Highs in the low 90s, sunny skies all weekend, and zero rain in the forecast. Clermont launches its first-ever jazz festival on the waterfront, Ocala throws an oyster fest downtown, and the Opry has three straight nights of tributes -- Vince Gill, Frankie Valli, and Jimmy Buffett. Grab the sunscreen and pick a direction.
Friday
A Salute to the Music of Vince Gill starring Dustin Jenkins and the OBO Band -- Orange Blossom Opry, $25
The Opry's tribute run continues with a deep-catalog Vince Gill set -- Dustin Jenkins and the OBO Band playing the hits front to back. The 7:00 PM show is already sold out, but the 2:30 PM matinee still has tickets.
Rocky and The Rollers | Car Show -- Brownwood Paddock Square, 5:00-8:00 PM ET, free
Rocky and The Rollers have been a Villages institution for 27 years, and Brownwood pairs their Friday set with a car show from 5 to 8. Classic rock, classic cars, classic Villages Friday.
Standing Still -- A Tribute to Elton John -- Mount Dora Music Hall, from $25
Ben Frey does the modern-Elton experience -- the visuals, the swagger, the hits that span four decades. If you want a tribute show that actually feels like a concert, this is it.
Blues in the Box: Damon Fowler -- Reilly Arts Center, 7:30 PM ET
The Reilly's intimate "in the box" series brings Damon Fowler -- Florida blues guitarist who has shared stages with Dickey Betts and Derek Trucks both. Small room, big player. $28-$40.
A Sudden Impulse Dining Experience -- World Equestrian Center, $160 per person
Special dining experience during the $142,000 NSBA All-Age Open Trail Finals at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. Price includes gratuity.
Saturday
Clermont Arts and Jazz Festival: Walter Beasley & Ghost-Note -- Waterfront Park, $10 GA / $40 premium seating, 3-9 PM ET
The first-ever Clermont Arts and Jazz Fest -- and they're going big right out of the gate. Saxophonist Walter Beasley headlines, with Grammy-winning drummer Sput Searight's band Ghost-Note rounding out the bill. Outdoor stage on the waterfront, local artists and vendors, and a $15 two-day pass if you're coming back Sunday. This is the headline event of the weekend.
Ocala Oyster Fest -- Midtown Station, free
All-day oyster festival in the Midtown Station food hall -- bites from every restaurant inside, live music by Peaches and the bands on rotation, and the full bar doing the work it was built for. Free admission; food and drinks purchased separately.
Let's Hang On (Frankie Valli Tribute) -- Orange Blossom Opry, $25
Saturday at the Opry, Four Seasons hits end to end. "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," all of it. Two shows -- matinee at 2:30 PM and evening at 7:00 PM.
Villages Cruise-In -- April -- Spanish Springs Town Square, free
Monthly car show on the third Saturday, hosted by The Villages AACA. Classic cars 30+ years old, $5 per show car, free to spectate. Valve cover racing for the kids. Live entertainment on the square.
Renninger's Flea & Farmers Market -- Renninger's, Mount Dora, free
One of the largest flea markets on the East Coast. Produce, antiques, vintage finds, collectibles -- the kind of place where you go for one thing and leave with four. Mount Dora institution, Saturday morning is the play.
Dead Poets Society -- Reilly Arts Center, $5
1959 New England boarding school, Mr. Keating, "O Captain! My Captain!" -- a movie night at the Reilly for $5. Bring tissues.
Shelly Belly Comedy: Live at the Marion Theatre -- The Marion Theatre, $25-$35
Shelly Belly brings the social-media comedy act to the Marion for two nights. Quick-wit observational stuff -- her skits have pulled in millions of views online. Saturday is the show to go to if you want the better crowd energy.
Sunday
Clermont Arts and Jazz Festival: Kim Scott & Keiko Matsui -- Waterfront Park, $10 GA / $40 premium seating, 3-9 PM ET
Day two of the jazz fest. Chart-topping flutist Kim Scott and internationally acclaimed pianist Keiko Matsui share the waterfront stage. If you didn't grab the two-day pass Saturday, single-day Sunday admission is $10.
The Pirates of Penzance -- Reilly Arts Center, $10-$58, 3:00 PM ET
The University of Florida Opera Theatre and UF Symphony Orchestra bring Gilbert and Sullivan to the Reilly -- the comic opera about a pirate apprentice who was supposed to be a ship's pilot. Silly, smart, and a Sunday matinee at 3 PM.
Lost in Paradise: Tribute to Jimmy Buffett -- Orange Blossom Opry, $25, 7:00 PM ET
Sunday night at the Opry, 7 PM, all Buffett. You know what you're getting.
Villagers Feud -- Eastport Town Square, free
"Survey says" style game show on the Eastport square. Teams of 4 can enter for on-site participation. Worth it for the crowd reactions alone.
The Full Lineup
Find all 65+ events this weekend at villacalalineup.com/events/.
Got a tip or event we should know about? Email [email protected]
