Packed weekend! Live music, theater, car show and more: Fun things to do in Ocala

THIS WEEKEND

'The Spitfire Grill'

This musical is onstage at the Ocala Civic Theatre Feb. 8-25. More at ocalacivictheatre.com

An Evening of French Love Songs with Helene Nicole

This valentine music event will be 7-9 p.m. Feb. 16 at Chelsea Art Center, 3305 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, in Chelsea Square. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Light refreshments. Tickets at chelseaartcenter.com/register or 352-804-1272.

Chi-Town Transit Authority

This Chicago tribute band plays at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets from $25. More at reillyartscenter.com

In The Air Tonight, Celebrating the Music of Phil Collins & Genesis

This tribute concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets from $25. More at reillyartscenter.com

14th annual Charity Car Show

CANCELED - This event, presented by Marion County Tax Collector Georg Albright, will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 17 at the McPherson Governmental Complex, Southeast 25th Avenue just south of Fort King Street. Show is open to all vehicles past and present. Music, fun for kids, food, craft vendors and more.

13th annual Knap-In | Silver River Prehistoric Arts Festival

CANCELED - This event will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 17-18 at Silver Springs State Park. Visitors also can tour the Silver River Museum, hike or bike the trails of the state park, or canoe and kayak on the Silver River. Admission is $8 per person (children 5 and younger free). Free park entry and parking. Cash or mobile pay by phone at the gate. All proceeds support educational programs at the Silver River Museum. Full details at https://silverrivermuseum.com/

'Dead in Deadwood'

This production from Vanguard High School’s VHS Players is their ninth annual murder mystery dinner theater. The shows will be Feb. 16 and 17 in the Vanguard High Knights Union, 7 NW 28th St., Ocala. Performances begin at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30. Dinner served at 6:15. Tickets are $20 and include Lee’s Famous Fried Chicken and the show. Tickets are only sold online: www.vhs-players.com, https://www.vancoevents.com/us/39323 http://www.vhs-players.com or https://marionschools.revtrak.net/High-Schools/vanguard-hs/vhs-ve/. Advance reservations required.

'A Wrinkle in Time'

The Academy at Ocala Civic Theatre will present this youth production of Madeleine L’Engle’s classic Feb. 16-18 at the E.D. Croskey Center, 1510 NW Fourth St., Ocala, adjacent to the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and 2 p.m. Feb. 17 and 18. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for ages 18 and younger. Buy tickets through the OCT box office, (352) 236-2274 or www.ocalacivictheatre.com

Brian Smalley/The Will McLean Foundation Sunday Sampler Concert Series

This show begins at 2 p.m. Feb. 18 in the historic Dunnellon Depot, 12061 S. Williams St., Dunnellon. Donation is $15 (cash preferred) at the door.

COMING SOON

Remembering John Denver, a tribute starring Ted Vigil

This show will be onstage at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets $25. More at reillyartscenter.com

'Hammer In'

The city of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department hosts this event 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E. Fort King St. The event is free and open to the public. "The public is invited to this free event to see the blacksmith shop in action and learn from masters of the trade as they work around the shop on 15+ portable forges. Forged in the Fire champion, and construction site lead, Keith Hill, will be in attendance to share how he continues to educate the community about 1800s history and techniques," organizers say. Parking at the Duke Energy Lot. A shuttle to the fort will be available. More at www.fortkingocala.com or 352-368-5517.

The Ocala Symphony Orchestra: 'Rhythmic Tides'

These performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 and 3 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Adults, tickets from $15; students, $10. "Feel the power and beauty of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s full string section," organizers say. More at reillyartscenter.com

Merrill Evangelistic Team concert

Friendship Baptist Church presents this gospel music concert at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at the church, 9510 SW 105th St., Ocala. Free. Love offering collected. More at 352-237-2064.

Author George Singleton

The College of Central Florida Debra Vasquez Memorial Literary Series will host author George Singleton for two reading and signing events at the Ocala campus: 7-8 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Ewers Century Center and 12:30-1:45 p.m. Feb. 28 in Building 8, Room 110. "Singleton, a novelist, short story writer and essayist, is recognized as one of America's notable humor writers. He is a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship Award and a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers," CF said in a news release. "The Debra Vazquez Memorial Literary Series honors CF English and creative writing professor Debra Vazquez, who died as a result of domestic violence in 2004." Free. Open to the public. More at coopersa@cf.edu.

24th annual Greek Festival

St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church, 9926 SE 36th Ave. (CR 467), Belleview, sponsors this festival, which will be held 11 a.m.-8 p.m. March 1 and 2 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. March 3. Authentic Greek food and pastries, drinks, live music, folk dancers, vendors, children's activities, door prizes, raffles and more. Admission is a $2 donation. Children younger than 12 admitted free. Free parking. More at www.GreekFestivalOcala.com

Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band: 'Springtime Serenade'

The band's next concerts will be 2 p.m. March 2 and 3 p.m. March 3 at the Marion Technical Institute auditorium, 1614 Fort King St., Ocala. Pre-concert entertainment starts one hour before the shows. Free and open to the public.

Marion County Master Gardeners' annual Spring Festival

The festival will be held 8 a.m.-4 p.m. March 9 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 10 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. More at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu

The Ocala Symphony Orchestra: From Hogwarts to a Galaxy, Far, Far, Away!

This performance will be at 7:30 p.m. March 9 and 3 p.m. March 10 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Adult tickets from $15; students pay $10. "Grab your wand and lightsaber and join us for a night of pure musical enchantment! The OSO will perform scores from two of the most beloved movie franchises of all time: 'Harry Potter' and 'Star Wars.' As the orchestra plays soaring melodies to epic battle themes, images from these iconic films will be brought to life on the screen above," organizers say.

Ocala Youth Symphony

The symphony will present a concert at 3 p.m. March 10 at Countryside Presbyterian Church, 7768 SW State Road 200, Ocala. "The group is in its 25th year and is under the direction of Cindy Warringer," organizers say. A love offering will be taken. More at 352-237-4633.

Southeastern Pro Rodeo

The 31st annual Southeastern Pro Rodeo will be March 15-16 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2200 NE Old Jacksonville Road, Ocala. Tickets are $25, online or purchased at an advance ticket outlet. Children 5 and younger are free. More at www.OcalaRodeo.com or (352) 421-3199.

ONGOING

'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 new 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'

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

'Seeing Christ in the Darkness: Georges Rouault as Graphic Artist'

The Webber Gallery at the College of Central Florida presents this exhibition, featuring a variety of graphic works by Georges Rouault (1871-1958), the 20th century master expressionist painter and printmaker, Jan. 8-March 17. Admission is free. The gallery, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. More at 352-854-2322, ext. 1664 or cf.edu

'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 entertainment highlights include theater, live music, car show