Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee

We're dancing toward February and this year Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday are all jammed up. Get the good times and gumbo rolling before the Feb. 13 party and plan something sweet for your sweetie on Feb. 14.

Good music is already jammin' this weekend with Tampa blues guitarist Selwyn Birchwood on Friday at House of Music.

It's fitting in the week after legendary leader of Parliament/Funkadelic George Clinton got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, P-Funk keyboard player Danny Bedroisian plays a musical rollout for his book release, "The Authorized P-Funk Song Reference: Official Canon of Parliament-Funkadelic 1956-2023" on Saturday at the House of Music.

Here's a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.

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1. House of Music gets funky

Tampa blues guitarist and songwriter Selwyn Birchwood brings soulful vocals to a show at House of Music, 2011 S. Monroe St., at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26. Birchwood's "Electric Swamp Funkin' Blues," can be heard on his recent album "Exorcist," released in 2023. He is the winner of the Blues Foundation's 2013 International Blues Challenge, as well the winner of the Albert King Guitarist of the Year award, presented at the same event. Tickets are $45 general and $35 front section. Visit houseofmusictally.com.

George "Dr. Funkenstein" Clinton got his Hollywood Star on Jan. 19 and at 8 p.m. Saturday longtime P-Funk keyboard player Danny Bedrosian gets his book. Bedrosian and his trio Somn Fierce (featuring Bakari Hines on drums, and Jose Serrano on bass) play at House of Music in support of his recent release, "The Authorized P-Funk Song Reference: Official Canon of Parliament-Funkadelic 1956-2023." Copies of the book will be available at the show. Dance to some great funk music from Bedrosian, as well as some classic P-Funk favorites. $15 cover.

2. Tallahassee Community Chorus celebrates bicentennial

The Tallahassee Community Chorus will celebrate Tallahassee's bicentennial with a concert of music from the movies at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Thrill to a live performance of movie music with choir and orchestra, including favorites from "Star Wars," "Jurassic Park," "Spider Man" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Dance like it’s 1824 in the lobby before the concert starting at 3 p.m., meet some characters from our history, hear some great music. The multidisciplinary event will feature theatrical experiences by Theater with a Mission and the premiere of a brand new work by local artists to celebrate Tallahassee/Leon County’s Bicentennial. Tickets are $10-$25. Visit tcchorus.org or call 850-597-0603.

3. Songs and jams at Blue Tavern

Get your weekend started with Two Clever at the Blue Tavern on Friday. Everett Young kicks things off at 5, with Lori G. joining him after shaking loose the shackles of that ol' 9-to-5. Solessé returns to Blue Tavern – this time as a 4-piece from 8-11 p.m. Saturday. $10 cover.

4th Saturday Old Time Jam cranks up from 4-6 p.m. Try the delicious Ukrainian food from our Saturday chef. Jazzetcetera steps up from 7-11 p.m. with jazz influenced by tango, rumba, flamenco rumba, bossa nova and more. The band, featuring Richard Bertram on saxes/clarinet/bass/vocals, Michael Blizzard on flute/piano/vocals, Stan Rosenthal on guitars/bass/piano/ukulele/vocals, and Pam Ryan on viola/vocals, will get the house buzzing! $5 cover.

The rest of the week: Happy hour cranks up with Anya Kharchenko from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, who sang at recent benefit for people of Ukraine, followed at 8 p.m. by Belmont & Jones with early blues. $5 cover. On Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. the Kenny Hill Band brings bluegrass and family talent with Ken Baldauf - banjo, accordion, vocals, Brian Hill - guitar, mando, vocals, Katie Hill - fiddle andJennifer Hill - upright bass, vocals. Stick around at 8 p.m. for Open Mic Night. Thursday from 5-7 p.m., catch Bramble's Bluegrass Jam, followed at 8 p.m. by Music of the Spheres First Thursday. $5 cover.

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4. Help the oyster reefs with happy hour

Hearth & Soul, 1410 Market St., is throwing a Save Florida Oyster Reefs Happy Hour from 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26. The special event with South West Florida Reefs aims raise awareness for the preservation of Florida's oyster reefs. Experience an engaging evening, featuring a trailer screening of their latest film 'UNFILTERED: The Truth About Oysters,' a Q&A session, oyster shucking, Oyster City beer tasting and an exclusive Half Shell Vodka tasting crafted with oysters served in the half shell.

5. 'Disney's The Little Mermaid' splashes down in Quincy

Quincy Music Theatre's Stage11 opens "Disney's The Little Mermaid," based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, this weekend with shows running Jan. 26-Feb. 4. Directed by Robyn Smith Peters, the beautiful love story for the ages, features music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture your heart.

Showtimes will be 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26, Jan. 27 and Feb. 2-3 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28 and Feb 3-4. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors/military, and $15 for students. All shows will take place at The Quincy Music Theatre, 118 East Washington St., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Box Office will be open 1 hour prior to show time. Tickets are available at Stage11.org or by calling the Box Office at 850-629-9596.

Bonus event: 'Join or Die' documentary

Village Square presents "Join or Die" film screening, a feature documentary, 6:45-8:45 p.m. Friday, Challenger Learning Center. What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most importantly: What can we do about it? The answers are surprising, and not as agonizing as you might have imagined. The feature documentary follows the half-century story of America’s civic unraveling through the journey of social scientist Robert Putnam. Tickets $10. Visit tlh.villagesquare.us.

Bonus event: Meet the Sons of Serendip

Sons of Serendip is a musical group of four friends, who through a series of serendipitous events, came together in graduate school at Boston University. Catch them as part of Florida State University's Opening Nights at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at Turner Auditorium at Tallahassee Community College. Tickets are $35. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu.

Micah Christian, a former teacher from Randolph, Massachusetts, is the lead vocalist of the group; Cordaro Rodriguez, a former attorney from Charlotte, North Carolina, is the pianist and guitarist; Nathaniel Taylor, an accomplished, classically trained cellist; and Mason Morton, who is a former teacher from Atlanta, is the harpist for the quartet.

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OTHER EVENTS

All Saints Cinema: Tallahassee Film Society shows "The Old Oak," a film about the last pub standing, the only remaining public space where people can meet in a once-thriving mining community at All Saints Cinema, 918 1/2 Railroad Ave. Showtimes at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, and 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 and Sunday, Jan. 28. $11 general admission and $9 TFS members. Visit tallahasseefilms.com.

The Bark: Thunder The Snake w/ Falls Chase, Chaos and The Crimson Wing, Conor Churchill on Saturday, Jan. 27, at The Bark, 507 All Saints St. Doors open at 8:30 p.m., show at 9 p.m. $10 cover.

Great Oaks Pub at Southwood: The January lineup of duos continues with “Tillman and Taff” inside in the Great Room from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at Great Oaks Pub, 3750 Grove Park Drive. Tillman & Taff will be playing a variety of classic rock, blues, dance and original music. Full bar and Restaurant. Call 850-942-4653 for reservations, no cover charge for this event.

The Sound Bar: One Eye Jack at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26. Brett Wellman and the Stone Cold Blues Band at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27. 1105 W. Tharpe St.

Square Dance Lessons 7-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29, Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N Monroe St., second floor ballroom. Learn how to square dance with the Capital Twirlers Square Dance Club.  $3 per person per lesson for 12 weeks . For more information, contact ebguthrie@comcast.net  850-386-1440 or facebook.com/Tallahasseetwirlers.

Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 5 fun things to do around Tallahassee this weekend