What's happening in our area this week

Wednesday:

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Theatre Department will present Harold and the Purple Crayon beginning Wednesday. Performances will be held on Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday at 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. and Friday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $4 for students and children of all ages. They can be purchased in advance at the box office and beginning at 6 p.m. on show nights. For more information, go to www.da-arts.org.

904.. Shadow on the Sunshine State

The Jacksonville Public Library will present the movie screening and discussion of the 904.. Shadow on the Sunshine State. It is a documentary that explores why Jacksonville has been considered the murder capital of the state for the last 10 years. It tells the story of former Jaguar Richard Collier, mother turned activist Beverly McClain and others. The program is free and open to the public beginning at 6 p.m. It will be held at the Main Library.

Thursday:

Sonny Landreth

Blues musician Sonny Landreth is coming to Ponte Vedra Concert Hall on Thursday. His performance begins at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 for all rows. You can purchase tickets at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall and St. Augustine Amphitheatre Box Offices.

New Exhibits Opening

The Beaches Museum and History Park will hold an opening reception for two new exhibits and the next installment of the Monthly Whistle Talk on Thursday. The new exhibits are “Following the Buccaneer Trail: The Mayport Ferry and Jetties” and “Builders and Miners: Black Communities on the First Coast at the Turn of the 20^th Century.” Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. The opening and lecture is $5 per person. Free to museum members. Both exhibits will run through March 2, 2013.

Auditions for Shakespeare in the Park Production

The University of North Florida’s Department of English will hold auditions for the April Shakespeare in the Park Production of “Hamlet.”  Auditions will be held Thursday beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday and vocal auditions from 3 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium. Parking is available in Parking Garage 38. For more information, call 904-620-2273.

Annual Black History Calendar

The public is invited to the unveiling of the 2013 Black History Month Calendar. It will be held Thursday at the main Library beginning at 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Friday:

Jerry Seinfeld

America’s premier comedian Jerry Seinfeld is coming to Jacksonville on Friday. He will appear on a stage at the Times-Union Center Moran Theatre beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at all ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

I Love a Piano II

Pop sensation Rich Ridenour returns by popular demand. This time, he is bringing his son for special performance on Friday. It will be held at the Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall at the Times Union Center. You can see the two perform during several shows. Friday’s show will begin at 11 a.m., and 8 p.m. Saturday’s show will also begin at 8 p.m. Single tickets begin at $16. For more information, call 904-354-5547 or www.jaxsymphony.org.

Saturday:

Elvis Lives!

Take a musical journey across Elvis’ life. You can see Elvis Lives! Saturday at the Times-Union Center. The show features ultimate winner Bill Cherry along with the top five finalists as the cast. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets begin at $37.   For more information on the show, call 904-632-3373 or visit www.artistseriesjax.org.

 Episcopal January 5K

Episcopal School of Jacksonville’s Eagle 5K will be held in memory of the school’s former head, Dale Regan on Saturday. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race begins at 9 a.m. on Munnerlyn Campus, which is at 4455 Atlantic Boulevard. All proceeds from the race will go to the Dale Regan Memorial Fund. Online registration is open at www.milestoneraceauthority.com.

The Magical Music of Disney

Disney lovers will enjoy this concert featuring timeless Disney images animated with music. The Magical Music of Disney will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall at the Times Union Center. Pre-concert activities will begin at 2 p.m. Single Tickets begin at $10. For more information, go to www.jaxsymphony.org or call 904-354-5547.

Alligator-A Keystone Species

You can learn more about alligators being a keystone species during a special presentation Saturday at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. It will be held in the Environmental Education Classroom beginning at 1 p.m.

The Goodall Family Story

You are invited to the world premiere of the “Goodall Family Story” at the Florida Theatre on Saturday. You can learn the inspiring story of a family of eight facing two difficult trials including Lou Gehrig’s disease and leukemia. The Florida Theatre premiere is a charity event to support the good works of Builders Care and help Lou Gehrig’s disease and leukemia patients through their own experiences. Festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. For more information and tickets, go to www.thegoodallfamilystory.com.

North Atlantic Right Whales

You can learn more about North Atlantic Right Whales during a discussion on Saturday. The whales visit Northeast Florida waters to give birth to calves December through March. The discussion will be held at the Fort George Island Cultural State Park beginning at 2 p.m. It is free and will take place at the Ribault Club. The program is free.

Let’s Go Science

Local families can attend a fun family science show on Saturday. Let’s Go Science will be held at Jacksonville’s Wilson Center for the Arts. The Wilson Center for the Arts is located at Florida State College at Jacksonville’s South Campus on Beach Boulevard. There will be two performances at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $16. You can purchase tickets at 904-44-2929 or www.artistseriesjax.org.

 Camp Composition Florida Writes!

The College of Education and Human Services at the University of North Florida will host Camp Composition: Florida Writes! Beginning Saturday. This camp is a writing camp to help fourth through 10^th graders to become better writers. It will be held from 9 a.m. to noon beginning Saturday through Saturday, February 23^rd. The camp will be taught  in the Tom and Betty Petway Hall on the UNF campus.  Registration fee is $240 and space is limited. Scholarships are available for those who need one. For more information, call 904-620-1754.

TorchLight Tour

Go back in time and revisit the War in the Swamps. There will be a torchlight tour Saturday at Fort Marion beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Missy Raines and the New Hip

The most award winning bassist Missy Raines and her band, the New Hip will perform on Friday at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Doors will open at 6 p.m. The show begins at 8 p.m. Justin Case will perform at the park on Saturday night. For information on both shows, go to www.musicliveshere.com.

Farmer's Riverside Arts Market
Pick up some fresh veggies on Saturday. Riverside Arts Market artists and entertainers are taking a break, but farmers and growers will be on the site every Saturday through February 23. You can catch the farmers there between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Audition Announcement

The Jacksonville Symphony Chorus will hold auditions on Saturday at Jacksonville University’s Philips Fine Arts Center. Auditions will begin at 9 a.m.  For more information on the auditions, call 904-354-5479 ext.221 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to schedule an audition time.

Peter Max Exhibit

You can see the impressive collection by artist legend Peter Max. Max will be unveiling his new Masters series at the Avondale Artworks on St. John’s Avenue. There will be an exhibit preview on Saturday and the exhibition runs through Sunday, January 20^th. Peter Max will be making two special appearances at the art Gallery on Saturday, January 19 from 6-9pm, and Sunday January 20^th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 907-384-8797 or www.avondaleartworks.com.

Friday Musicale

You can hear the music of pianist Heidi Williams on Friday at Friday Musicale. It is free and open to the public. The show will begin at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Kidgits Carnival
Simon Kidgits Club will host a carnival at the Avenues Mall on Saturday.  It will be held at the BelK Court beginning at 1 p.m. There will be crafts, carnival games, and great giveaways. This event is free to Simon Kidgits Club members. To become a club member, go to www.simonkidgitsclub.com or Simon Guest Services at the mall.

Inaugural Milk Milk Light Zooma
Nearly 700 women athletes have registered for the Inaugural ZOOMA Florida race on Saturday. The half marathon race starts in downtown Fernandina Beach at 8 a.m., the 5K starts at 8:30 a.m. and finishes at the beach at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island.  A big post-race party will be held at the Ritz-Carlton oceanfront lawn. To register for the race or more information, go to www.zoomarun.com.

Sunday:

“Pina”

The St. Augustine Film Festival will present a screening of the dance documentary “Pina” on Sunday. It will be held in the Virginia Room in the Flagler College Student Center in St. Augustine beginning at 3:15 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.fliff.com. Advance tickets are $5 for seniors and students and $7 for general admission. Tickets will be $7 at the door for students and $9 for general admission. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the St. Augustine ballet.