THIS WEEKEND
First Friday Art Walk: The First Friday Art Walk returns to the downtown Ocala area from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 5. Hands-on art activities and demonstrations, local artists selling works, plus sidewalk buskers and live musician performances on the downtown square.
Converging Community & Culture: An art exhibit dedicated to the celebration of Afro-American and Latinx artists in the Ocala community. The Marion Cultural Alliance’s November exhibit opens Nov. 5 and runs through Nov. 27 at the Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala. Opening reception will be held Nov. 5 at the Brick at 5 p.m.; savory bites and refreshing cocktails and mingling with fellow creatives. Visit mcaocala.org or call 369-1500 for details.
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Back on Stage: The College of Central Florida’s Theatre and Musical Theatre will present “Back on Stage: An Evening of Musicals and Zombies” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5-6 and at 3 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala. Free; no reservations required. Learn more at bit.ly/3mda89Y.
Bonkerz Comedy: Tony Black, as seen on Laugh TV, with Brody Love, will perform Nov. 5-6 at 8 p.m. at The Lodge, 36 S. Magnolia Ave., Ocala. Visit bonkerzcomedyproductions.com or call (407) 629-2665 for tickets ($12-$15) and details.
40th annual Marion County Chili Cook-Off: Enjoy a variety of secret chili recipes, a craft beer garden, car show, a children’s area, and more beginning at 10 a.m. Nov. 6 at the Marion County Chili Cook-Off, held at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2228 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. Tickets and details at marioncountychilicookoff.com.
McIntosh 1890s Festival: The 47th McIntosh 1890s Festival will take place from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 6 in and around Van Ness Park, 5835 Ave. G in historic McIntosh. Free musical entertainment all day; more than 280 arts, crafts, plants and antique and food vendors available. Free. Call 591-4038 or visit friendsofmcintosh.com.
“Double Rainbow”: The 8th Ave. Gallery will present “Double Rainbow,” the art of Justin Alsedek, from 4:30-10:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at 1531 NE Eighth Ave., Ocala. More than a dozen large works, and paintings from former years, and prints, for sale. Food trucks onsite; music beginning at 7 p.m. Visit 8thavegallery.com for details.
Gilbert Gottfried: A “comedian’s comedian,” actor and funny man Gilbert Gottfried will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets and details at reillyartscenter.com or 351-1606.
“Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau”: This exhibit will be on view Nov. 6-Jan. 9 at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Selected from the The Dhawan Collection, Los Angeles, one of the finest private collections of Mucha’s work in the United States, the exhibition presents 75 works by Mucha, who is most often remembered for the prominent role he played in shaping the aesthetics of French Art Nouveau at the turn of the 20th century. Visit appletonmuseum.org or call 291-4455 for details.
Free First Saturday: Admission to the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, will be free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 6. Details at appletonmuseum.org or call 291-4455.
Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band: The band will present its 10th annual “Veterans Light the Stars” concert at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Ocala/Marion Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E. Fort King St., Ocala. (Rain date is Nov. 8.) There will be a fireworks display after the concert. For information, call 390-0491 or visit http://kingdomofthesunband.org.
ONGOING
Amazing Arthropods: The Discovery Center’s newest exhibit, “Amazing Arthropods,” is up through Dec. 30 at the center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala. It is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.; $8 per person or $28 for a family of four. The “bug-centric” exhibit offers opportunities for children to learn about a variety of different insects at hands-on stations. A live bug zoo is available for viewing that includes a Malaysian Forest Scorpion, a Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula, millipedes and several more arthropods. Other activities include fossilized arthropods to examine, an insect creator station, crustacean claw game, metamorphosis puzzle game, butterfly dress up area and a larger than life beehive. For details, call 401-3900 or visit www.mydiscoverycenter.org.
Drawings and Painting by Andrew M. Grant: The Appleton Museum of Art’s Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists is showing “A Breeze Through Fertile Gardens: Drawings and Paintings by Andrew M. Grant,” through Nov. 7. The artist’s works depict the female form inspired by earth, air, fire and water. The museum is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Details at appletonmuseum.org or call 291-4455.
“Art Remembers”: This exhibit, by Hospice of Marion County in partnership with the Appleton Museum of Art, is up through Jan. 10 at the Barbara Gaskin Washington Adult Activity Center, 210 NW 12th Ave., Ocala. Free. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The work comes from hospice’s bereavement programs for children. Learn more at www.hospiceofmarion.com or the City of Ocala Cultural Arts and Sciences Division: 352-629-8447 www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces.
Entertainment at The Bistro: Live music with local artists will be on tap Thursdays-Saturdays at The Bistro, 3000 Marion County Road, Weirsdale. Visit thegrandoaks.com for details, or call 750-9500 for reservations.