Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee

July keeps the music rolling with the Downtown Concert Series on Saturday and a much anticipated homecoming ahead.

Tickets go on sale at noon Friday for rapper extraordinaire and Tallahassee native T-Pain's concert set for Nov. 10 at the Adderley Amphitheater as part of Leon County's bicentennial celebration.

"It is a special honor for us to welcome T-Pain, a proud native of Leon County, to the Adderley Amphitheater in Cascades Park,” Leon County Commission Chair Carolyn D. Cummings said in a press release.

The Sound Bar on Tharpe Street is picking up the baton of the Thursday Open Blues Jam session left homeless by the closing of Dreamland Bar-B-Q .

Young Actors Theatre is featuring 73 students and two casts of actors with its premiere of "Mean Girls" on Friday, the 20th anniversary of Tina Fey's hit movie.

Here's a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.

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1. Downtown Concert Series features Tallahassee locals night

The Downtown Concert Series is back from 7-10 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Adderley Amphitheater with a free show featuring Tallahassee performers Kanise, Clever Girl and Two Foot Level.

BYOB, picnic blanket, chairs, and friends - or find them onsite. There will also be yard games and activities, food trucks, and more. Enjoy the special Tallahassee Locals Night with Kanise headlining the concert.

2. 'Chomp N Stomp' at Palaver Tree

The fifth edition of the annual Palaver Tree "Chomp N Stomp" benefit concert brings the legendary Mary Ann Hoffman back to the Palaver Tree stage, as she debuts her new band Wild Ginger with a show from 3-10 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at The Palaver Tree Theater, 59 Shadeville Road, Crawfordville.

Tickets are $10 per person online, $15 at door; under 16 free. The music fest features food trucks and vendors, with all proceeds benefitting the Palaver Tree Theater.

Hoffman's powerful, earthy vocals and infectious energy make for one highlight in this eclectic lineup of bands including Douce Ambience, El Combo Machete, The Dusty Gravelers, Aura (featuring Due Artisti), The Aaron Hayden Band and The Bog Lilies. Music will include Latin favorites, Gipsy Jazz, Classic Rock, Americana, a dash of Alternative, and a dash of Dave Brubeck.

The event includes free beer with your ticket. Eats provided by the Ark, specializing in loaded fries. Tarot readings, children's activities, crafts for sale. This event is rain or shine. Buy tickets at palavertreetheater.org .

3. Young Actors Theatre get popular with 'Mean Girls'

The popular "Mean Girls: High School Version" will premiere at Young Actors Theatre , 609 Glenview Drive, at 7 p.m. Friday, July 19, and run through July 28. Based on the movie-turned-Broadway show-turned-movie musical, "Mean Girls" remains a cultural phenomenon.

"I find it fascinating that 20 years after Tina Fey’s original hit motion picture was released, the "Mean Girls" franchise is experiencing a renaissance and seems to be more popular than ever," Isabel Chistoni, YAT’s Director of Dance and the Director of "Mean Girls" said in a press release. “I mean, most of our cast members weren’t even born when the original movie came out!”

Chistoni and her team had a record-breaking number of students at auditions for its summer intensive Main Stage program. The show features 73 high school actors in two casts that alternate performance dates, and "Mean Girls Jr." – for the younger set – boasts a group of 48 middle school performers.

As the organization approaches its 50th anniversary in 2025, it is centered on student success. YAT CEO Sarah Roy says, “The world can be tough, and students sometimes walk into Young Actors Theatre wearing its weight on their shoulders — but they walk out confident, illuminated by an inner glow. Watch for it at Mean Girls.”

Mean Girls High School Version is rated PG-13 for language and Mean Girls Jr. is rated PG. Opening night is sold out, as is Saturday evening’s performance. Showtimes are 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. for matinees. Tickets start at $20. Visit youngactorstheatre.com .

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4. Find summer Synergy 4.0 at Tallahassee State College

Discover an energetic new exhibit at Fine Art Gallery of Tallahassee State College, 444 Appleyard Drive, with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday.

Summer Synergy 4.0 represents work by 47 artists from the Artists’ League of the Big Bend of Florida (ALBB), a nonprofit collegial group. Juried by the owner of Venvi Gallery, Brinda Pamulapati, the selected fine art and craft works range in styles and media, inclusive of oil, clay, steel, pen and ink, pastel, fiber, glass, beadwork, paper, enamel, and watercolor.

Synergy 4.0 will run through Aug. 30. During the public reception on Friday cash awards will be presented for 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place as well as three Honorable Mentions. Three non-monetary Honors will also be given. An ALBB Professional Development Award will be announced.

Tallahassee State College Fine Art Gallery events are free and open to the public. The Gallery is open 12:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday. Parking is free.

5. It's time for trios at the Blue Tavern

Steve Malono is providing the happy hour tunes at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., from 5-7 p.m. Friday, July 19. Next up the Will Fulkerson trio will be joined by Atlanta-based tenor sax player John O'Leary for a night of epic jazz from 8-11 p.m. The backbone of this band consists of Nygel Anderson on drums and José Serrano on bass. $10 cover.

The 3rd Saturday Traditional Irish session cranks up at 4 p.m., followed from 8-11 p.m. by the Corey Hall Trio. Corey Hall is a folksinger from Panama City with a hot band. He weaves together early blues and old-time with original songs about living. He is joined by Matt May on drums and Matt Law on bass, who support Corey's songs and rock the house while they're at it.

Bonus event: The Sound Bar revives Blues Jam

This week The Sound Bar, 1105 W. Tharpe St., begins picking up the Open Blues Jam (previously held at Dreamland BBQ) and hosted by Brett Wellman and Dangerous Dave Messler on Thursdays from 6-8:30 p.m. followed by Open Mic at 9 p.m.

Check out the Shaelyn Band at 8 p.m. Friday, July 19. Tickets are $10. The Concrete Cowboys are on deck at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 20. $10 cover. Stay tuned and check out the rest of the Sound Bar schedule at thesoundbartallahassee.com.

OTHER EVENTS

Blue Tavern: Sacred Harp/Shape Note Singing runs 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, followed at 8 p.m. by Bluesday Tuesday with Belmont & Jones. $5 cover. David Pucik plays indie-folk from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night. They Came From the Same, the sister-brother duo group of Kelly Goddard and Brian Durham, who make up two-thirds of The New 76ers,  comes for happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, followed at 8 p.m. with movie night featuring "Suspiria."

Great Oaks Pub at Southwood: J.C. and the Backscratchers are back at the Great Oaks Pub with a show from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, July 19. The Backscratchers are Chris Balding, Chris Seepersaud, Jack Straub and Deb Berlinger, who together create the harmonica driven Chicago roots blues musical sound. If you have an itch for real blues, then let the backscratchers sooth your soul. Full bar and grill, call 850-942-4653 for reservations.

Lofty Pursuits: National Ice cream Day and Lofty Pursuits' 13th Annual Ice Cream Eating Contest from 3-4 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at Lofty Pursuits, at 1355 Market Street in the Verandas at Market Street. Sign up at 2:30 p.m. Free, but contestants are selected at random. Returning champions are prioritized.

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

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee