What's happenin' this weekend in Lake County? Fests, concerts, Easter eggs and more
The weather this March has been oh-so-nice, so it's a pity to stay home and miss all the fun happening at a variety of daytime and evening events in Lake County. Catch country legend Lorrie Morgan in concert. Take the kids hunting for Easter eggs, or ooh and ahh at classic cars in Eustis or fireworks at Groveland's Founders Day. Laugh at comedians and much more.
FRIDAY
Heartbreakingly clever, vocally nimble and emotionally dynamic and resilient: These are all virtues that have endeared country music fans to Lorrie Morgan, the first woman in her genre to begin her career with three consecutive platinum albums. The widowed wife of country star Keith Whitley (who died of an alcohol overdose in 1989) performed in a duet with her late husband, "Til a Tear Becomes a Rose," which won a 1990 CMA award.
Word is she's back in the studio with the award-winning Richard Landis. She also plans on co-writing a second project in collaboration with Larry Gatlin.
Morgan has recorded in collaboration with her father, as well as Whitley, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Tammy Wynette, The Beach Boys, Dolly Parton, Andy Williams, the New World Philharmonic and Pam Tillis. She has toured with George Jones and shared a stage with Jerry Lee Lewis and was inducted into the Country Music Hall Fame along with Whitley.
See what's new and hear favorite hits at the Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center at 1051 Main St., The Villages, at 7 p.m. on March 22. Tickets start at $76. Details: thesharon.com.
Comedy show trades tears for laughter
Patti Hope emcees, and comedic cancer warriors/survivors Bear Clarke Webb, Jeanette Bokland and Angela Nacca entertain for a noble cause in "Dying to Laugh," a show that explores "a humorous side of terminal cancer." (Their words, not ours!) It all happens at 7 p.m. on May 22 at the Mount Dora Music Hall, 520 N. Baker St., Mount Dora. Proceeds from ticket sales go to Libby's Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation. The Magical Meat Boutique pub and restaurant will offer a full bar before and during the show. Tickets are $15-$35, available at mountdoralive.com.
SATURDAY
Leesburg's Market on Market
According to its Facebook event page, Leesburg’s weekly market on Market Street, parallel to downtown's Main Street, aims to not only showcase local produce and goods but foster a sense of community and connection among residents and businesses in Downtown Leesburg.
Co-organized by the Downtown Leesburg Business Association and Orange Blossom Market Co., the market hosts vendors who sell everything from artisan foods to homegrown and handmade products and more. Breakfast at Tiffany's say they'll be on hand with their "gravy bombs" and other deliciousness. Takes place rom 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekly at North Fifth Street and Market Street. Visit orangeblossommarketco.com for more information.
Hop to it at the Lady Lake Easter Eggstravaganza and Lake Square Mall
It isn't too early to dress up the kids and take them on a hunt for colorful eggs at the Town of Lady Lake's Easter Eggstravaganza, which promises to be "a hopping good time" for all. The Easter Bunny will be on hand for photo opps, and event organizers will hide 12,000 Easter eggs and have scheduled bounce houses, food trucks, a DJ and activities for the whole family. Takes place from 10 a.m. to noon at Snooky Park, 120 W. Lady Lake Blvd. Details: ladylake.org.
If you're up for double the fun or can't make it to Snooky Park, Lake Square will host an Easter Egg Hunt Event with colorful eggs hidden throughout the shopping mall's Center Court. Takes place at noon at 10401 U.S. 441, Leesburg. You can also take the kids to visit the Easter Bunny. Photos are available, and prices range from $26 to $34. Details: lakesquaremall.com.
102nd Groveland Founder's Day Anniversary Party
Celebrate the up-and-coming city of Groveland the city's 102nd Founder's Day anniversary party, a free family/pet-friendly event featuring live concerts by the Crenshaw Band (2:15 p.m.), Zac Brown Band (7:30 p.m.) and other fine tunesmiths plus food trucks, artisan vendors and, of all things, a barefoot waterskiing competition.
The fun starts at 1 p.m. and continues through 9 p.m., when the fest ends with a big fireworks finale. It all takes place at Lake David Park, 450 S. Lake Ave.
Also, in tandem with Groveland's Founder's Day: Head to the Groveland Historical Society and Museum for fascinating tales about town, Villa City and our Timucuan predecessors from 1 to 4 p.m. Details: city of Groveland's Founder's Day event page or email [email protected].
Classic Car Cruise-in rolls into downtown Eustis again
Ooh and ahh at the sweet old rides on display for the monthly Classic Car Cruise-In from 4 to 7 p.m. on March 23 in downtown Eustis. Registration is free. Details: 352-360-3712.
SUNDAY
'The Miracle Worker' performed by Bay Street Players
The Bay Street Players revive the inspiring true story of Annie Sullivan and her student, Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing at the age of 19 months at the historic State Theatre. The tale was famously adapt to the acclaimed 1962 film starring Patty Duke as Helen and the incomparable Anne Bancroft as Annie, who persisted and brought a reason for living to a young woman devastated by tragic circumstances.
The play stars Allyson Sweiderk as Sullivan and WrenChilders as Helen Keller. Sweiderk is an instructor and music director in the Orlando Area. She is also a performer with Disney's Live Entertainment. Childers has been part of Bay Street's Young People's Theater program and has been involved in many productions.
An American Sign Language interpreted performance will be on Sunday, March 24, at 2 p.m. Assisted hearing devices will be available for all of our performances, too. Tickets:tix.com/ticket-sales/.baystreetplayers/595.
David Oliver Willis brings his eclectic style to Waterfront Grille
Troubadour David Oliver Willis contributes his multifaceted style to the Floridian ambiance of the Lake Eustis Waterfront Grille on March 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. Born and raised in Florida, Willis claims that his influences are as far flung as Nina Simone, Michael Kiwanuka, Gillian Welch and Gary Clark Jr. The restaurant is located at 350 Lakeshore Drive, Eustis. Learn more at davidoliverwillismusic.com. Restaurant details: 352-602-7446.
Enjoy a free afternoon concert by a Navy jazz ensemble
What's more all-American than jazz music? Explore the genre's be-boppin,' big-band heritage when the city of Mount Dora presents the Navy Band Southeast Jazz Ensemble in the Mount Dora Music Hall at 3 p.m. on March 24.
Under the direction of Lt. Nicholas Nadal, the band is headquartered at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville and serves military and civilian communities. Its 45-member group comprises professional musicians who perform more than 350 engagements per year. Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved at MountDoraMusicHall.com.
Irish Comedy Tour stops a wee bit after St. Patty's Day
St. Patrick's Day may have been last week, but it's never too late for the caustic wit of the Emerald Isle. Enjoy some bawdy laughs courtesy of The Irish Comedy Tour, starring Irish/Irish-American comedians and musicians. The headliners are Derek Richards from Detroit; Ohio's Michael Malone; Nova Scotia's Damon Leibert; and Derrick Keane, from Inchicore, a suburb of Dublin. The tour's press tells us to expect "the party atmosphere of a Dublin pub and combines it with a boisterous, belly-laugh band of hooligans."
The laugh attack begins at 7 p.m. on March 24 at the Sharon. Tickets are $30 and up. The Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center at 1051 Main St., The Villages. Details: thesharon.com.
A LOOK AHEAD ...
27th annual Brownwood Paddock Square Art & Craft Festival
An annual springtime tradition returns to The Villages, offering more than 160 local and national fine craft artisans. At the 27th annual Brownwood Paddock Square Art & Craft Festival on March 30-31, you can expect to see works in all media along with personalized gifts, handmade clothing, scented soaps and other specialty items filling Brownwood Paddock Square from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, and friendly pets on leashes are welcome. Brownwood Paddock Square can be found at 2705 W. Torch Lake Drive, The Villages. Details: artfestival.com.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: 10 fun things happenin' this weekend in Lake: Fests, concerts and more
