WEEKEND TOP PICKS: Ocala roots, rock music, and roaring laughs

Check out live music, festivals, comedy shows, and more happening around North Central Florida this weekend.

By Sophia Ewers November 7, 2024 3:33 pm

352todayDenise Vickers/352todayThe Marion Theatre is hosting Sit Down for Stand Up, a standup comedy show, this Friday, November 8.

OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Looking for some nostalgia and fun this weekend in North Central Florida?

Step back in time and pay tribute to your favorite classic rock songs or go way back to Florida roots with the Ocali Country Days festival. Our weekend top picks have the events for any era you pick.

Tom Petty Weekend: Celebrate Gainesville’s own rock legend at Heartwood Soundstage on Friday, November 8, and Saturday, November 9. Enjoy live performances from acts like The Speaker Wars, Jake Thistle, and Shine & The Shakers. Tickets start at $30, and Heartwood Soundstage is located at 619 S Main St, Gainesville.

Ocali Country Days: Experience the “Florida of yesteryear” this Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10 at this annual festival. Explore pioneer cabins, watch live demonstrations of traditional crafts, enjoy music, shop with local vendors, and more from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and the festival’s address is 1445 NE 58^th Avenue in Ocala.

Creedence Revived: Get ready to rock to the sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival on Saturday, November 9, as the tribute band Creedence Revived takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. at the Reilly Arts Center. Tickets start at $28, and the venue is located at 500 NE 9th St, Ocala.

Sit Down for Stand Up: The Marion Theatre’s standup comedy show series returns to stage this Friday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $15 for acts from three talented and hilarious comedians. The show is for ages 21+. The theatre is located at 50 S Magnolia Avenue in Ocala.

Discover more things to do in North Central Florida by browsing the 352today events page.

352 Fall Guide

1 day ago

Fall Frights: Haunted Attractions for Terrifying Fun

Get ready for spine-tingling thrills this fall with haunted houses, ghost tours, and creepy corn mazes across Marion County and beyond.

Crime & Safety

6 hours ago

UPDATED: Juvenile Found with Firearm on School Bus Headed to College Park Elementary

Ocala police recovered a firearm from a student riding a school bus Monday morning. No injuries were reported, and the juvenile is now in custody as the investigation continues.

Crime & Safety

5 hours ago

Can You Identify This Man? Vandal Sought After Ocala Restaurant Break-In

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who was caught on camera vandalizing a west Ocala restaurant in the early hours of July 21.

Crime & Safety

40 minutes ago

Ocala’s Most Wanted: Do You Recognize Any of These Fugitives?

Crime Stoppers of Marion County has released an updated list of the area’s most wanted individuals as of August 26, 2025. Authorities are urging residents to report any information that could help locate these suspects, all of whom face active felony charges.

Crime & Safety

3 days ago

UPDATED: Marion County Sheriff’s Office Involved in Deputy-Involved Shooting After Pursuit in Reddick; Suspect Shot

A deputy-involved shooting in Reddick early Friday morning has left one suspect hospitalized and multiple roads in northern Marion County affected as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates.