May is the beginning of the rainy season here in Ocala, but that doesn’t mean you have to hide inside! As the last month in the spring season, there’s plenty of chances to enjoy the warming weather before the summer heat really sets in. Just remember to wear sunscreen, as May is also Skin Cancer Awareness Month! May includes Cinco de Mayo on the 5th, Mother’s Day on the 12th (don’t forget!), and Memorial Day on the 27th.
Did you know?
• The birthstone of May, the emerald, symbolizes success and love.
• It was once considered bad luck to get married in the month of May. There is a poem that says “Marry in May, and you’ll rue the day.” Superstitions aside, we think May is a-okay for a wedding.
• The Kentucky Derby is held on the second Saturday of this month. Keep an eye out for some Marion County thoroughbreds!
• May is National Bike Month! It’s the perfect time to hit the Santos Trail, or watch some amazing local races!
Marion County Builders Spring Parade of Homes | Locations Vary | May 2-12th, 12:00PM
Parade of Homes Open House | Evergreen Estates & St. James Place | May 4-5th, 11-12th
Join us from 11:00AM – 5:00PM during the first two weekends in May to view two of our listings. Contact Valerie Dailey at 352.816.1080 or Clayton Wagner at 352.438.7656 for more information.
May 2nd
Gator Stompin’ 2019 | Downtown and Midtown Gainesville | May 2
The Gator Stompin’® pub crawl and music festival has been a rite of passage in Gainesville for over 30 years. At the end of every Spring semester, thousands of people come together to celebrate being part of the Gator Nation. Ticket prices vary.
May 3rd
First Friday Art Walk | Downtown Ocala | 6 PM-9 PM
Every year, the First Friday Art Walk occurs from 6 PM-9 PM on the first Friday of every month from September until May. Located within Ocala’s historic downtown, event festivities include over 40 artist’s displays, acoustic entertainment, free family art activities, and extended shopping hours.
May 4th
Ocala Downtown Market | Downtown Ocala | 9 AM – 2 PM
Come out to enjoy a celebration of local produce, crafts, and food trucks! Just around the corner from the square, the open-air market pavilion hosts a wide variety of local and regional vendors offering unique and quality products.
May 5th
Cinco de Mayo Celebration | Spanish Springs Town Square | 4:45PM – 9:00PM
Join us for our Cinco De Mayo Celebration 2019 at Spanish Springs Town square May 5th from 4:45pm – 9:00pm. Free entertainment including Ravelli, Strolling Entertainment featuring MARIACHI VIVA MEXICO! VIVA MEXICO DANCERS, Village Performer Groups including “Aloha O’Ka Hula Dance Troupe | Spanish Folkloric Dance Group | Mystic Jewels | Clown Alley #179 | Food Trucks | Vendors | Chance Drawing and more! Get more info about Cinco De Mayo.
PACE Derby Day 5K, 10K, & 1-mile Fun Run | Florida Horse Park | 6:30AM
PACE Center for Girls, and Great American Insurance Group-Equine Division, present the Annual Derby Day 5K, 10K, and 1-mile fun run. Participants can run, walk and jog through the beautiful Florida Horse Park on the morning of the Kentucky Derby. The 10K route also takes runners through the Florida Greenway trails. Complimentary mint julep “mocktails” help participants cool down and refresh after the race. Ribbons are given for the top three places, and the overall winner of each division has their picture made while they are draped in a garland of roses.
May 7th
First Responder’s Event | Brick City Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar | 4:00PM – 10:00PM
Calling all First Responders… and everyone who wants to support them!
We are hosting our THIRD First Responder’s Event! We are happy to partner up with Horse Soldier Whiskey, ‘Merica Bourbon, and Heroes Vodka to benefit our own local heroes. They will be donating to a benefit of their choice based off the proceeds of the bottles we purchase for this event.
For every First Magnitude beer sold, $1 will be donated towards our local heroes. So, come out to drink with us and celebrate those who risk their lives for us daily.
Event Happenings:
– Win your fire station a catered dinner
– Live Music 7-10 PM
– Whole Hawg Contest
– Event Drink Specials 4-10 & Normal Happy Hour 4-7 & Rare Tuesday 7-Close
May 8th
Discover Downtown Ocala | Downtown Square | May 8th
Stroll. Shop. Sip.
Start anytime at Marley Mae Market and Paperie and join us for the after-party at The Lodge!
All participating locations open late! After-party begins at 8pm. Lots of prizes to give away – enter to win by showing a receipt from one of our participating merchants.
It’s easy to join in the fun!
1. Come to Downtown Ocala on Wednesday, May 8th anytime until 8pm – start at Marley Mae and make sure you bring a friend or two!
2. Stroll. Shop. Sip… purchase something – anything – at any one of our participating locations.
3. Bring your receipt to The Lodge between 8:00-8:15pm to be entered to win one of our prizes.
It’s that simple! Every second Wednesday of the month! See you on the Square!
May 10th
Extreme Mustang Makeover | Southeastern Livestock Pavilion | May 10 – 11
The Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Extreme Mustang Makeover in Ocala, Florida. Come watch trainers compete for $25,000 in cash and prizes. Watch the preliminary classes including Handling & Conditioning, Mustang Maneuvers & the Trail Class as trainers qualify to compete in the Top 10 Freestyle Finals on Saturday night. All events are open to the public except for the Top 10 performance on Saturday night.
May 16th
The Addams Family: A New Musical | Ocala Civic Theater | 7:00 PM
The iconic TV show comes to life in a marvelously morbid musical! Wednesday Addams is all grown up and in love with an ordinary young man from Ohio. On a dark and stormy night, the future in-laws arrive at the macabre mansion to meet the “creepy and the kooky, mysterious and spooky” Addams Family: Morticia and Gomez, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Lurch, and Grandma. Meeting the parents has never been so terrifying… especially when the spirits of the Addams ancestors in the graveyard rise to the occasion. This 2010 Broadway hit is delightfully dark, frightfully funny, and a gleefully Gothic good time!
“The Addams Family: A New Musical” is directed and choreographed by Katrina Ploof. Music director is Philip King. Stage manager is Faith Donahue.
There will be 22 public performances from May 16 – June 9, 2019. Reserve your tickets for opening night and join us on Thursday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. for a reception an hour before the premiere performance. Delicious refreshments are catered by HoneyBaked Ham, and beer and wine are available for purchase. Come celebrate the excitement of opening night!
Tickets go on sale April 15 at $27 for adults and $13 for full-time students (school ID required for college students). Group rates are available as well. Call (352) 236-2274 or Click HERE.
Business After Hours | Ocala / Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership | 5:00PM -7:00PM
Join Young Professionals Ocala at the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership‘s monthly networking event, Business After Hours!
Drinks | Prizes | Food
Each month on the third Thursday
No RSVP required | Bring your business cards
FREE for CEP Partners
$30.00 Potential Partners
May 18th
Women’s Monthly Ride | Brick City Bicycles | 8:30AM – 11:00AM
Join us each month for a fun ride with friends as we cruise the beautiful back roads of Ocala, Florida! This is a ladies only, no-drop road ride starting each month from Brick City Bicycles. The ride is designed to give you the opportunity for a no pressure, fun oriented experience where you can hang with your friends and make new ones!
We will be riding for distances of 20-40 miles depending on the month because switching it up is fun! No-drop means no girl left behind and we mean it. There will be a Jules Tribe Ambassador leading the group at all times so you don’t have to worry about learning a route. After the ride, there will be light refreshments – maybe some mimosas! You’ll have to show up to find out.
By participating, YOU ASSUME ALL RISKS, known or unknown, incidental to the activities listed herein and all other activities related to anyone involved, their related parties, and the rest of the participants. This is not a skills clinic – you come and ride as you are. No judgement is allowed!
Over the Edge | Springhill Suites |
In honor of the Marion Cultural Alliance and their renowned support and recognition of the local arts community, Showcase Properties of Central Florida is proud to participate in Over the Edge Ocala 2019. Join us in raising money for the MCA and let’s take the local art community to new heights! To donate & support Team Showcase, click here!
Ocala Styles Women’s Expo | College of Central Florida | 11:00AM – 4:00PM
Join Ocala Style Magazine on Saturday, May 18th at the College of Central Florida – Klein Center for the 2019 Ocala Style Women’s Expo, an event for women that fosters empowerment and inspires women to pursue their passions. This one-day event will be full of inspiring guest speakers, breakout sessions, demonstrations, shopping, networking, food, giveaways and much more. All ticket proceeds will benefit PACE Center for Girls of Marion County, a nationally recognized organization providing girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. Stay tuned for more details and don’t miss your chance to be part of the action!
The Ocala Style Women’s Expo tickets are now available! General Admission $5.00 (+ $.46 processing fee) purchase yours today and help us raise funds for PACE Center for Girls of Marion County.
May 26th
Pack Walk | Silver Springs State Park | 10:00AM
In partnership with the Marion County Animal Services, Silver Springs State Park presents an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a shelter dog. You’re invited to join volunteers and park staff as we walk a pack of well-behaved dogs through the park’s gardens and trails. This program gives the animals exercise and the chance to socialize with other dogs and other people. All of the dogs are available for long-term adoption but you can also “adopt” a dog for the morning and take it for a walk with the group. For just a small investment of time, you can make a huge difference in the life of a shelter dog. Hikers and walkers are welcome to join the group, even if they don’t want to hold a leash. Please note: only visitors 16 years and older may walk a shelter dog.
Held the fourth Sunday of the month. The Pack Walk begins at 10 a.m.
Enter through the Silver Springs State Park main entrance located at 5656 East Silver Springs Boulevard (State Road 40).
The Pack Walk is free with paid park admission.
May 31st
Yappy Hour | Hilton Ocala | 5:00PM – 8:00PM
Tickets are available at the shelter for $5. Ticket includes an alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverage in exchange for your ticket at the bar. There will the wrestlers there from !BANG! TV signing autographs, Photos from Pamela Dutton Photography, Appetizers and more information about our great nonprofit organization.
15% of drink sales goes back to the Humane Society.
Limit 2 dogs per person/ticket. Call 352-873-7387 ext 204 with questions and information on tickets.
Don’t see an event that peeks your interest?
Take a look at these additional resources for even more local activities and events in our area.
