On Tap this weekend

Dress to impress this weekend at the Leesburg Mardi Gras, starting with the ball on Friday and three parades and music on Saturday. Be sure to grab some beads while you’re there.

Eustis has two Black History Month events: the Black Achievers annual banquet on Friday and the African-American Heritage Festival and Parade on Saturday.

Go to one of Florida’s oldest African-American communities near Wildwood for the 40 Acres and a Mule tour Saturday or Feb. 27.

Entertainment runs the gamut from a swing band concert Thursday in Umatilla, stand-up comedians Friday in Clermont, Country singer Neal McCoy Saturday in Weirsdale and an ABBA tribute band Saturday in Leesburg.

Here’s your weekend ahead:

Leesburg Mardi Gras

It’s Mardi Gras time in Leesburg, so break out your best costumes as the revelers take it to the streets.

The weekend starts with the Mardi Gras Ball at 7 p.m. Friday at the Leesburg Boat Club for the crowning of King Rex and Queen Divine. Live music is by Hypersona, and there’s food, cash bar, costume and mask contests as well as dancing.

The party picks back up Saturday in downtown with concerts, three parades, vendors, street performers and lots and lots of beads.

The day begins with entertainment by the Mudds and the Kids Parade at 11 a.m. The Pet Parade marches at 2 p.m. and Bobby Blackmon entertains at 3 p.m. The Mardi Gras Parade, in all its beaded glory, takes over the street at 7 p.m. and the AC/DC tribute band Thunder Jack plays at 8 p.m.

Details: leesburgpartnership.com/mardigras

Eustis Black History Celebrations

Events kick off with the Eustis Black Achievers annual banquet will be at the Eustis Community Center at 7 p.m. Friday.

The African-American Heritage Festival and Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Prescott and Bates streets and ends behind Bates Avenue and Eustis High. The festival features soul food, entertainment, arts and crafts.

40 Acres and a Mule

The Young Performing Artists of Royal Community in Sumter County, one of Florida's oldest African-American communities, has 40 Acres and a Mule tours scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday and Feb 27. You must make reservations to participate.

Call 352-748-0260 or email youngartists@aol.com for reservations.

You are There with Charlie Grinker

Join multi-Emmy award winner, television producer, writer and interviewer Charlie Grinker at the Clermont Performing Arts Center as he pulls footage from his archives and takes a look at the 1950s, at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Remember favorite television series of the time including “Bonanza,” “Gun Smoke,” “Father Knows Best,” the “Jack Benny Show,” where a young Marilyn Monroe makes her television debut, and the hit show “Your Show of Shows” starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca, with skits written by Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, and Carl Reiner.

Grinker worked on the show, and 40 years later invited the stars to share their memories on his award-winning A&E series, “The Class of the 20th Century.”

Tickets: $10.75

Details: clermontperformingarts.com

Dak Rakow Comedy Show

Clermont’s own funny man, Dak Rakow, is at the Black Box at 7:30 pm. Friday at the Clermont Performing Arts Center. Sean Finnerty is the feature act and Mitch Silver the emcee.

Tickets: $15

Details: clermontperformingarts.com

Neal McCoy

Country singer Neal McCoy is at the Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale for shows at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. A limited number of tickets remain.

Tickets are $38 to $46.

Details: obopry.com

ABBA Tribute

Take a journey back to the time when disco was king with one of the world’s most authentic ABBA tribute bands, Abbacadabra, with shows at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Lake-Sumter State College in Leesburg. The band covers 20 of the Swedish pop group’s biggest hits.

Cost: $29

Call 352-365-3506 for tickets.

Valentine’s Day Concert

The LC Swing Band has a Valentine’s Day Concert 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Umatilla High School Auditorium as a benefit for the Key Club.

Cost: $10

Call 352-360-5679 for tickets

Friday Night Naturalist

Find out what’s happening to Florida’s soft-shelled turtles at Friday Night Naturalist at Trout Lake Nature Center, 520 E. County Road 44 in Eustis. Many of the turtles have been found dying or dead, and researchers have been working to discover the cause.

Reservations: Eileen Tramontana at 352-357-7536 or emailtlnc.director@gmail.com.