www.mydiscoverycenter.org

'Water’s Margins: Paintings of Florida’s Springs by Margaret Ross Tolbert'

Margaret Ross Tolbert, “Springs Rising,” 2021, Oil on canvas, 90 ¼ x 75 x 3 5/8 in. Gift in Honor of Frances and E.L. Tolbert.
Margaret Ross Tolbert, “Springs Rising,” 2021, Oil on canvas, 90 ¼ x 75 x 3 5/8 in. Gift in Honor of Frances and E.L. Tolbert.

This exhibit is up through June 2 at the Appleton Museum of Art. Tolbert is a Gainesville-based multimedia artist. The Appleton is at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. More at www.appletonmuseum.org or (352) 291-4455.

'Wanderlust'

This exhibit from Maven Photo + Film is up through July 2 at the Ocala International Airport, 1770 SW 60th Ave., Ocala. " 'Wanderlust' features Maven Photo + Film’s artistic, landscape photography highlighting Florida’s natural beauty," organizers say. Free and open to the public. More at the city of Ocala Cultural Arts Division at 352-629-8447 or artinfo@ocalafl.gov; or visit www.ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces

'Tranquil Realms'

This exhibit from Lorene de Aranzeta is up through May 13 at the Recreation and Parks Administration building, 828 NE Eighth Ave., and the Eighth Avenue Adult Activity Center, 830 NE Eighth Ave. Free and open to the public. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

"Lorene de Aranzeta is a visual artist known as Lor Gill," the city of Ocala says in a news release. "She is a certified Bob Ross painter and instructor from the Bob Ross Art Workshop & Gallery in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. 'Tranquil Realms' showcases Lor Gill’s certified Bob Ross landscape oil paintings. All paintings are original Bob Ross painting re-creations using his protected technique and products."

More at the city of Ocala Cultural Arts Division at 352-629-8447 or artinfo@ocalafl.gov; or visit www.ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces

'Bodies of Water'

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This exhibit from Rebecca Pujals-Jones is on display through June 11 at the clerk’s office, Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. The exhibit is free and open to the public. " 'Bodies of Water' is a long-term project and traveling exhibition focusing on the urgent need for water preservation and protection across Florida," organizers say. Pujals-Jones is a fine art and commercial photographer based in Central Florida. More at www.pujalsjones.com, the city of Ocala Cultural Arts Division at 352-629-8447 or artinfo@ocalafl.gov, or www.ocalafl.gov/artincityspaces

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This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala weekend highlights include 'Baskerville' at OCT.