We’ll make it easy for you to plan ahead with this month’s events blog featuring a full line up of live music, local brews and on stage performance at The Reilly Arts Center. Need a little fresh air? We’ve found the best of the best outdoorsy outings for you and your friends at the Florida Horse Park, Silver Springs State Park, Depot Park and so much more!
February 1st
First Friday Art Walk | January’s Art Walk
This monthly event includes artist displays, musical performance by Christopher Dolan Music, dance performance by Honey’s School of Dance, free family art activities provided by local arts organizations and extended shopping hours. Come enjoy an evening of art, live performances, and downtown shops and restaurants. During January’s First Friday Art Walk, we invite the public to participate in the Red Sand Project with Marion Cultural Alliance. We will fill cracks in the sidewalks around the Square with bright red sand to create a visual reminder of the millions of people around the world who have fallen through the cracks of our society and become trapped and hidden in slavery.
Love of the Horse 5K | 6:30 AM – Noon
The mission of this event is to raise funds directly supporting the welfare of horses around the world. The proceeds from this charity race benefit The Foundation for the Horse, a group with more than 25 years dedicated to improving the welfare of horses through education, research and benevolence. Marion County is the Horse Capital of the World, with the equine industry contributing $2.62 billion dollars to our economy annually. We are proud to be a part of this ever-growing community and invite you to trot the roads of NW Ocala Horse Country with us. Register here!
Mt. Dora Arts Festival | February 1st – 2nd
What better way to celebrate one of the top Downtowns in the country than by walking America’s favorite home-town! Filled with fine-art from national artists, along a magnificent lake view! Discover terrific entertainment, food, superb shopping and of course, The Premier Arts Festival in Central Florida!
Brick City Food Tour | 2 PM – 5 PM
Uncover a vast spectrum of cooking styles in Ocala’s historic downtown. Your guided Brick City Food Tour visits 5 sit down tasting locations in the downtown neighborhood. Between samples, your informative guide will share their experience of local customs, historic stories and specialty shops. This walking tour is ideal for Ocala residents and travelers eager to discover the culinary secrets and traditions that compose the horse capitol of the world. Whether you’re vacationing in Ocala for the first time or a long-time resident, you’re sure to walk away with a greater understanding of the geographic history and culinary techniques of the city.
February 6th
Cookie Decorating Class | 2 PM – 4 PM
Valentines Day Cookie decorating! Ages 13 +up. Fun learning how to design your own set of Valentine cookies. Take home folder with recipes, tips, practice sheets, grab bags for every student. Nice box to take your beautiful cookie home to show off to your family, friend, or spouse.
Marc Cohn LIVE at the Reilly
Grammy-Award winning singer-songwriter, Marc Cohn, best known for his soulful ballad “Walking in Memphis” returns to the Reilly! Rooted in the rich ground of American rhythm and blues, soul and gospel and possessed of a deft storyteller’s pen, he weaves vivid, detailed, often drawn-from-life tales that evoke some of our most universal human feelings: love, hope, faith, joy, heartbreak. Cohn followed up his platinum-selling debut with two more releases in the 1990s, at which point Time magazine called him “one of the honest, emotional voices we need in this decade.”
After Hours Concert: Chris McNeil
Enjoy music, food and fun at our annual After Hours concert series! New to the Appleton’s stage, enjoy the incredible voice and guitar-playing by Southern musician Chris McNeil.
$5 for Appleton members; $15 for nonmembers. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com or by visiting AppletonMuseum.org. Seating for each event is limited to 250. Doors open at 5 p.m. and music begins at 5:30 p.m. Food service and cash bar ends at 7 p.m.
Galentine’s Day Sip ‘n Shop
Drop everything on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. Gather your gal pals, and head to Paddock Mall for our Galentine’s Day Sip ‘n Shop celebration. Enjoy fashion, food, cocktails, live entertainment and more. So much fun will be happening at this exciting event. Can’t wait to see you there!
February 7th
First Friday Art Walk
February’s Art Walk includes artist displays, musical performance by The Mudds Blues Band, free family art activities provided by local arts organizations and extended shopping hours. Come enjoy an evening of art, live performances, and downtown shops and restaurants.
Ocala Tractor Pull | February 7th – 8th
4th Annual 2020 Ocala Tractor Pull. Family friendly event on Friday & Saturday night at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion. Multiple food vendors & onsite ATM machines.Wheelchair accessible.
The Villages Balloon Festival | February 7th – 8th
The Villages Balloon Festival – Winter Celebration Fun, Food, & Entertainment will be February 7th & 8th, 2020. This event will also feature: food trucks, vendors, a free Kid Zone, strolling entertainment, 2 stages, and an Antique Car Show!
30th Annual Winefest | Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards | February 7th – 9th
Winefest is an opportunity to enjoy all the fruits of our bountiful previous year’s harvest. Our full range of award-winning table wines, from dry to sweet, are sure to entice newcomers as well as draw rave reviews from longtime devotees. Local Artists and Crafters are invited to display their work. Enjoy live music on outdoor stage throughout the entire weekend. Lakeridge wine, beer, soft drinks and a variety of food is available for purchase, along with complimentary Winery tours and tasting.
February 8th
Farm to Table
Join the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation for an evening in Ocala, Florida. It’s farm-to-table experience with local fare, entertainment, auctions and more. All event proceeds provide non-medical financial assistance to cancer patients. Get tickets here!
Ocala Cattle Drive & Cowboy Round Up
Dust off your cowboy hat and shine up your boots for Ocala’s annual Cattle Drive and Cowboy Round-Up! Start the morning off early watching real cowboys drive Florida cracker cattle through Downtown Ocala to Tuscawilla Park, then let the festivities begin! Live Music by Brett Bass and The Melted Plectrum – Six Gun Territory Gunfighters – Cowboy Tom – The Pistolero Deke Rivers – Cowboy Circus with Danny Grant – Craft Vendors – Food Trucks – Trucks, Tractors & Trailers – Kid’s Corral – Farm Animals – Marion Rotary Duck Derby 2020 and more!
Mark your calendars and join us for hollerin’ good time!
Marion Rotary Duck Derby
Join us Saturday February 8, 2020 when we launch 5,000 rubber ducks into the water at Tuscawilla Park for an epic race! Adopt a duck and watch it race across the lake for a chance to win cash prizes! Proceeds from this event benefit Discovery Center.
Swamp Fest
Swamphead Brewery’s 12-year anniversary is here, and we wanted to build something bigger than us, for all of Gainesville. Swamp Fest will arrive on Saturday, Feb 8, from 1-11 p.m. This will be more than a birthday bash — We’re throwing an extravaganza under a massive tent outdoors with beer hall seating for the best craft beer drinking experience around. Our beer masterminds are brewing up something special so keep a look out for limited releases.
February 13th
Ocala Eats | Every Thursday 5 PM – 9 PM
Each week features a different theme and rotating food trucks, a beverage from Buzz & Grind, and entertainment. And, of course, there is a small market on Thursday evenings as well.
Galentine’s Day | Hammer & Stain
Grab your girls and let’s celebrate! We’ve got fun new designs for you to choose from, and of course, we’ll have sweet treats for you to enjoy. So grab the wine, beer or seltzers, and we’ll see you there!
Wildlife Valentine Crafts
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park invites kids and adults of all ages to make valentines for our resident wildlife on Thursday, February 13. Embrace your craftiness and visit the Discovery Center inside the park from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. where staff and volunteers will provide crafting supplies to create your own masterpiece. The crafts visitors make will be used as Valentines Day enrichment for the wildlife in our care. Enrichment is a way to introduce items into the habitats of captive animals to enhance their lives through the use of all of their senses.
The crafting event is free, however regular admission is required to gain access to the park.
Palatka Bluegrass Festival | February 13th – 15th
Rodeheaver Boys Ranch is second to none. If there was ever a perfect out door venue it might be it. Please make plans to join us for a celebration of Bluegrass once again as we ring in 16 years of the best of the best.
February 14th
Ocala CCA Banquet
Our 17th Annual CCA Ocala Banquet is coming up! Join us for an evening of raffles, food, auctions, and more! Corporate Tables are $1300 for a table of 10, includes table gifts, 10 CCA memberships, 10 dinners, free beer and wine, corporate identity in presentations, and one page ad in banquet program. Please reach out to Amanda Krpan at akrpan@ccaflorida.org for a Sponsorship Agreement Form.
Dueling Pianos
Valentines Day is a day for love, friends, and fun! Join Randy & Dustin as they put on a high energy, unforgettable performance for you at the Lodge in downtown Ocala!
Gala of The Royal Horse
The Royal Horses of Europe are some of the most celebrated in history, favored for centuries by royalty, equestrian riders and bullfighters. This performance will celebrate the tradition, athleticism and grace of these revered creatures. Performance includes the four Royal breeds; the Lipizzan, Andalusian, Friesian and the Arabian.
Show starts at 5:30 pm. Gates open at 4:00 pm. This event takes place under an outdoor Covered Arena — you will not be in open sunlight. The event will take place rain or shine. The show runs for approximately 120 minutes with a 30 minute Intermission. Handicapped Parking and Shuttle is available.
Valentine’s Beer & Donut Pairing | Swamphead Brewery
Love, beer, and MINI DONUTS!!! We’re bringing in some adorable mini donuts from Mini Donut Plains for a night of cookie and beer pairing in our tasting room. Our brewers are working hard on some brand new beers to pair perfectly with a specially chosen set of mini donuts.
BEER + MINI DONUTS = the best Valentine’s Day date you’ve been on in a long long time. Bring your Valentine, your Galentine, or your Valen-bros and get ready for the sweet culinary sensation that is Beer + donuts at Swamphead Brewery.
February 21 – 29th
Southeastern Youth Fair
The Southeastern Youth Fair is the premier not-for-profit ALL-YOUTH Fair for 4-H and FFA students in Marion County, Florida each February. The SEYF serves as a showcase for competition, exhibition, enhanced educational opportunities, and the promotion of self esteem, and personal growth and development while aiding in the education of the Citizens of Marion County regarding the importance of agriculture and related industries in our area.
Click HERE for a full calendar of events throughout the fair week.
Ag Dash 5K
The 2020 Southeastern Youth Fair AG Dash 5K is also Family Fun Fair Day at the Annual Southeastern Youth Fair ! Real live Cowboys and Cowgirls will be greet you at the start / finish line. Race day is the LAMB SHOW and DOG SHOW at the fair!
Early registration is only $25 until midnight Jan 31, 2020. Late registration is $30 from Feb 1, 2020 to Feb 21, 2020 at 9 am when online registration closes. Race day registration is $35. Register HERE!
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