This weekend before Halloween is a crazy busy time in T-Town.
Gladys Knight is catching the midnight train to Tallahassee for a show at The Adderley on Oct. 24. The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra’s Spooktacular takes over Cascades Park on Oct. 25. The Greek Food Festival is dishing up gyros, baklava and dancing.
FSU Homecoming launches a week of celebrations with Mariah the Scientist at Homecoming Live on Oct. 25.
Florida State has a bye week, FAMU is away at Southern Jaguars at 5 p.m. Oct. 25. Then FSU and FAMU play a rare exhibition basketball game at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Tucker Civic Center.
If you had plans for the Monarch Butterfly Festival at St. Marks Wildlife Refuge this weekend it was canceled due to the government shutdown — but no one notified the butterflies.
Here’s a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts, online listings and elsewhere.
1. Be inspired at soul revival with Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight, a seven-time Grammy Award-winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, will bring her legendary voice and decades of timeless hits to the Adderley Amphitheater stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.
Known as the “Empress of Soul,” Knight has captivated audiences worldwide with iconic songs like “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “Neither One of Us,” and “Love Overboard.” With a career spanning more than six decades and over 38 albums, soulful performances continue to inspire and resonate across generations.
Knight’s concert promises an unforgettable evening. Doors open at 6 p.m. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are general admission, $64; P2 Reserved Seating, $88; and P1 Reserved Seating, $112. Visit TheAdderleyAmphitheater.com.
2. Grab a costume for symphony Spooktacular
The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra Spooktacular is back for year 10 from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Adderley Amphitheater. The free event at Cascades Park includes trick-or-treating, costumes, games, food, and a ghoulishly good concert. Trick-or-treating starts at 6 p.m., music starts at 7:30 p.m. with Yaniv Dinur, Music Director & Conductor, and Tallahassee Ballet’s DanceChance.
3. Catch the spirit with ‘Nutcracker on Tap’
A holiday tradition makes a special early showing when Pas de Vie ballet “taps on over” to the bar(re) from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. Pas de Vie presents “Nutcracker On Tap” at Amicus Brewing Ventures, 717 S. Gadsden St. This free event is geared towards the whole family.
Relax outside the mini Land of the Sweets, complete with free crafts for the kids, sweet treats, dancing, and live music. Enjoy a late lunch from the food truck on site (for purchase). Parents can visit guest bartenders inside and purchase an Indigo Whirl, the charity beer of the month. Each single full pour of this beer helps support Pas de Vie through a $1 donation.
4. Dig in at the Greek Food Festival
The Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church, 1645 Phillips Road, has been cooking up mouthwatering Mediterranean delicacies for months in preparation for its annual Greek Food Festival this weekend. Enjoy hot gyros and souvlaki or a full Greek dinner and traditional Greek dancing from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 24-25. Savor the sweet honey in so many Greek pastries including homemade baklava. Admission is free. Prices for meals vary and dinners can sell out quickly.
5. Meet Mariah the Scientist at Homecoming Live
Homecoming Live is Florida State University’s largest student-run pep rally. This high-energy tradition kicks off Homecoming Week at the Tucker Civic Center at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, with special guest artist R&B singer-songwriter Mariah the Scientist. Homecoming Live is an unforgettable display of Seminole spirit and tradition featuring performances by the FSU cheerleaders, Golden Girls and other student organizations. For tickets ($54) visit tuckerciviccenter.com.
Bonus event: Wag your tail at Dog-O-Ween
Bring your furry friend to compete for prizes in Star 98.9 radio’s annual dog costume contest from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Tom Brown Park. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m. with the contest beginning after registration closes. Family fun with music, food, vendors and more. Feel free to bring your pup even if you aren’t competing to see all of the fun creative costumes. Event is free to the public with a small registration fee to enter the costume contest. If you are entering the contest don’t forget to bring proof of rabies vaccination.
Bonus event: Boots and ballads at Zoobilee
Tallahassee Museum’s Spookiest Celebration returns with live music from Tobacco Rd from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Saddle up for Zoobilee, Tallahassee Museum’s Halloween costume party with this year’s “Boots, Boos, and Ballads” theme brings the wild west. Tickets are $55. Visit tallahasseemuseum.org.
Bonus event: ‘Night of the Living Dead’ haunts Monticello
Monticello Opera House presents the horror-comedy “Night of the Living Dead Live!” this weekend at the historic theater in Monticello. Director and local talent Johnathan Cooks brings this cinematic legend to the stage in faithful black-and-white — and maybe a few splashes of color.
Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 24-Nov. 2, at the Monticello Opera House, 185 W. Washington St., Monticello. Tickets are $17-$32; visit monticellooperahouse.org.
Bonus event: New Jazz Underground at Opening Nights
New Jazz Underground plays an Opening Nights show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at Bricks and Brass, 316 W. Tennessee St. Tickets are $45. The American trio has been described as “an innovative and ultra creative collective striving to establish themselves as a defining voice for the genre of Jazz and beyond.” Their music signals a merging of traditional sensibilities in Jazz, such as the blues, swing, and improvisation, with the modern influence of hip-hop, pop, and Afro-Latino music. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu.
OTHER EVENTS
American Legion Hall: The Bog Lilies, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, 229 Lake Ella Drive. $10 cover.
Blue Tavern: Happy Hour with Brett Eugene, 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St. Wiley Gaby and Gamble Cosmos head next door to the Req Room, 1208 N. Monroe St., from 7-11 p.m. $10 advance tickets at bluetaverntallahassee.com; $15 day of show. 4th Saturday Old Time Jam, 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, followed at 8 p.m. by Peak Dive, one of the best of Tallahassee’s homegrown bands. $10 cover. Shape Note Singing, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, followed at 8 p.m. by Bluesday Tuesday: Belmont & Jones. $5 cover. Happy hour with Elizabeth Fravel at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night. October birthday party with Ric Edmiston for happy hour at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. followed at 8 p.m. by Jennings & Keller, an award-winning nationally touring duo based out of South Florida. They offer up 21st century Americana with influences in folk, jazz, and roots music. $5 cover.
B Sharp’s Jazz: Blake Dwelle Quintet plays the music of Wynton Marsalis at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at 648 W. Brevard St. Tickets: $25, $10 for students.
Great Oaks Pub in Southwood: Red Hills Band plays old style blues and southern rock from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Great Oaks Pub, 3750 Grove Park Drive. The band is composed of Jim Sumrall on drums, Rick Rucker on guitar and vocals, Dale Cook on harmonica and vocals, Chip Mikell on bass and vocals, and Ken Frett on keyboards. Call 850-942-4653 for reservations.
Getaway Grille: The LCP Band returns to the Getaway Grille on Allen Road, from 7-10 p.m. Friday Oct. 24 for rock ‘n roll, roots & originals, outdoors on the patio. Good food, good friends and great music on a festive Friday Night.
The Hub at Feather Oaks: The New 76ers debut at The Hub at Feather Oaks at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, 6500 Miccosukee Road. Food trucks onsite will be The Board Walk and Sabor Mexicano by Mayra.
The Moon: The Select Tour with Ty Myers and Palmer Anthony, 1105 E. Lafayette St., 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct 25. Doors: 6:30 pm.
The Sound Bar: Andrew Vinson, 8-11 p.m. Saturday Oct. 25, 1105 W. Tharpe St. Open Bluegrass Jam, 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26.
Tallahassee Film Society: “Soulymane’s Story,” 3 p.m. Oct. 25, 5 p.m. Oct. 26, Challenger IMAX, 200 S. Duval St. $11 general admission, $9 for TFS members presenting valid IDs. Students are $9 each with valid IDs. Advance tickets can be purchased at tallahasseefilms.com.
Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee
Reporting by Martha Gruender, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
