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

American flags are out, temperatures are soaring, and city pools are opening around Tallahassee. It must be Memorial Day weekend.

The fallen will be remembered over the holiday with cemetery ceremonies as veterans groups honor lives lost by placing flags. Tallahassee National Cemetery, 5015 Apalachee Parkway, will host its Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 26.

Tallahassee's downtown concert series returns to Cascades Park on Saturday, the three-day 72nd Florida Folk Festival cranks up on the banks of the Suwannee River and Memphis rockers Lucero check in at 926 Bar on Sunday.

Cookouts and beach days are ahead.

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

1. Memphis band Lucero lands at 926 Bar

Since forming in the late '90s, Memphis alt-rockers Lucero have evolved and embraced everything from southern rock to Stax-inspired Memphis soul. Lucero rocks into town with William Matheny for the only intimate club show in the southeast at 926 Bar, 926 W. Tharpe St., on Sunday, May 26.

The band has stripped down to the basics of bar band rock n’ roll on their 2023 record, "Should’ve Learned By Now." Cow Haus Productions will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the show to the Railroad Square tornado recovery fund. Lucero has been coming to play live in Tallahassee for over 20 years.

For it's 12th album, the band, comprised of all its original members (which in addition to Ben Nichols, includes Brian Venable on guitar, Roy Berry on drums, John C. Stubblefield on bass, and Rick Steff on keys) teamed up for a third time with producer and Grammy Award-winning engineer and mixer, Matt Ross-Spang in Memphis.

Tickets for this show ($35 advance, $40 day of show) are available at eventbrite.com. Doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. And if you’d like to donate directly to the RRSQ fund, visit gofundme.com.

2. Celebrate the state at 72nd Florida Folk Festival

Every Memorial Day Weekend the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, along the banks of the historic Suwanee River, hosts the annual Florida Folk Festival, the nationally recognized event that celebrates all things, Florida.

Tallahassee musician Del Suggs said, "We often think of America as a 'melting pot' where we all blend together, but I think of the Florida Folk Festival as a 'salad bowl.' All the different cultures come together here, but they retain their original flavor. Each culture contributes to the whole and adds a completeness that would be missing otherwise. It's those individual flavors that make Florida so unique."

Now approaching its 72nd year, the Florida Folk Festival runs May 24-26 and features 13 stages of entertainment. Music lovers may choose from more than 300 performances by fabulous Florida musicians, national recording artists, songwriters, and musical genres like folk, blues, gospel, country, Latin, jazz, bluegrass, Caribbean, and even zydeco music that will precipitate toe-tapping and bring audiences to their feet.

The 2024 performers include the Sacred Steel Summit, The Lee Boys, Ben Prestage, Walter Parks, John Kay, The Firewater Tent Revival, The Peyton Brothers, Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band, Dodo Awoko, The Currys, Jeanie Fitchen, The Bullard Brothers & Friends, The Carr Sisters, Bing Futch, Sarah McCulloch, Raymi Dance School, The Byrne Brothers, 2pm Band, Karibbean Groove, Papaloko and Loray Mistik, Bob Patterson, Jim Stafford, and more.

Tallahassee artists include Del Suggs, Mimi Hearn and the Hearn Dogs, The New 76'ers, Grant Peoples, Frank Lindamood, Lili Forbes and the Funky Taters, and Hot Tamale. This year the Florida Folk Festival will host the Sacred Steel Summit again, featuring legends of the steel guitar from around the country.

The Festival is family-friendly by design, and the Children’s Area hosts customized, kid-oriented performances, games, crafts, and activities. Purchase a weekend adult ticket in advance for $70. One-day tickets are $35 in advance. Child’s ticket (ages 6 to 16) is $5 and is good all three days of the festival. Children under age 6 are admitted free. Visit floridastateparks.org.

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3. Downtown concert series returns to Adderley

The Downtown Concert Series returns for its ninth consecutive season on Saturday, May 25, with Underground Springhouse. This free and family-friendly show will begin at 7 p.m. and go until 10 p.m. at Cascades Park.

Underground Springhouse, a genre-blending band from Athens, Georgia, is known for its motto, "More of the good, less of the bad." Their eclectic style incorporates influences from reggae, country, funk, and rock 'n roll with dynamic live shows feature improvisation, mashups, and surprise covers. Joining them is Run Katie Run, whose latest album is "Cowboy Boots with Fishnet Tights." Led by Kate Coleman, they craft Americana/roots-rock music deeply rooted in personal stories and experiences within their community.

The event will also have games including Jenga, Connect-Four, Corn Hole, and food truck vendors such as Mardi Gras Sno Balls, A Taste of Mexico, LaSalle, and Murillo's. Here's the rest of the summer lineup: Willis with On the Edge (June 22), Kanise, Two Foot Level, and Clever Girl (July 20) and Hotel Fiction with Wim Tapley (Aug. 24).

The event is organized by Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, presented by Visit Tallahassee. For more information, visit tlhdowntown.com.

4. Drop by for swamp jazz and more at Blue Tavern

Steve Malono kicks off happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., along with guests Kim Thomas, as well as Michael Carlson, his bandmate with The Amnesiacs and The Recliners. That's followed at 8 p.m. by Buck Banzai. $10 cover. Trivia takeover with Hank Saints runs from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, followed at 8 p.m. by A Night in Turkveneztan with Jazzmatazz. This month's Jazzmatazz takes an international turn with the worldly, jazz-expansive sounds of Turkish pop and Venezuelan joropo, free jazz and digital electronics. $10 cover.

Happy hour takes shape from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday with traditional shape-note singing – courtesy of the group that gathers at the Quaker Meeting House, followed at 8 p.m. by Bluesday Tuesday with Walter Parks. Parks is both entertaining and educational, presenting historic music, original music and stories that preface songs in a contemporary way. Walter toggles between hollers, spirituals, Appalachian reels, Delta blues, work songs and swamp jazz delivered with Walter’s northeast Florida swampy feel. $10 cover.

On Wednesday, catch happy hour from 5-7 p.m. with Corey Hall, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night. On Thursday from 5-7 p.m., Mes Amis entertains for happy hour with Laura Gayle Green (bass & vocals), Stephen Michael Hodges (guitar & vocals), and Andrea Stanley (violin & vocals). They play a variety of American jazz and swing standards. Stick around at 8 p.m. for Miss Mango CD release, from Paddy League: "At long last, my first album of original songs (Medicine Ball) is out in the world, and we'll be celebrating with a release show at Blue Tavern on Thursday, May 30! I'll be joined by my band Miss Mango, featuring Chris Seepersaud on keyboards; Jack Straub on bass; Reo Morris on drums; and other special guests! We'll play the whole album top to bottom during the first set, and preview the next one in the second set." Visit paddyleague.hearnow.com. $10 cover.

5. Tallahassee Film Society makes leap to IMAX

After All Saints Cinema was damaged by the May 10 tornadoes that hit Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Film Society is partnering with IMAX-Challenger Learning Center to continue to show the best in foreign, independent, and documentary films. The first showing rolls out this weekend with "Taking Venice" at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 25, and 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, May 26-27.

When the U.S. wanted to use art to conquer the world, they enlisted the help of an up-and-coming American artist, a Jewish Italian art dealer and a woman with political connections. The result was a victory like no other, the story told in this wondrous documentary.

Effective with this film, tickets can be purchased only with credit cards. We no longer will accept cash. Purchase your tickets in advance at tallahasseefilms.com. There will be staff at the IMAX for each show to sell tickets via credit card. Tickets are $11 for general admission, $9 for students and TFS members.

OTHER EVENTS

Great Oaks Pub at Southwood: The Silverado Band will be belting out the best of classic rock 'n' roll and country from 6:30-9:30 pm. Friday, May 24, at 3750 Grove Park Drive. Full bar and restaurant. No cover, call 850-942-4653 for reservations.

LeMoyne Arts: Exhibit "From Grief to Grace" by Paula Gasparini-Santos, featuring paintings depicting the psychological and relational experience of grief. Opening 5-7:30 p.m. May 23 and running through June 29 at LeMoyne Arts, 125 N. Gadsden St. Presented by Katee Tully & Janet Hinkle.

Rhythm & Jazz Summer Series: Get ready to groove at the first installment of the Rhythm & Jazz Summer Series, presented by North Florida Community Development Corporation, at Kleman Plaza at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 26. Spend an afternoon filled with live music and good vibes from Austin Paul and other musicians.

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

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 5 fun things to do around Tallahassee on Memorial Day weekend