Let’s keep the Thanksgiving spirit going.
We’re thankful for all the bands, bars, musicians, artists, art galleries, dancers, theater groups, music venues, Opening Nights performers, free concerts and more that have been keeping us entertained all year. And thanks to the audience, Tallahassee’s artistic heart is beating strong.
Take a walk or dance off that sweet potato pie, there’s still plenty to do.
Catch Family Day at Railroad Square on Saturday, check out the new Tally Turkey Time Festival or relish the Thanksgiving vibe at Tallahassee Film Society’s showing of “Pieces of April.”
Without injured QB Jordan Travis, Florida State will be rallying against Florida in the Swamp at 7 p.m. Saturday. ESPN is airing the game. FAMU plays SWAC championship Dec. 2.
Here’s a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.
1. 35th Annual Brawl for it All
It wouldn’t be the Friday after Thanksgiving without Tom & the Cats getting fans geared up for the big FSU vs. Florida game on Saturday.
Get dancing and work off that Thanksgiving turkey when Tom & the Cats rock out for the 35th Annual “Brawl for it All” jam at The Moon, 1104 E. Lafayette St., at 8:15 p.m. Friday. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Wear your team colors, Gators welcome. As the band says, “this is our best party of the year.”
All general admission tickets are $5 plus taxes and service fees. All reserved tickets are at a specific seat or table and are $20. Tickets are only available online from MoonEvents.com.
2. Family Day at Railroad Square
Following Thanksgiving, the City and County come together from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, to celebrate Family Day with loved ones at the free community event at Railroad Square Art District from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tallahassee-Leon County is proud to be the first community in Florida to recognize Family Day, a holiday that celebrates the importance of family togetherness, support and love. This year’s Family Day is dedicated to Aimee Sachs, a gifted journalist and Tallahassee resident who passed away on May 31, 2023, after suffering a pair of strokes Learn more at FloridaFamilyDay.com.
3. ‘Fire and Rain’ exhibit features books and art
“Touched by Fire and Rain” is an ongoing exhibit through Nov. 30 at the Plant, 517 W. Gaines St. The exhibit features books and artworks that survived the burning down of the International Book Mine, 672 W. Gaines St. on Dec. 14, 2017. New items will be added daily.
The exhibit is open Monday through Wednesday 6-9 p.m., Saturday 2-5 p.m., and Sunday 2-8 p.m.. All exhibited items are available for purchase by Silent Auction, culminating in a closing ceremony from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 30. Unsold items will remain in a smaller window exhibit concluding from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 14 — the 6th anniversary of the fire.
The Plant is a self-governing community of volunteers. For an appointment, call Alina Amador at 850-294-4898 or Jayson Hays 850-566-6153.
4. Catch Thanksgiving drama at All Saints Cinema
For the Thanksgiving weekend, the All Saints Cinema, 918 1/2 Railroad Ave., will screen “Pieces of April” at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, in honor of its 20th anniversary. Quirky and rebellious April Burns (Katie Holmes) lives with her boyfriend in a low-rent New York City apartment miles away from her emotionally distant family. But when she discovers that her mother (Patricia Clarkson) has a fatal form of breast cancer, she invites the clan to her place for Thanksgiving. Tickets are $8 general admission. Visit tallahasseefilms.com.
Tallahassee Film Society is holding over the documentary “Joan Baez I Am A Noise” for showing at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26. General Admission: $11; TFS members $9. Purchase advance tickets at tallahasseefilms.com.
5. Tally Turkey Time Travel Festival
The Tally Turkey Time Travel Festival takes you back to 1823, for first-person encounters with the feasts, beasts, politics, and people who paved the way for Tallahassee to become Florida’s capital 200 years ago.
Theatre with a Mission presents a first with its three-day Thanksgiving Weekend event from noon-9 p.m. Nov. 24-25 and 1-4 p.m. Nov. 26 at Goodwood Museum & Gardens, 1600 Miccosukee Road, an authentic Territorial Florida site.
See founding moments in Tallahassee’s origin story reenacted in live theatrical performances and step into dances from African, Spanish, Native, and cracker traditions. Experience history through Native American storytelling on Friday, Nov. 24. Meet animals that travelers to Tallahassee ran into 200 years ago, face to face on Saturday, Nov. 25. Taste the cultural fusion as foods from Spain, Africa, and America cross paths in Florida Territory on Sunday, Nov. 26.
Bonus event: LeMoyne’s 60th Annual Holiday Show
LeMoyne Arts continues its 60th Annual Holiday Show: A Diamond Jubilee, celebrating LeMoyne’s anniversary this weekend at 125 N. Gadsden St. Enjoy holiday decorations while shopping for handmade giftable items. The Holiday Show will run through Dec. 24. Stop by for Cookies & Coca from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday. Cookies by Uptown Café & a hot cocoa bar (with a splash of spirits), and cinnamon roasted nuts for purchase by the Tallahassee Nutty Bavarian. Music provided by the Elsinore Sewing Club from 11-noon. Free for LeMoyne members and children, $10 for non-members (includes a free $5 re-entry ticket for the rest of the Holiday Show).
OTHER EVENTS
Blue Tavern: Mes Amis string trio plays happy hour from 5-7 pm. Tuesday at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St. Belmont & Jones is up from 8-10 p.m. $5 cover. Sharif from the Brooklyn band Looms, 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night with Doc Russell. Mark your calendar for Mullet Fest on Thursday, which kicks off from 5-7 p.m. with The Quines. Keyboardist Jack Quine will be joined by his siblings for a special happy hour show.
Mullet Fest runs from 7-11 p.m. with Grant Peeples & Raisin’ Cane. Peeples catches, cleans, and cooks fried mullet for his hometown crowd at The Blue Tavern! As is the tradition, Grant will play a show after dinner. Raisn’ Cane will take the stage afterward to sing us into the night! Dinner is served at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for dinner and show for the same ticket! Purchase at the Blue Tavern or at grant-peeples.ticketleap.com.
The Sound Bar: “Due” (pronounced “DOO-ay”), Tallahassee’s Classic Rock Duo will perform classic/alternative rock and originals at The Sound Bar, 1105 W. Tharpe St, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25. Michael Schad’s virtuoso electric guitar lead and Celia Caputi’s lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and spoken word performances have infectiously danceable effect.
The Village Square: “Healing Starts Here: Ending the Cycle of Mean,” 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, WFSU Studio, 1600 Red Barber Plaza. Visit tlh.villagesquare.us. Suggested donation of $10. The program will stream on WFSU and The Village Square’s Facebook pages.
Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.