Gainesville150!, the year-long commemoration of the City of Gainesville’s 1869 incorporation, is proud to partner with ARTSPEAKS Courageous Young Voices to present the award-winning, young Baltimore poet Grim Jackson, at the Historic Thomas Center Sunday, March 8 from 4-7 p.m. as part of the talented lineup of young poets who will present at this annual event. The event is free and open to the public.

The Galleries at the Historic Thomas Center are pleased to announce the new exhibition RBL GRL | Revolution Doesn’t Ask Permission, which is scheduled to run from Friday, Feb. 7 through Saturday, June 27, 2020. An opening reception will be held Friday, Feb. 7 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The evening is free and open to the public and will feature the music of Baer and the Lady.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the City of Gainesville is hosting its annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration at the Historic Thomas Center (302 NE Sixth Ave.). At 6 p.m., attendees will gather in the Spanish Court to view the giant tree and call for it to be lit. After the tree lighting the free program runs until 8 p.m., and light refreshments will be served.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, in cooperation with Shake Rag Cultural Center, Inc., welcomes cast member of the famed television series “The Andy Griffith Show” and music legend Rodney Dillard to the next Jewel Box Concert at the Thomas Center on Thursday, Nov. 7. Guitarist Dillard will be joined by the Walker Brothers, which is comprised of Jarrod Walker, the mandolinist and member of the Claire Lynch Band; Tyler Walker, the guitarist and former member of the Sierra Hull Band and Corey Walker, who is a regular guest of Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, on banjo. The evening features dazzling instrumentals and vocals, along with stories from the set of “The Andy Griffith Show.”  Doors open at 6 p.m., and the concert begins at 7 p.m. General admission is $20, and VIP seating is $30 at the door. Seating is limited, but tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.evansmediasource.com.

The Galleries at the Historic Thomas Center are pleased to announce the opening of A Walk in the Park, which will be on display in the Doris Bardon Gallery from Friday, May 31, 2019 – Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. A reception for the exhibition will take place Friday, May 31 from 7–9 p.m. during Artwalk Gainesville. The evening includes open waltzing in the Spanish Court with music by Stay Tuned. The event is free and open to the public. 

The Historic Thomas Center is pleased to announce it was selected as a 2019 winner of WeddingWire.com’s Couples’ Choice Award. This is the sixth consecutive year that the venue has been recognized. The WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards recognize the top five percent of wedding venues nationwide from the WeddingWire network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, winners of the WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards are determined by reviews that are posted by newlyweds. The client reviews that each venue receives are then judged in the areas of quality, quantity, recency of the wedding and consistency. For more information about the Historic Thomas Center, please visit http://www.historicthomascenter.org/.

The Galleries at the Historic Thomas Center is pleased to announce the opening of iNTIMATE STATES – Works on paper by Eduardo Sarmiento, which will run Friday, Jan. 25 – Saturday, May 4, 2019. An opening reception and opportunity to meet the artist takes place Friday, Jan. 25 from 7–9 p.m. during Artwalk Gainesville.