Looking for a way to get out and enjoy what our community has to offer this Summer? Take a look at what events Ocala and Gainesville are are hosting, and soak up the sun during the last few days of summer vacation before the kids head back to school!
August 1st
Peace & Love Tour: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock | Reilly Arts Center | 7:30 PM
Return to Woodstock with two hours of peace and music. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of a rock and roll moment that changed history. Relive the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The Who & more artists from the Woodstock era as performed live by the national touring Paisley Craze Band. Come early to enjoy the pre-show festivities, including Woodstock trivia, tie-dye merchandise, photo-booths and much more! Limited $59 VIP tickets are available and include a seat in the first 3 rows and a commemorative CD.
Eat Street Ocala | Ocala Downtown Market | 5:00 PM
Come out and enjoy the night! Our theme for this event is called “Fire & Ice”. We will be featuring cuisine based around cooking with fire and then cooling you down with our featured cold trucks. We will be welcoming DB’s Rolling Dough and his amazing fire-grilled goodness. Mitch Cook with Fat Tiki will be blazing his Island fare. Our Chef’s table that night will be Big Lee’s Serious About Barbeque.
When it’s time to cool down for the evening, we will have the Ice Queen and Dog Daze Shave Ice on hand ready to tame that fire! There will be plenty of choices from our market vendors under the pavilion for those looking for unique and healthy choices as well.
The Buzz & Grind kiosk will be open and ready to serve a variety of beverages to help perk you up or chill you out!
Back to School Splash Bash | Citizens Circle | 10:00 AM -12:00 PM
Splash fun at the splash pad with Angie Lewis State Farm Team! We’re collecting school supplies, so bring them to the office before hand or day of at Citizens circle! Kona Ice will be there too.
Teacher Fair 2019 | Public Education Foundation of Marion County | August 1st, 2nd, & 5th
Marion County Public School classroom teachers can start the new school year off right by shopping for FREE school supplies for their students and classrooms at our annual Teacher Fair! MCPS teachers can register to shop during one of the dates/times available. The event will be held on August 1st, 2nd and 5th, with multiple shopping times available to pick from on each day.
Local businesses will have booths to share information, resources and goodies for teachers as well.
Teachers – please use the Eventbrite site to register for your shopping date and time. Spots are limited!
August 2nd
Art of Aging | Marion Cultural Alliance | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
‘The Art of Aging’ exhibit kicks off with an Opening Reception on August 2, 2019 from 5-6 pm at the Brick Gallery, home of Marion Cultural Alliance. There will be light refreshments served until 6pm sponsored by Florida Blue & Humana. Free admission. Exhibit will be on view through August 31, 2019. During the month, Marion Senior Services will host various receptions, a Partner Punchbowl Party and the Gifts of Aging Series, which are educational lunch an learns to promote healthy aging.
First Friday Art Walk | Downtown Ocala | 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Be inspired! ~ Art! ~ Shopping! ~ Entertainment!
The First Friday Art Walk takes place the first Friday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. First Friday Art Walk is a free event located within Ocala’s historic downtown. Event festivities include over 30 artist displays, monthly live entertainment, free family art activities provided by local arts organizations and extended shopping hours. The public is invited to enjoy an evening of art, live performances, and downtown shops and restaurants. Pick up your map on the square and take a self-guided tour of local artists displaying their works for sale in front of our downtown business. Stop to take in the performing artists stationed along the way.
August 3rd
Hunt Country Horse Show | Grand Oaks Resort | August 3rd – 4th
FREE ADMISSION — spectators are welcome! Come see hunters & jumpers as they soar over fences and other obstacles! Events from 9 am to 5 pm each day at our Covered Arena, Fiber Arena & Racetrack Arena. Click here for more information.
Ocala Downtown Market | Downtown Ocala | 9:00am – 2:00pm
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. The Ocala Downtown Market (ODM) is the place where a diverse array of farmers, artisans, craftspeople, and food trucks come together to sell their products to customers from Ocala, Marion County, and beyond. A true destination location, ODM is set just blocks off of the Ocala Downtown Square, in a beautiful open-air Market Pavilion. Besides permanent roof cover, the facility also includes large overhead fans, restrooms, a nearby ATM, and water fountains.
Vendors have a variety of booth choices to choose from, including both indoor and outdoor, booths with water and/or electric, and more!
August 4th
Off-Roading Rally | Hard Rock Off Road Park | 10AM
Join us for our Annual Off-Roading Rally to Hard Rock Off- Road Park! A full day of Off-Roading family fun.
August 5th
Shotgun Day Camp | Gator Skeet & Trap | AUG 5 – 9th, 9AM
Hosted by Alachua County 4-H. No prior experience. Will shoot 1 round per day for 3 days (Monday-Wednesday). The Beginners class will teach the fundamentals of shooting, stressing safety, care and maintenance of equipment, and the joy of breaking clay targets in a safe, well-supervised environment. To find out more information, click here!
August 7th
Wine Down Wednesdays | The Lodge | Every Wednesday 5PM
UNLIMITED Wine, Domestic Beer, Mimosas, Sangria, & Appetizer Buffet ($20 per person)
– Live music starting at 8pm
– More than 200 craft beers & wines, & Full liquor bar
August 8th
Interactive, Immersive Bridal Expo | Hilton Ocala | 5:00 PM
Hilton Ocala invites you to tour their newly renovated wedding and event venue. Wedding decor will feature Beautiful Moments Party Rental & Design, Inc. This hands on bridal experience will be an experience for the senses. Join us for this FREE event designed for the modern bride and groom featuring local event professionals.
August 9th
Dueling Pianos | The Lodge | 8:00 PM
The dynamic duo Randy and Ingrid will be taking your requests all night long! Pre-purchase tickets here.
August 10th
SBHS Summer Dressage | The Florida Horse Park |
USEF/USDF Dressage show with Qualifying
Judges: TBA
OPEN TO ALL BREEDS!
Will add second judge if entries warrant.
Come join us in competing in beautiful Ocala on the lovely Fiber footing!
Prizelist can be found here.
Back to School Bash | Tuscawilla Park | 1:00 PM
Calling all Marion County students and educators and support staff! ? please come out for our first annual back to school bash! You don’t want to miss it. This year we will have games live music prizes , School supply giveaways and MUCH MORE !
De Leon Springs Pedal, Paddle & Pancakes | DeLand | ALL DAY
Who loves biking, water sports and pancakes? Where can we get all three activities in one event? DeLand! Come join Chrystal and Evan with AdVANtures on the Daily for this awesome event. We will begin the day with a early Intermediate Blue loop at Chuck Lennon bike park, this will take about 2 hours. Next, we will launch our boards or kayaks from spring garden boat ramp and paddle to De Leon Springs State Park. The Old Spanish Sugar Mill is a unique restaurant located inside the Park. Each of the tables are equipped with a griddle and they bring you pitchers of homemade pancake batters (both a stone-ground mixture of five different flours and an unbleached white flour) you pour them on and flip them over right at your table. You may order blueberries, bananas, peanut butter, pecans, chocolate chips, apples or apple sauce to create whatever sort of pancakes you choose. They also offer sausage, bacon, ham, eggs, homemade breads and an assortment of other treats to accompany your pancakes. Breakfast cost not included.
This day trip will take 5-6 hours total.
The Cost : $55 includes paddle board, leash, PFD, Guided adventure, launch fee and park entrance. Breakfast cost not included.
$45 includes kayak, PFD, guided adventure, launch fee and park entrance. Breakfast cost not included.
$25 bring your own paddle vessel, this covers launch fee, park entrance and guided adventure. Breakfast cost not included.
What you’ll need: Bring Your Bike! Water, Goggles and snorkel, sunscreen, bathing suit, hat, sunglasses and an appetite for Pancakes!
Yoga on the Wild Side | Blissful Life Corporation | 3:00 PM
Join Kelsie Smith, Yoga Instructor and Ambassadors of Nature as they bring you a joint class at Blissful Life Corporation that’s part yoga and part animal education!
This workshop class will feature a unique, up-close experience to see the natural world right in front of you! Ambassadors of Nature brings nature to you with an exciting presentation featuring their very own animal ambassadors. ?Get hands-on with a few of the animals and watch others show off their natural behaviors during this immersive and flowing beginner yoga class.
August 11th
UF Urban Entomology Lab Tour | University of Florida | 9:00 AM
Join us as we tour the world’s foremost urban entomology facility and gain first-hand training on identifying Florida’s most prevalent pests.Professors and students will be on hand to answer questions and provide insight into the latest pest management techniques; what’s working and what’s not. For more information, click here!
August 14th
Artsy Angels – Truck & Flower Painting | The Keep Downtown | 6:00 PM
Lauren will walk you through the painting so that you can be sure to have something beautiful to show your friends and family. You will have all the supplies that you need in order to create your masterpiece! Then, you’ll get to take your canvas home with you. Bring an apron with you or put on some old paint clothes just incase things get messy!
Enjoy delicious food, wine and beer from The Keep Downtown (formerly named Ocala Wine Experience).
August 15th
CEP Business After Hours | Location Changes Each Month | Third Thursday | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
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
August 17th
Ocala Summer Horse Trials II | Florida Horse Park | Aug 17 – Aug 18
Dressage and Show Jumping Saturday with Cross Country running Sunday morning (highest level to lowest level). Possibly some Show Jumping on Sunday.
Running Intermediate-BN
enter online at HERE. All information will be posted on www.flhorsepark.com > Events > Ocala Eventing Series
2nd Annual Ocala Outdoor Expo | Southeastern Livestock Pavillon | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Calling all outdoorsy, adventure-seeking, gun-slinging, nature lovers!
Wind-FM and K-Country, in association with Phillips CJDR and Agricon Equipment Company, proudly present THE place to be for everything outdoors… the event that brought in 65+ vendors and close to 3,000 people in its inaugural year… 2nd Annual Ocala Outdoor Expo!!!!
The event is FREE, with a suggested $1 gate donation to the Boy Scouts of America!
Oklawaha Country Concert Series | Silver Springs | 2:00 PM
Join us for this new and exciting Oklawaha County Concert Series taking place within the beautiful Silver Springs State Park, located in Ocala Florida! You’ll be able to spend a day at the park and hear some of Florida’s own talented musicians, songwriters, and storytellers perform in the open air acoustic amphitheater located in a picturesque setting, surrounded by the natural beauty of the springs. Come for the day to explore the park and then meander over to the Ross Allen Island Amphitheater at 2:00pm for the concert.
25th Annual Harvest Grape Stomp | Lakeside Winery & Vineyards | 10:00 AM
Finally, harvest season has arrived and it’s time for grape stomping competitions! This event is perfect for a family outing. Listen to continuous live music the entire weekend by superb local musicians. Lakeridge wine, beer, soft drinks and a variety of food is available for purchase, along with complimentary Winery tours and tasting. A portion of the proceeds go to support the Alzheimers Family Organization.
5 Year Anniversary | First Magnitude Brewing Co. | 12:00 PM
First Magnitude will have live music going all day long with Heavy Petty closing out the night as headliners, multiple pouring stations to keep the lines short, and plenty of food trucks to keep you filled up.
Food Preservation Workshop | Crones’ Cradle Conservation Foundation | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Summer hurls piles of vegetables and fruit into our lives. Explore ways to preserve your excess, so you may enjoy your bounty through the year. We will offer CANNING, FREEZING, SALTING, DEHYDRATION, and PICKLING as processes to save food for later. Limited to 14 persons; Call 352-595-3377 or e-mail catcrone@aol.com to reserve your spot.
August 22nd
August 23rd
Casino Gala Royale | One Health Association | 6:00 PM
Join the Marion County Builder Industry Association for an evening of music, fun and gaming to help benefit Veterans Helping Veterans.
Florida vs. Miami | Camping World Stadium | 7:00 PM
The Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes will reignite their rivalry and face off in Orlando to open their 2019 seasons. The neutral-site game will be played during the season’s opening weekend at a date and time to be determined by ESPN and will be televised nationally from Camping World Stadium.
August 26th
Bingo & Balsamic | Olive Obsession | 6:00 PM
B-I-N-G-O Night! Prizes to include Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Balsamic, Vinegars, Honey, Pasta, 455 Sauce, and MUCH MORE!
Cost is $10 per person for 15 games – Three cards per game. (Additional Cards Will Be Available for $5 Each)
Our Famous Balsamic Cocktails, Wine, and Snacks Will Be Provided. Space is Limited So Sign Up To Reserve Your Spot!
August 30th
Ocala Shrine Rodeo | Southeastern Livestock Pavilion | Aug. 30 – Aug. 31
The 37th Annual Ocala Shrine Rodeo returns to the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala, Florida on Friday, August 30th and Saturday, August 31st, gates Open at 5:30 PM ~ Rodeo begins at 7:30 PM. The rodeo features competition in saddle and bareback bronc riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. Proceeds benefit Ocala Shrine Club.
August 31st
Kids Gardening Festival | Marion County Extension Office | 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Bring the kids for some gardening fun! They can learn about good bugs and bad bugs, garden critters, bats, composting and even plant a seed!
Lonestar | Reilly Arts Center | 7:30 PM
Known for merging their country roots with strong melodies and rich vocals, Lonestar, comprised of Richie McDonald (lead vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitar & backing vocals), Keech Rainwater (drums), and Dean Sams (keyboards & backing vocals), has amassed RIAA-certified sales in excess of ten million album units since their national launch in 1995, and achieved ten #1 country hits including “No News,” “Come Crying To Me,” and their crossover smash “Amazed” (which was also #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first record since 1983’s “Islands in the Stream”, to top both charts). The band’s awards include a 1999 ACM Single of The Year for “Amazed” (the song also won the Song of the Year award), and the 2001 CMA Vocal Group of the Year. With over a 100 dates worldwide per year, they are celebrating over 20 years together. Lonestar’s highly anticipated CD, Never Enders, features ten new original Lonestar songs that bring the band’s trademark sound into the contemporary arena.
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.
