Prime 5 enjoyable issues to do round Tallahassee this weekend

April is wrapping up in a blaze of wonderful festivals and music with Word of South, Thomasville Rose Festival, Stephen C. Smith Memorial Regatta at Shell Point and Alabama Shakes in live performance.

Here’s a roundup of entertaining occasions round Tallahassee, culled from emails, press releases, the Council on Culture & Arts, on-line listings and elsewhere.

1. A number of extra phrases about Word of South

We’ve been speaking about this 3-day occasion all week. Word of South, a pageant of literature & music, kicks off with a bang at 8:30 p.m. April 24 with headliner Earth, Wind & Fire at The Adderley in Cascades Park. Lawn seats begin at $95. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Everything else is free and unfold out with almost 50 performers over 9 levels and tents at Cascades Park and the AC Marriott Hotel and Plaza, from about 11:30 a.m.-9:15 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and 12:45-6 p.m. Sunday, April 26.

This weekend: A information to Word of South’s annual smorgasbord of music and lit

A number of Saturday highlights embrace music from The Currys, Yonder Mountain String Band, Maddy Walsch and the Blind Spots and Danny Bedrosian that includes George Clinton; e book talks with Mark Mustian, Kristen Arnett and Shane Hinton and far more. Sunday highlights embrace music from Amythyst Kiah; Putlizer Prize winner Richard Power speaking with Kati Schardl; and a jazz tribute to John Coltrane and Miles Davis.

Check out the colour coded schedule, seize your hat and sun shades and get out for an journey. Plot your strikes at wordofsouthfestival.com.

2. Sail away to Shell Point for memorial regatta

For the previous 52 years, the Stephen C. Smith Memorial Regatta has been held at Shell Point Beach in southern Wakulla County for the good thing about the American Cancer Society in reminiscence of Stephen Smith, an area sailor who died from a uncommon type of leukemia on the age of 29.

This yr, April 24-26, this homegrown family-friendly occasion is again for its 53rd yr of enjoyable and fundraising. Races begins about 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25. Come sail, watch, eat lunch on the Regatta grill and take part within the Sunday afternoon reside public sale. Visit smithregatta.com.

This yr’s occasion is especially poignant for the volunteers organizing the occasion, as a result of they misplaced a a lot admired and liked member, Wright Finney, to most cancers in January. Wright was a founding member of the Stephen C. Smith Memorial Regatta Foundation, Inc. and the Shell Point Sailboard Club and devoted many years to appearing because the logistics lead and as a group consultant for the regatta.

“This year’s regatta has been themed as the “Race for Wright,” mentioned John McBride, this yr’s occasion chair, “so that while we mourn the loss of Wright, we can redouble efforts to continue the fight against cancer.”

The Regatta attracts greater than 200 registered members with a whole lot extra spectators from all around the southeast. The occasion contains races for PHRF yachts, catamarans equivalent to Hobie Cats, smaller day sailors together with Sunfish, and windsurfers that are essentially the most quite a few and sometimes essentially the most colourful members within the Regatta.

3. Coming up roses in Thomasville

From breathtaking rose exhibitions and vibrant floral shows to reside music, a basic automobile and truck present, and the beloved Rose Parade, Thomasville, Georgia, is internet hosting its one hundred and fifth Annual Rose Show & Festival on April 24-25.

Throughout the pageant, guests can take pleasure in 4 historic flower exhibits that includes roses, orchids, and inventive floral designs: Orchids on Parade, the Annual Rose Show, the Standard Flower Show, and the Civic Garden Club Flower Show.

The kick-off occasion is 9 a.m. Friday, April 24, with Orchids on Parade on the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium, showcasing gorgeous orchid shows introduced by the Thomasville Orchid Society. At 1 p.m., the Rose Tent opens on the nook of Broad Street and Remington Avenue for the Annual Rose Show. At 2 p.m., the Thomasville Garden Club will host the Annual Standard Flower Show on the Thomasville Garden Center.

Friday’s festivities conclude with the historic Rose Parade, adopted by a avenue dance that includes reside music from The Ray Howard Band. Flower exhibits proceed April 25 with the opening of the Civic Garden Club Flower Show close to The Ritz Amphitheater. The Rose City Symphonic Band will carry out throughout the present’s 10 a.m. opening, adopted by the Thomas University Jazz Band from midday to 2 p.m. For full particulars, go to thomasville.org.

4. Shake a tailfeather at Alabama Shakes

Blues-rockers Alabama Shakes, fronted by Brittany Howard, (“Hold On,” “Don’t Wanna Fight”) checks in for a live performance at The Adderley Amphitheater in Cascades Park at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28.

Alabama singer Lamont Landers is the opener for the present, introduced by Leon County and Scott Carswell Presents, with gates opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $125-$84. Visit TheAdderleyAmphitheater.com.

Alabama Shakes was final in Tallahassee in 2016 after they performed songs from their hit 2015 album “Sound & Color” within the amphitheater. “Sound & Color” gained a Grammy for album of the yr in 2016. The Shakes launched the standalone single “Another Life” in August 2025, marking their first new music in almost a decade.

5. Benefit live performance helps out Parkinson’s Trailblazers

Music for transferring ahead comes from the Tallahassee Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International and the Parkinson’s Disease Trailblazers Board of Directors from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, April 26, on the Retreat at Bradley’s Pond, 9002 Bradley Road.

A Concert for Tallahassee Parkinson’s Disease Trailblazers, to assist fund scholarships for the Rock Steady therapeutic motion and health packages of the Parkinson’s Disease Trailblazers, will function Bobby Kennedy, Tracy Horenbein, Drew Whitfield, Dave McKenzie, Ken Crawford and Emcee: Barbra Faircloth. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Admission on the door is by donation to Parkinson’s Disease Trailblazers/Sweat Therapy Fitness, Inc.

Bonus occasions: Pickin’ and singin’ at Blue Tavern

Brett Eugene can be joined by Forrest Lee on bass guitar for comfortable hour at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., at 5 p.m. Friday, April 24, adopted at 8 p.m. by bluegrass pickers Wright & MacBeth, who sing old-time harmonies and have numerous enjoyable taking part in. $10 cowl. Old Time Jam will get cranking at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, adopted at 8 p.m. by a double header with Amelia White/Carter Sampson. Come hearken to a few highly effective songwriters do what they do greatest.

White particulars the hazards, fatigue, poverty and all that’s endured simply so you possibly can rise up in entrance of individuals and play your songs. Carter Sampson is an Oklahoma born and raised, award profitable, musician and songwriter. She excursions nationally and internationally taking part in each solo and together with her band. $10 cowl.

Bonus occasion: Havana’s Cigar Days is smokin’

The Havana History & Heritage Society will rejoice the world’s wealthy historical past because the “Shade Tobacco Capital of the World” throughout its annual Cigar Days occasion on Saturday, April 25, on the Shade Tobacco Museum in downtown Havana. The Museum is within the Planters Exchange Complex, a nationwide registered historic website. Events can be held indoors within the newly expanded museum and outside within the Pavilion, accompanied by meals retailers, native distributors and cigar lounge areas.

Tours of the Shade Tobacco Museum, together with its preservation plans, and cubicles by space cigar golf equipment and aficionados are all a part of the day’s occasions, which is able to start at 10:15 a.m. and finish with a reside public sale at 5 p.m. Shade tobacco was grown in a lot of the Gadsden County space till the mid Seventies and was an enormous contributor to each the native and state economic system.

Area historical past and cigar followers can mingle with aficionados from two of the world’s present modern-day cigar producers — JC Newman of Tampa/Ybor City and Corona Cigars of Orlando. Master Cigar Roller Luis Gonzalez can be available to debate the artwork of constructing and having fun with wonderful cigars. The “Bourbon & Cigars” event will be presented by Corona Cigar Company owner Jeff Borysiewicz and aficionados from JC Newman. This is a $35-ticketed event.

A separate $25-ticketed session will include hands-on training by Luis Gonzalez on rolling your own cigars. Tickets are available at havanahistoryheritage.com.

OTHER EVENTS

The Bark: Not Milk, Fight! Fight! Harm! 8 p.m. Friday, April 24, Doors: 7 p.m. 507 All Saints St.

Bird’s Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack: The Queen High Straight, 9 p.m.-midnight, Friday, April 24, 325 North Bronough St.

Blue Tavern: Shape Note Singing, 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, followed at 8 p.m. by Bluesday Tuesday with pre-electric blues by Belmont & Jones. $5 cover. Rad Reading happy hour at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, followed by Open Mic Night. April birthday happy hour at 5 p.m. April 30, followed by a move.

The Getaway Grille and Bar: Mechanical Lincoln, 7-10 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2386 Allen Road.

Greater Tallahassee Indie Bookstore Crawl: Common Ground Books, Midtown Reader, My Favorite Books, Fat Cat Bookstore, The Bookshelf, Love Story Book Co., & Fallout Comics, April 25-26.

Palaver Tree Theater: Spring Fling: Show Me the Proof, 6:30-10 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Doors: 5:30 p.m.Palaver Tree Theater, 59 Shadeville Road, Crawfordville. An artist showcase of original hip hop music.

Tally Contra Dance: The Bunny Bread Bandits, 7:30-10 p.m. Friday, April 24. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N Monroe St.

Tallahassee Community Chorus: Spring: “Song of the Sea,” 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26, Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, 222 S Copeland St. Tickets: Adult, $30; Senior (62+) $25; Student $10.

Tallahassee Winds: Under the direction of Drs. Patrick Dunnigan and David Plack, Tallahassee Winds will complete its 2025-2026 season with a concert in Opperman Music Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28. Admission is free.

Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.