THIS WEEK
Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday Tea Party
A special tea party celebrating the 250th birthday of Jane Austen will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 9 at The Lynx Books, 601 S. Main St. The free event features guest author Lauren Groff in conversation about Austen’s work, including Groff’s introduction to a new edition of “Mansfield Park.” Attendees can enjoy Jane Austen–themed trivia, scones, and Harney and Sons’ limited-edition Pemberley Grey tea. Period-inspired attire is encouraged. RSVP is required at tinyurl.com/jabt26.
The Other Book, Part 2
Before schools were integrated, Black teachers taught from two books: the official book sanctioned by the segregated school boards, and the other, which taught the truth about Black history. This lecture series, featuring “Arts and Culture” with Dr. Ryan Travis this week, addresses omissions in traditional historical narratives by exploring the significant contributions of Black Americans. It will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 10 at the Matheson History Museum, located at 513 E. University Ave. Admission is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/tobp2.
Gainesville Folk Festival
Take part in the inaugural Gainesville Folk Festival beginning at noon Jan. 10 and continuing through the evening of Jan. 11 at Heartwood Soundstage. The two-day, multi-stage celebration brings together live folk, old-time Americana and roots music alongside participatory dance classes, jam sessions and workshops. Saturday’s programming features mainstage performances by artists including Andrea Von Kampen, Mariee Siou, Short Stack, Wild Shiners and American Dream Survivors, plus kids’ showcases, clogging and contra, English country and international dance classes. Sunday highlights include Patchwork, Uncle Mosie, Swinglewide, Purple Hayseeds and a closing contra dance with Ang DeCarlis & Wild Bill’s Traveling Circus, along with harmony singing, protest-song sing-alongs and open jams throughout the day. Children 12 and younger are admitted free; lawn chairs are welcome, space permitting. Tickets range from $30 in advance to $35 the day of the show, with discounted student, group and supporter options available. Heartwood Soundstage is located at 619 S. Main St. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit heartwoodsoundstage.com.
Marjorie and Me: Some Poems and a Tribute
Award-winning writer and poet Lola Haskins will present Marjorie and Me: Some Poems and a Tribute from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, 18700 S. CR 325 in Cross Creek. The program features poems inspired by places beloved by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, along with an essay honoring her literary legacy. Hosted by the Friends of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Farm, the presentation is followed by the group’s annual meeting. Admission is included with regular park entry of $3 per vehicle; attendees are encouraged to support the Friends organization.
Trauma as a Character in Writing
The Writers Alliance of Gainesville will present teacher, storyteller and author Kathy Connor Dobronyi for a discussion on how trauma can function as a character in writing from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Millhopper Library, 3145 NW 43rd St. Drawing from personal experience and her fiction, Dobronyi will explore levels of trauma, healing and craft. The program is free.
Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour
The Harlem Globetrotters will bring their 100 Year Tour to Gainesville at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, 250 Gale Lemerand Drive. The tour marks a century of the team’s global influence on the sport, combining high-level basketball with signature ball-handling, athleticism and fan interaction. Known for blending competition with entertainment, the Globetrotters’ performance highlights both their history and their continuing role in shaping the game. Ticket prices vary. They can be purchased at tinyurl.com/hg1yt26.
Jonatha Brooke
Singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke will perform at Heartwood Soundstage at 7 p.m. Jan. 14. Known for literate, emotionally rich songwriting that blends folk-pop with theatrical and classical influences, Brooke draws on a career spanning her early work with The Story to acclaimed solo projects and interdisciplinary collaborations. Her credits include the one-woman musical “My Mother Has 4 Noses” and musical partnerships with artists such as Katy Perry, Joe Sample and Woody Guthrie. The all-ages show takes place at 619 S. Main St. Advance tickets are $41.27; day-of-show tickets are $47.82. Front-row seated tickets and a limited New Year buy-one-get-one option are also available. Heartwood Soundstage is located at 619 S. Main St. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit heartwoodsoundstage.com.
ONGOING
Horse Feeding
The Retirement Home for Horses provides lifetime care to elderly horses seized by law enforcement agencies, rescued by the SPCA or humane societies, as well as horses retired from government service such as police patrol or state and federal parks. They allow visitors to tour the property and feed treats — carrots, apple slices and bananas provided by the visitors — from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday. Mill Creek Farm Retirement Home for Horses is located at 20307 NW CR 235A in Alachua. For more information, or to support the nonprofit, visit millcreekfarm.org.
Community Nights
Community Nights are free weekly events hosted by South Main Station and Heartwood Soundstage that include a rotating calendar of jams, skillshares, concerts, arts markets, food and drink specials, and other activities each Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. The event has grown in popularity with families, locals, musicians, and college students since its launch in 2024. The event takes place at South Main Station, an arts, food, and entertainment campus adjacent to Depot Park that spans the Southeast corner of Main Street and Depot Road. Community Nights always feature free live music and drink specials at Heartwood Soundstage’s lawn bar, but any given week can also include skillshares on music and videography, kids’ activities, film screenings, and opportunities to sample local food and drink at South Main’s businesses, which include Humble Pie Pizzeria, Grand Scheme Brewery, Bingo Deli, and Afternoon Coffee. The first Wednesday of every month always features an open-air arts market of local makers and an old-time music jam. More information is available at heartwoodsoundstage.com.
COMING SOON
‘The Drowning Girls’
Acrosstown Repertory Theatre presents “The Drowning Girls,” a darkly poetic true-crime drama running Jan. 16-Feb. 1. Written by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson and Daniela Vlaskalic and directed by Lola Bond, the play revisits the real Edwardian-era murders committed by George Joseph Smith through the voices of three of his wives — Bessie, Alice and Margaret — who appear as ghostly figures rising from bathtubs to recount the events leading to their deaths. Blending gallows humor with lyrical language and striking imagery, the production examines not only Smith’s crimes but the broader social forces that left the women vulnerable. Performances take place at Acrosstown Repertory Theatre. For tickets and showtimes, visit acrosstown.org/season-202526
‘Ocean Voyage – Immersive Concert III’
Dance Alive National Ballet will present “Ocean Voyage – Immersive Concert III” at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at First Presbyterian Church, 300 SW Second Ave. The free, immersive concert plunges audiences into the deepest corners of the sea, surrounding listeners with underwater visuals while professional instrumental musicians perform alongside Dance Alive National Ballet, a festival chorus and the Gainesville Youth Chorus. The program spans Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals,” the sea shanty “Wellerman,” and dramatic selections from films including “Jaws,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Little Mermaid.” Artistic Director Kim Tuttle’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” features the men of the company, with DANB Principal Rosemary Deiorio performing “Dying Swan,” and Judy Skinner’s “Oceana” set to music by Stella Sung with video by Annie Crawley. Arrive early for a 6:45 p.m. prelude as UF string bass professor Dr. Alexander Pershounin improvises to the sounds of the sea. Admission is free; RSVP online at 1stpcmusic.org/event-details/oceanvoyage.
MLK Lecture
Join the Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lecture featuring speaker Kathi Earles Ross, MD, Physician and Artist. The lecture will begin at 5 p.m. Jan. 22 at Pugh Hall Ocora, 241 Pugh Hall. For more information, visit linktr.ee/afrofuturismweek.
‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” the newest production from Gainesville Community Playhouse, is a darkly comic stage adaptation of Ken Kesey’s iconic novel. Set in a psychiatric hospital in the 1960s, the story follows Randle P. McMurphy, a rebellious new patient who challenges the authoritarian rule of Nurse Ratched. As McMurphy rallies his fellow patients to reclaim their individuality and humanity, the play explores themes of freedom, control and the cost of nonconformity. With unforgettable characters and gripping emotional stakes, this acclaimed drama remains a searing and timely exploration of institutional power and the resilience of the human spirit. See the show from Jan. 23 to Feb. 8 at Gainesville Community Playhouse, located at 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $25 with discounts for seniors, students, and children 12 and younger. For more information, visit gcplayhouse.org.
Kick-Off Party and Introduction to Afrofuturism
A family friendly celebration and introduction to Afrofuturism Week is set for 5-8 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Santa Fe Blount Center, located at 530 W. University Ave. Attendees wll be able to take part in music, refreshments, a pop-up library, and comic- and print-making workshops. For more information, visit linktr.ee/afrofuturismweek.
Afrofuturism Concert and Cipher
After the AFW Kickoff celebration, head to The How Bazar for an afterparty of innovative music. Pulp Arts will present experimental artists Chris Williams and Black Sun Black Moon, followed by a DJ set from We’re Sweet Girls. Tickets are $10 at the door. The afterparty runs 8-11 p.m. Jan. 24 at How Bazar, located at 60 SW Second St. For more information, visit linktr.ee/afrofuturismweek.
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book Club Meeting: ‘Parable of the Sower’
Join the Lynx Bookstore from 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 26 to discuss the graphic novel adaptation of Octavia Butler’s classic dystopian novel “Parable of the Sower.” Books are available at the Lynx bookstore. The Lynx Bookstore is located at 601 S. Main St. For more information, visit linktr.ee/afrofuturismweek.
An Evening of Afrofuture Spirituality: Lecture and Music
Guest scholar and performer Dr. Louise Toppin and Dr. Joseph Brown will lead a discussion exploring the teaching of gospel and Black church music to new audiences, highlighting contemporary spiritual music. Hear their lecture from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at Greater Bethel AME Church, 701 SE 43rd St. For more information, visit linktr.ee/afrofuturismweek.
‘Some Enchanted Evening, The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein’
The Hippodrome Theatre invites the public to kick off 2026 with romance, passion, and the music that theatergoers have grown to love: “The Sound of Music,” “Oklahoma,” “The King and I,” “Carousel,” “Flower Drum Song” and more. The Hipp calls it a glorious parade of genuine hits from the golden age of Broadway that will lift spirits, brighten the audience’s souls and leave a melody in their hearts. The show runs at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays plus 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Jan. 28 through Feb. 15 at the Hipp, located at 25 SE Second Place. Tickets can be purchased at thehipp.org.
‘Technoskepticism’ Book Party
Guest scholars will discuss “Technoskepticism: Between Possibility and Refusal,” a book that explores the possibilities and skepticism of new technologies in the context of Afrofuturism, from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 29 at UF Innovate, 747 SW Second Ave., Suite 160. For more information, visit linktr.ee/afrofuturismweek.Final Celebration, Fashion Show and Costume ContestCelebrate Afrofuturism Week’s signature Fashion Show event, showcasing mythology, fantasy and cosplay. Also featuring performances, music, AI demos and costume contests, the celebration will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Cade Museum, located at 811 S. Main St. For more information, visit linktr.ee/afrofuturismweek.
‘Swan Lake’
Dance Alive National Ballet will present “Swan Lake” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Phillips Center. Tickets range from $35 to $70, with discounted rates for children, students and seniors. “Swan Lake” is the story of a prince whose fiancée has been transformed into a swan by the evil sorcerer, Von Rothbart. Featuring DANB Principal Dancer Carla Amâncio as the Swan Queen, the stage is transformed into a world of beauty and artistry for this family friendly performance. DANB’s “Swan Lake” will also be performed Feb. 27 in Ocala, March 8 in Pembrook Pines, March 12 in Bunnell, March 14 in Boca Raton, and March 19 in West Palm Beach. Tickets can be purchased online at dancealive.org/2025/06/29/swan-lake or performingarts.ufl.edu, via phone at 392-2787 or 800-905-2787, or in person at the Phillips Center Box Office, located at 3201 Hull Road.
Old Florida Celebration of the Arts
The 2026 Old Florida Celebration of the Arts two-day event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 11-12, 2026, in Cedar Key. This year’s theme is “Stars of Cedar Key.” According to organizers, the festival was established in 1964 and was formerly known as the Cedar Key Sidewalk Arts Festival. The Old Florida Celebration of the Arts returned to a juried fine art fair format in 2006. It features 100 artists and about 15,000 visitors annually. This free event benefits the Cedar Key Arts Center in addition to local nonprofit and Cedar Key school groups who serve food and beverages during the festival.