Tallahassee is marching into March with punk flags flying on First Friday for an exhibit on the underground scene opening at 621 Gallery in Railroad Square.
Pride in the Park flies its rainbow flag for the celebration at Cascades Park on March 7.
Foodies, take note, the Cleaver and Cork food festival puts on a big spread with celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan at Tallahassee State College and St. George Island stirs up its 44th annual Chili Cookoff on Saturday, March 7.
Here’s a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts, online listings and elsewhere.
1. Get inspired by African drummer Sidiki
African drummer, composer, dancer and singer Sidiki Conde will bring his high energy performance to Opening Nights at Florida State University with “SIDIKI! The Pulse of Africa” on Friday, March 6, in the auditorium at the Turnbull Center with a reception beginning at 6 p.m. and performance running from 7 to 8 p.m.
Conde will be joined by celebrated African drummer Abdoulaye Toure, a former performer with Guinea’s National Ballet Djoliba and current resident musician for Princeton University’s West African dance classes. Members of Tallahassee’s Ayoka Afrikan Drum and Dance will also perform.
Conde’s life story is inspirational. He grew up in Guinea, West Africa, and experienced a life changing incident at age 14 when he came down with polio. He strengthened his upper body and learned to walk and dance on his hands. Since then, he has dedicated his life to sharing joy and resilience through music and dance.
“When I sing and dance, I am a bright star on the stage, not a dark figure in a wheelchair,” Conde said in a press release.
2. Rock on with Shovels & Rope
American folk duo Shovels & Rope, from Charleston, South Carolina, will land at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, for Florida State University’s Opening Nights.
The group, composed of husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, blends traditional folk, rock ‘n’ roll and country rock. Tickets are $65/$55. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu.
3. Power up with punk this weekend
Here’s a look at what’s going on around town for “Pioneers of Punk: The Art & Cultural Legacy of Tallahassee’s Early Punk and Underground Scene” exhibition and “Trouble With a Capital T” concert series March 5-8 at 621 Gallery, The Bark, and RCT Underground.
The March 6 opening night exhibit from 4-7:30 p.m. at 621 Gallery in Railroad Square will feature original flyers, photos, ephemera, recordings, and other artifacts related to the capital city’s early punk scene. There will be performances and activities including silent auction (concludes Sunday 5 p.m.), John Hodges book reading, Tallahassee Punk Storytelling Project readings, and music by Blacksunblackmoon and Suet
The March 7 show, featuring Hated Youth and the rest of the weekend concert series at The Bark sold out quickly. The 621 Gallery will feature the Tallahassee Punk Pioneers panel discussion, plus music by The Icks, The Dirt Eaters, Failed State, and Too Bad from 2-6 p.m. March 7. From noon-5 p.m. March 8, catch the Punk Rock Flea Market, Southern Punk Archive video/presentation, Tallahassee Regional Music Collection presentation, 309 Punk Project presentation with Scott Satterwhite and Aaron Cometbus; with musical performances by The Divided Body, Brass Wizard, and The Wabbits.
4. Tallahassee PrideFest spreads out at Cascades Park
Tallahassee PrideFest returns to the The Adderley Amphitheater at Cascades Park, 1001 S Gadsden St., from 1:30- 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Pride in the Park features headliner performances by Miss Vanjie and Kori King from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Music will include Palace Rats, Pineapple Tuesday, Shore Enough and The Queen High Straight. Free and open to the public; visit tallahasseepride.com.
5. Chili Cookoff heats up at St. George Island
Get ready for island time at the 44th Annual St. George Island Chili Cookoff & CRAWL on March 7.
For 44 years, the community has come together to keep volunteer firefighters and first responders trained, equipped, and as safe as possible as they answer calls for help. The celebration begins at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 7 with Red Pepper Run 5K in front of Paddy’s Raw Bar and continues with the International Chili Cookoff Competition, food sales, retail booth, and the famous chili crawl.
Watch competitors vying to qualify for the World Championship Chili Cookoff as they prepare their chili and then try these amazing chilis yourself. Visit the Chili Sale from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 7. Stop by to meet firefighters and see the firetrucks. They will be selling chili, chili dogs, hotdogs and more in the lighthouse parking lot. For details visit stgeorgeislandchilicookoff.com.
Bonus event: Cleaver and Cork Food & Wine Festival
The 2026 Cleaver and Cork Food & Wine Festival is upon us from noon-3 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Intramural Field at Tallahassee State College, whose TSC Foundation benefits from this event.
It’s a day filled with unlimited food and drinks — for 4 hours — from a who’s-who of local all-star local restaurants, local breweries, distilleries and wineries. Tickets are $133.26. Visit eventbrite.com.
Bonus event: Battle of Natural Bridge Reenactment
The 161st Anniversary and 49th Annual Reenactment of the Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida, will take place on Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8. The annual event is hosted by the Natural Bridge Historical Society, Inc, Citizen Support Organization for the Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park in cooperation with the Florida Park Service.
Key events include a 3 p.m. skirmish on Saturday and the main 2:30 p.m. battle reenactment on Sunday. Camps open at 9 a.m. both days, with artillery demos, medical demonstrations, and, on Saturday, an 8 p.m. Civil War dance. The yearly event commemorates the anniversary of the Civil War battle that took place 12 miles south of Tallahassee.
The Sunday morning program features a memorial ceremony by members of the Anna Jackson Chapter 224 United Daughters of the Confederacy, who will lay a wreath to honor the battle’s soldiers. Food vendors and period merchants will be on hand. A donation of $5 for adults and $1 for school-age children 6 to 12 is requested to help support event expenses.
The Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park is six miles east of Woodville on Natural Bridge Road. Visit floridastateparks.org.
Bonus event: Final weekend of Oscar shorts
The Tallahassee Film Society will be showing the full program of the 2026 Oscar-nominated Short Films in each of the three categories — including Animation, Documentary, and Live Action — and wrapping up this weekend at the IMAX Challenger Learning Center, 200 S. Duval St.
Animation Shorts will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Live-Action Shorts will be at 7 p.m. Friday, March 6. Documentary Shorts will be at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 8. Tickets are $11 general admission, $9 for TFS members and students Visit tallahasseefilms.com.
Bonus event: Frankenfinger holds over
With the Punk Pioneers shows sold out, Cow Haus Productions announced that Frankenfinger, one of the bands in the lineup, decided to stick around and add another show at 926 Bar next Thursday, March 12. The show will also feature The Deck Chairs, The Wabbits and Once Great Estate @ 926 Bar, 8:30 p.m. March 12. Tickets are $15.81. Visit 926bar.com.
OTHER EVENTS
Blue Tavern: Two Clever, 5 p.m. Friday, March 6, followed at 8 p.m. by bluegrass trio The Hillside Junkets (3/4 of the Kenny Hill band), Blue Tavern, 1205 N. Monroe St. $10 cover. Open jam led by the Beelzebubbas, Bob Vaughn & Andy Thomas, 4 p.m. Saturday, March 7, followed at 7 p.m. by Blues Night double-header with Rev. Robert (opening) and John Ford. $10 cover. Aida Lott presents The Blue Tavern Cabaret with brunch, 1 p.m. Sunday, March 8. Admission $10. Piano music by Jack Quine, 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, followed at 8 p.m. by Bluesday Tuesday: Donny Shrum. $5 cover. Rad Reading happy hour at 5 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night. Turner Sperry, 5 p.m. Thursday, March 12, followed at 8 p.m. with Open Jazz Jam with host Jacob Wright.
Getaway Grille and Bar: The Mae West Band, 7-10 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2386 Allen Road.
Grove Museum: 9th Annual Grove Day Celebration with a day of special programs, archaeology demonstrations and tours, musical performances, outdoor games and activities, special tours of the museum, and more, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 7, Grove Museum, 902 N. Monroe St.
Lake Tribe Brewing: Sinners + Saints Duo w/CJ Beach, 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 6, 3357 Garber Drive.
Legacy at the Waterfront: Pandora’s Box The Ultimate Aerosmith Tribute, 8-11 p.m. 9330 W Tennessee St.
The Moon: Country artist Vincent Mason, 8-11 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Doors open at 7 p.m., 1105 E Lafayette St. Reserved tickets are $46; general admission tickets are $33. Visit moonevents.com.
The Other Side Vintage: First Friday, 6-9 p.m. March 6, Soulful Triage Band, 607 Railroad Square.
Palaver Tree Theater: Womanly Genius 3: Art, Music, and Spoken Word in Honor of International Women’s Day, 5-8:30 p.m. Saturday March 7, 59 Shadeville Road, Crawfordville. Tickets $10 online, $15 at door. Visit palavertreetheater.org.
Southwood Golf Club: Eleven O Five, 6-9 p.m., 3750 Grove Park Drive.
Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
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
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