The High Nooners are playing at the “Free Fridays” All-American Song Fest Friday, July 7 at Bo Diddley Plaza. For the past 10 years, “Free Fridays” has hosted the All-American Song Fest on the first Friday in July to commemorate America’s independence with a celebration of American Music.

The newly completed A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center is open to the public after a nationwide search for a museum coordinator. The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) and the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) are pleased to welcome Desmon Duncan-Walker as the new museum coordinator.

The City of Gainesville is the recipient of a $200,000 Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) grant to renovate the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Center. Renovations will allow Alachua County and the City of Gainesville to use the facility as a hurricane shelter by the 2018 hurricane season.

Closing out the celebration of June as national African-American Music Appreciation Month, “Free Fridays” hosts popular reggae band, De Lions of Jah, to play a concert Friday, June 30 at 8 p.m. The Jacksonville, Florida band has been dubbed “the best reggae band in Duval County.”

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is pleased to announce the July lineup of Events on the Promenade at Depot Park, which is located at 200 SE Depot Ave., in Gainesville.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) invites residents to give their feedback on conceptual designs for Northside Park (5701 NW 34th Blvd.) at an upcoming open house. The open house is scheduled at two times in order to provide attendees a variety of times to give their feedback. Both open houses are Wednesday, June 28 at the Gainesville/Alachua County Senior Recreation Center, which is located at 5701 NW 34th Blvd.; they are from 2:30-4:30 p.m. or 5-7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

The celebration of June’s national African-American Music Appreciation Month continues at the ”Free Fridays” concert series in downtown Gainesville Friday, June 23 at 8 p.m. with a tribute to the music of Curtis Mayfield.

The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, in cooperation with Shake Rag Cultural Center, Inc., is pleased to announce the next Jewel Box Concert at the Thomas Center Friday, June 23, featuring The Grascals. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $20 at the door. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.evansmedisource.com.

The celebration of June’s national African-American Music Appreciation Month continues at the ”Free Fridays” concert series in downtown Gainesville Friday, June 16 at 8 p.m. with Wester Joseph’s Stereo Vudu.

This weekend, June 9–11, Dwight H. Hunter (Northeast) Pool will be closed to the public as the City of Gainesville hosts the annual Sunshine State Games Swimming Championships. Over 350 athletes from all over the state of Florida will be competing at the event. Patrons wishing to swim can still visit both Andrew R. Mickle Sr. Pool and H. Spurgeon Cherry (Westside) Pool, which will be open throughout the weekend. On Friday, June 9, morning lap swim will still be offered to the public from 6–9 am. Following morning lap swim, the pool will close so staff can prepare for the Games. This is the eighth consecutive year that the City has hosted this prestigious event.