What's Happening: 'Antarctic Dinosaurs,' Reed Foley, 'We Are Here'

JAN. 5 THROUGH APRIL 21

“ANTARCTIC DINOSAURS”: Step back in time and discover life beneath the ice in “Antarctic Dinosaurs.” Today, Antarctica is a forbidding land of snow and ice, but 200 million years ago it was a lush, wooded habitat where dinosaurs thrived. Uncover the history of the world’s southernmost continent and the unique species that have called it home in this interactive, family friendly experience at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Rare fossils, touchable casts and interactive models bring the past to life while showcasing Antarctica’s distinctive dinosaur species. Examine a reconstructed forest, and encounter the early plants and animals that flourished in the once-green environment. Experience the extraordinary work that goes into digging for fossils with real equipment and a recreated quarry. Learn about the important research taking place in this frigid landscape and how it informs future changes to the world’s climate. This is a bilingual exhibit available in English and Spanish. Tickets are $10 for adults; $9 for Florida residents, seniors and non-UF college students; $7 for ages 3-17; and free for ages 2 and younger, UF students and museum members. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. It is located at 3215 Hull Road. For more information, visit floridamuseum.ufl.edu or call 846-2000.

JAN. 11

REED FOLEY: Fast-rising Nashville country music star Reed Foley and his band will perform at the High Dive beginning at 7 p.m. Jan. 11. The show also will highlight local artists Cam Wheaton and Trevor Ellis. Tickets are $10. Foley’s shows, which include a mix of original songs and a few popular covers, are known for their high energy and highly engaged audiences. It’s traditional country music, a mix of old and new stylings. The kind that keeps you humming it all day long. Foley has had an impressive start to his career. He is readying the release of his fourth single this month, following on the heels of three singles released in 2023 that have already captured several million streams. His debut single, “Beer Needs Drinkin’,” quickly rose to the Top 40 of the independent radio charts where Foley stayed in the Top 3 of independent country music artists for 15 straight weeks. His follow up single, “Ain’t the First Time,” quickly became a streaming hit and also launched Foley into the Australian market, where it received major airplay on all of the country music radio networks in the country. Foley is no stranger to the live music scene. Has played several NASCAR venues including the Bristol Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Michigan International Raceway. This spring and summer, his minor league baseball stadium tour will include stops in a dozen ballparks for post-game concerts. Foley has opened for Jason Aldean, Tyler Farr, William Michael Morgan and Cooper Alan. He has played several festivals, the Kentucky Derby and has performed at major corporate and national association events. His High Dive stop will be one of 150-plus concerts Foley will do in 2024. His songs also have been featured on the Academy of Country Music’s New Music Friday Playlists. Tickets for his High Dive concert are $10. High Dive is located at 210 SW Second Ave., Suite A. For more information, visit highdivegainesville.com.

ONGOING

“WE ARE HERE: STORIES FROM MULTILINGUAL SPEAKERS IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA”: Immigrant inclusion requires us to think about languages other than English, and to listen to the stories that people carry through their languages and their cultures. “We are Here” — the newest exhibition at the Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave. — highlights stories from 60-plus people who speak multiple languages in North Central Florida. Through visual collages that centralize cultural images, “We Are Here” illustrates the immigration journeys of the North Central Florida community through stories that hold power in multiple languages. These stories include examples of successes, struggles, hopes, injustices, and dreams of a more inclusive and just community. The goal is to showcase these stories, make visible the language diversity present in the community, and advocate for all neighbors’ right to access information in their preferred languages. The Matheson has partnered with curators and designers Valentina Sierra Niño and Laura Gonzales, the Rural Women’s Health Project, Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative, Language Access Florida, and UF’s Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere with support from the Humanities Fund for this original and exciting exhibition.

ONGOING

FEED THE HORSES: Enjoy the cooler weather as you take in 335 acres of nature and feed the horses and donkeys of Mill Creek Farm Retirement Home for Horses. The farm, a nonprofit that was established in 1983, has been home to hundreds of horses who endured abuse, starvation and neglect. The sanctuary provides lifelong care for these horses as well as retired police and military equines. Entrance to the farm is free; they ask that you bring carrots, apple slices and/or bananas to share with the animals. It is open to the public Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about the farm, or to find out how you can help the nonprofit, visit millcreekfarm.org.

ONGOING

HISTORIC HAILE HOMESTEAD TOUR: The Historic Haile Homestead is unique in the nation for its "Talking Walls." For a reason lost to time, the Haile family wrote on the walls of their home — more than 12,500 words in almost every room and closet. Visit the historic site Sunday and see this gem of history that has been frozen in time. Let the walls speak to you of joys and sorrows from more than a century ago. Visitors must wear face coverings while indoors. The venue is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Attendees also can see the videos in the Allen & Ethel Graham Visitors Center: "Beginnings" and "Enslavement to Freedom." The Historic Haile Homestead is located at 8500 Archer Road. Entrance to the site is $5 for ages 13 and older and free for ages 12 and younger. For more information, visit hailehomestead.org.