May 2021 Events in Tallahassee

THINGS TO DO IN TALLAHASSEE FOR May 2021

** Many Tallahassee Farmer’s Markets have resumed activity, this page links a few options with times and locations **

Saturday, May 01: Leroy Collins’ Public Library’s Teen Book Club is meeting virtually at 2:30 PM. They’re discussing Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. To register, go to this link.

[POSTPONED] The Panacea Blue Crab Festival is usually held around this time, but it’s been postponed (most likely until Fall) due to the virus.

The fourth annual St. George Island’s Paint Out, an event where professional artists pain en plein air (outdoors) on St. George Island, is occuring over the next week. It begins on Saturday, May 01 at 10:00 AM. The event ends on Friday, May 07 at 8:00 PM. Some events require registration at the website link above. The invited artists number sixteen. They’re award-winning artists from nine different states. There will be several events around St. George Island to celebrate.

Quincy’s Porchfest and Sketch-crawl is occurring on porches of historic, downtown Quincy beginning at noon. Blankets and/or lawn chairs are suggested. A map and musician list will be available at the Gadsden Arts Center and Museum as well as the Quincy Main Street Office (as well as online). This is a free event.

Tallahassee’s Hot Tamale will be performing at the Porchfest, at 1:00 PM on the front porch of Massey Drugs, 236 East Washington Street.

Tallahassee Battle Lions will be playing against Jacksonville Armada at 7:00 PM at Gene Cox Stadium. Tickets are around $7.

Sunday, May 02: The Edwin McCain Trio is performing at the Moon as part of Opening Nights. Tickets are $45-60, depending on seat location.

Tuesday, May 04: Tallahassee Film Society is showcasing the documentary titled Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts. It explores the life of Traylor, an American artist, who was born into slavery on an Alabaman plantation in 1853. In his eighties, Traylor began to paint his memories as well as the changes in his environment, creating over a thousand drawings and paintings between 1939-1942. The film is available for digital rentals.

Thursday, May 06: The History Book Club is meeting virtually at 6:00 PM via zoom (sign-up here). This is a Leroy Collins Library book club that meets every first Thursday. May’s book choice is Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe, it’s available at the library.

There’s a Blues Jam at Dreamland BBQ, beginning at 6:00 PM. This event is occurring every Thursday night.

The Tallahassee Museum is hosting Dr. Kimberly Brown Pellum, who will talk about how pageantry for black women has functioned as “ a mechanism for political activism throughout the nation’s most intense social movements and how traditional beauty standards continue to unravel as calls for social justice escalate.” It begins at 6:00 PM via zoom. Registration is required.

Friday, May 07: LeMoyne Gallery’s last day of the Zerbe exhibition is Saturday, May 08. The gallery features work by Karl Zerbe, renowned expressionist artists and FSU professor, there are also eight new pieces in the gallery. Admittance is $5 for non-members.

Two Foot Level is performing at the Northside Stage at 7:30 PM. The stage is at Northside Community Center (8005 Oak Grove Road), the concert will also be livestreamed via Facebook and Youtube. The concert is free (donations are accepted). There will be a food truck and doors open at 6:30 PM. Masks are required and Covid-19 safety measures will be observed.

Saturday, May 08: Matthew Whitaker, a Julliard jazz pianist, is performing at the Moon as part of Opening Nights. His performance begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $45-60.

The Third Annual Tacos and Tequila Festival at Hammerhead Fred’s beginning at 2:00 PM. Hammerhead Fred’s is at 8752 Thomas Drive. Tacos and cocktails will be created by local bars and restaurants for participants to vote on. There will be live music and tickets are available on the website. Tickets go from $20 to $30 depending on what level is chosen.

Leon County Library’s Pop-Up Book Club is reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. They’ll meet virtually at 10:00 AM via zoom. The book is available at the library.

Raggae Fest at 5F Farms in Quincy begins at 3:00 PM. It’s being held at 5F Farm Event Center at 8583 Salem Road, Quincy, Florida. Children under twelve have free entry while general admission is $20, VIP tickets are $40. VIP Tickets include two free meals, one drink and one t-shirt.

The Challenger Learning Center is hosting it’s Sci-turdays event about National Endangered Species day. This event is for children, featuring STEAM topics and activities. Admission is $6.

Bradfordville Blues Club is hosting JB’s ZydeoZoo at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $20-25.

Southern Shakes at Happy Motoring is featuring a “Twelve Tastes for Twelfth Night”, a celebration of Southern Shakespeare in the Park. Tickets are $40-75, and include twelve different wines and a European cheese board. It begins at 4:00 PM.

Sunday, May 09: The last day of the Southern Shakespeare Festival (which begins May 06). The play being performed is Twelfth Night. Admission is free.

Wednesday, May 12: “In a Vivid Light,” a showcase of Julie Bowland’s paintings will be held at Venvi Art Gallery. Venvi is located at 2901 East Park Avenue. Bowland will have an artist meet and greet on May 22 at 4:00 PM at Venvi Art Gallery.

Goodwood’s Got Game Night, done virtually, is occurring at 4:30 PM. Registration online can be found here; this is a free event.

Thursday, May 13: Alys Beach’s Digital Graffiti Festival has changed this year because of Covid. It’s now a drive-through experience over May 12-15 (but May 15 is just for Alys Beach homeowners). Tickets are $80 for vehicles with seven or less people. Vehicles wtih eight or more passengers need a ticket at $150. Tickets must be bought online as they cannot sell them at the door. Tickets are set within a designated time slot, beginning at 8:00 PM. Pedestrians, golf carts, and other non-standard vehicles will not be permitted.

The Grove is giving a Director’s Tour Virtually that focuses on the role of enslaved artisans and craftspeople in building the Call-Collins House. Director John Grandage will also talk about nineteenth-century construction techniques and the modern day preservation of the house. The tour begins at 2:30 PM and will be available on Facebook Live.

Big Bend Hospice’s event, Spring into the Spirit, is occurring at Food Glorious Food (1950 Thomasville Road). Food will be prepared by Food Glorious Food and music from Leon Anderson and his quartet. Reservations are required and “grab and go” options are available.

Friday, May 14: BoDean and the Poachers will be performing at Southwood Golf Club (3750 Grove Park Drive). The concert begins at 6:00 PM. There is no cost for admission.

Saturday, May 15: Springtime Tallahassee is an all day event with vendors and concerts. It’s being held at the North Florida Fairgrounds, at 441 Paul Russell Road.

The Annual Tupelo Honey Festival will begin at 9:00 AM at Lake Alice Park in Wewachitchka, Florida. There will be booths for the honey farmers, food vendors, arts and crats and live entertainment by Dickey Merritt ad the Original Bama Jam. This is a free event.

Capital City Band and Rose City Symphonic Band will be performing at Springtime Tallahassee at 9:30 AM. The concert is part of the line up of Springtime Tallahassee.

Carrabelle’s Country Farmer’s Market begins at 9:00 AM at the Crooked River Lighthouse (1975 Highway 98 West). The lighthouse will be open for tours and there’s a thirty mintute plant walk (for $5) with a local herbalist at 1:00 PM.

Tallahassee’s Relay for Life begins at 4:00 PM. The location is 444 Appleyard Drive. Registration on the website is required. Funds raised through Relay for Life support research, support for cancer patients and screenings.

Sunday, May 16: JazzFest, the Jazz Festival put on by Jazz Pensacola starts on Saturday, May 15 and ends on May 16. It will take place in Seville Square, in downtown Pensacola. The concert begins at 10:00 AM and ends at 6:00 PM on Sunday (10-7 on Saturday). The event will feature national, regional, and local jazz acts. There will also be other vendors and food. It’s recommended that visitors bring lawn chairs to provide seating.

Tallahassee Youth Orchestra is performing another free concert, beginning at 3:00 PM. This is free and live-streamed.

Wednesday, May 19: Tallahassee Film Society is showing Hope, a Norwegian movie (with subtitles). This movie was Norway’s official submission to the 93rd Academy Awards. It can be rented online through the Film Society.

Thursday, May 20: Emancipation Day for Tallahassee! Emancipation was proclaimed in Tallahassee on May 20, 1865, two years after President Lincoln proclaimed it for the United States [Florida declared it eleven days after the Confederacy lost the Civil War, when Union soldiers rode into Tallahassee]. It will be celebrated at Soul of Southside. The Village Square, free tours of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church and Concord Schoolhouse by the Tallahassee Museum,

The Village Square will be hosting Created Equal: Stretching Towards Freedom, commemorating Emancipation Day in Florida. The event begins at 6:30 PM and registration can be done through the website link.

The Tallahassee Museum will lead tours of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church and the Concord Schoolhouse. These tours are free, just tell admissions that you’re here for the tour. They will take place at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Only ten guests per tour for safety, please observe Covid-19 protocols.

Friday, May 21: The Mardi Gras Parade and Festival (which was postponed earlier in the year) of Panama City. The events are free to visitors. On Friday, the kids parade begins around 4:30 and the first day of the festival begins at 4 PM. Saturday and Sunday’s festival begins at 10:00 AM and lasts until 10:00 PM. Saturday’s main parade begins at 2:00 PM. Sunday’s pet parade begins at 2:30 PM. The festival address is Beck Ave in Panama City. The parade route in on the map on the webpage linked above. Current news is being delivered via their Facebook page.

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​Saturday, May 22: Soul of Southside, a hybrid event (in person and virtual), explores the historical influence of Southside Tallahassee. There are neighborhood tours, an Emancipation Day Observance, Youth Entrepreneurship events, food trucks, and a three day street festival that begins on Thursday, May 20.

Tallahassee Battle Lions will be playing against Southern States FC at 7:00 PM at Gene Cox Stadium. Tickets are around $7.

Sunday, May 23: Six Feet Concert Festival weekend at the Hole (3030 South Adams Street). There will be music, food, drinks, and crafts vendors over two days (beginning Saturday May 22). Revival will play on May 22 and Lil’ Grizzly will play on May 23. Tickets are $15 per day or $25 for the weekend (students are $10 per day or $15 for the weekend). Kids 12 & under are free. VIP tickets (add $5 more) include preferential parking in the close-up lot.

Tuesday, May 25: Gadsden Art Gallery’s showcase of J. William Hill’s “The Magic of Entertainment” is ongoing until May 29th. Gadsden Art Gallery and Museum is at 13 North Madison Street in Quincy, Florida.

Wednesday, May 26: Tallahassee Museum’s Nightprowl registration closes at noon.

Thursday, May 27: Old Salt Union is performing at the Moon as part of Opening Nights. They’re an eclectic, modern string band and the concert begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets are available for $25-40.

Saturday, May 29: Tallahassee Museum’s Nightprowl begins at 8:00 PM. Tickets costs $10-13 and must be purchased in advance. This is a tour featuring the nocturnal animals at the Museum.

Tallahassee Battle Lions will be playing against Florida Roots at 7:00 PM at Gene Cox Stadium. Tickets are around $7.

Thursday, June 03: The History Book Club is meeting virtually at 6:00 PM via zoom. This is a Leroy Collins Library book club that meets every first Thursday. June’s book choice is The Vagabonds: The Story of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison’s Ten-Year Road Trip by Jeff Guinn, it’s available at the library.

Friday: June 04: The Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam, beginning on Friday, June 04 will begin at 2:00 PM. Artists headlining are Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brad Paisley, Brothers Osbourne, and Luke Bryan (many others). This is taking place at Panama City Beach (16200 Panama City Beach Pkwy) and tickets must be pre-purchased online. This is a three day festival, cashless, and FAQ can be found on this website link.