June 12–14in & around Central Florida

Three national jazz names on one stage: bassist Brian Bromberg, guitarist Paul Brown, and saxophonist Michael Paulo, playing together as BPM. This is the listening-room show of the weekend, in Ocala's best room for one.

Mount Dora's second-Friday art stroll, with Panache by Vintage Rose and Studio ArtFarm anchoring the route. Galleries open late, downtown fills up, and it makes a fine first leg of a full Mount Dora weekend.

A full-production tribute celebrating the music of Rod Stewart -- the look, the rasp, the catalog -- with two shows to pick from -- a 4 PM matinee and a 7 PM evening performance. Take the matinee and you're home before the squares get going; take the 7 and make a night of it.

Live music and an art sale in one evening, raising money for Arts in Health Ocala Metro and The Arc. A good-cause night out that doesn't feel like a fundraiser.

An immersive murder mystery in the Valerie's 1920s room -- you're not watching the whodunit, you're a suspect in it. Runs Friday and Saturday evenings, so there's a second chance if your night's spoken for.

The engine that never stops: free live music on the squares, nightly at 6. Friday brings Bar Fly to Lake Sumter Landing, Johnny Wild & The Delights to Brownwood, The 789s to the brand-new Eastport Town Square, Uncle Bob's Rock Shop to Sawgrass Grove, and CLUB CTRL with DJ Lu-S to Spanish Springs. Five squares, five different nights out.

The Reilly Arts Center runs its summer movie series both days -- Cars and Lilo & Stitch on the big screen, multiple cheap matinees. An easy indoor anchor when the afternoon sky does its thing.

The weekend's centerpiece. International show jumping under the lights in the Grand Arena -- horses and riders going for real money over big fences, and it costs you nothing: free admission, free parking, spectators welcome. If you've never watched a Grand Prix in person, this is the easiest yes in Ocala.

A tribute to Van Morrison at the Opry in Weirsdale -- Moondance, Brown Eyed Girl, Into the Mystic, played by a band that takes the catalog seriously. The Opry crowd will sing the choruses for them.

The Reilly flips from smooth jazz to Led Zeppelin in 24 hours: Pure Zeppelin pays tribute to the catalog with a full production. Loud, faithful, and a completely different room than Friday night.

Kilts, clans, and community on the Mount Dora lakefront -- the recurring Scottish gathering takes Sunset Park for the day. Leg two of the Mount Dora weekend.

Inverness closes things off and turns downtown into a street party -- live music, vendors, neighbors. The Nature Coast's easiest Saturday night.

The family pick: a morning of kid-aimed performance and activity at the Reilly before the heat builds.

Live music at the Crystal River brewery -- a low-key Nature Coast afternoon with a local songwriter and a cold pour.

Saturday at 6: DeadLanders at Brownwood, Gravity Parade at Lake Sumter Landing, Rocky and The Rollers at Eastport Town Square, and Sheila & The Sound at Spanish Springs.

Leg three: the Sunday-morning market at Sunset Park -- produce, makers, lake breeze. Go early, beat the heat, get the good bread.

Brooksville Parks & Rec's community afternoon -- games, music, and an unhurried way to close the weekend on the Nature Coast.

Sunday at 6: Beauty & The Beats at Brownwood, Cable Cars at Lake Sumter Landing, September Dogs at Spanish Springs, and The Rundown Band at Sawgrass Grove. Free, outdoors, every single night -- it never gets old.