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!
January 3rd
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.
Florida Horse Park Winter Classic | January 1st – 12th
It gives us great pleasure to announce the formation of the inaugural 2020 Florida Horse Park Winter Classic! The Horse Park has been built from the ground up and offers a 500-acre, multipurpose facility and is one of Central Florida’s premiere venues for equine, agricultural, educational, and sporting events. We are very excited to be producing one of the only “A” horse shows to be added to the January USEF calendar in over a decade in Central Florida. The show runs from 1/1 – 1/12.
January 4th
Ocala Downtown Market
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!The Market is held on Saturdays from 9am until 2pm and on Thursday evenings from 5-9 pm with the Ocala Eats events. It is the vision of the City of Ocala (which owns the facility) and Ocala Downtown Market, Inc. to see the Market continue to add additional days in the future.
Tactics & Firearm Handling
This course focuses on behavioral-based responses for armed protectors, including decision making in and around crowds during an active threat. Students will practice techniques using demo weapons and holsters
(provided).
January 10th
Dueling Pianos at The Lodge
3 hours of non stop dueling pianos at The Lodge in Downtown Ocala! Unlike previous and future events, this is a special FREE showing edition. Free general admission begins at 7:30. Get tickets here! There are also 6 “VIP Tables” near the stage that are available with reserved seating for $100 per table. Reserve your table here!
James Two Bothers Distillers Tour
Enjoy this Taste and Tours the 2nd Saturday of every month! Tours will include a full overview and description of the processes, describe ingredients and equipment and explain the distinct popularity for batch distilling and small craft spirits. James Two Brothers Distillery is a micro distillery for small boutique-style production of beverage grade spirit alcohol. Their principles are simple; hard work and honesty!
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Get out your poncho and come to Fort King on Jan 10th, at 7pm for a FREE screening of the film classic, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Concessions will be available. The film will be shown inside the fort, and may not be suitable for young children due to the R Rating. Bring a blanket of chairs to sit on to make sure you keep cozy!
January 14th
An Afternoon with Mitch Albom
Hospice of Marion County is hosting “An Afternoon with Mitch Albom” at the Klein Center on the campus of CF January 14, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. This best-selling author, who wrote Tuesdays with Morrie, has just recently released Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family. He will share his experiences with Chika, her adoption, journey through hospice care and lessons learned from her short life. Tickets for this event are available online HERE for $35 per person which includes a copy of his book. PRINT & KEEP YOUR RECEIPT & BRING IT WITH YOU –You will need it to check-in at the event and receive a copy of the book!
Art 101: Watercolor Pencils with Sue Primeau
Let this one-day workshop inspire your creative side! They may look like ordinary colored pencils, but a little bit of water instantly transforms their markings into fluid watercolor paint. Instructor Sue Primeau will guide students on how to get the best effect using this unique medium. To register and pay online, click here.
Marion County Master Gardeners host a Healthy Living Workshop
Ready to make connections between the health benefits, economic savings, and social values of locally grown food to improve overall wellness? This workshop will help you learn how to grow fruits and vegetables in containers, and how to grow your own microgreens! Cost is $10 per person. Register on Eventbrite by Jan. 7th.
January 18th
Dino Date Night at the Discover Center
Featuring the wildly popular traveling exhibit Dinosaur Revolution, this is a date you won’t forget at the Discovery Center! Explore the exhibit, have fun with hands on experiments and take in a planetarium show. Discover a new way to do Date Night! Get your tickets here!
Sneakers & Smores 5K
Raise “s’more” scholarships again this year at the annual Sneakers & S’mores 5K Run/Walk and Kids Dash! Proceeds from the 5K support the Take Stock in Children Scholarship Program. With the support of donors like you, over 850 Marion County Children have earned a life-changing scholarship. Take Stock in Children is a mentoring and scholarship program of the Public Education Foundation of Marion County. You can register for this event online by clicking here!
Southern Ranch Sorting
Ranch sorting is a western-style equestrian sport that evolved from the common ranch work of separating cattle into pens for branding, doctoring, or transport. Come out to the Florida Horse Park and see what it’s all about!
January 23rd
Ocala Eats
Join us every Thursday evening from 5-9 pm for Ocala Eats at the Downtown Market! 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!
ARC Expressions
The City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division presents, “ARC Expressions: ARC Marion’s Annual Art Exhibition 2020.” An opening reception will be held on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at City Hall Lobby. Beverages and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Celebrate ARC Marion, Inc. program members with artwork created by individuals in the Adult Day Training program. The Advocacy Resource Center (ARC) of Marion County creates opportunities for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work and play to the fullest of their abilities. Adults in the Adult Day Training program have the opportunity to express themselves through art. Each piece is a unique reflection of the individual.
January 25th
Clay Workshop
Make a heart-shaped dish for your sweetheart just in time for Valentine’s Day! All supplies included are included in the price of the class, which will take place on Saturday, January 25th from 1 – 4 p.m. Register for classes online HERE!
Comic Fest at the Paddock Mall
Come one, come all! Hosted by Vibranium Comics, this event will have comics, cards, loads of vendors, and more! Located inside the Paddock Mall, this event will be located near the food court. Better yet, it’s free! Special guests include Shannon Scott, professional voice actor, model, actress, and mermaid based in Central Florida, as well as Athena Finger, granddaughter of Bill Finger, one of Batman’s creators.
Freedom Walk at Sholom Park
This 2.05 mile walk supports the fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Their ultimate goal is to create awareness and teach the community and children that human trafficking is an important issue that effects more people than we realize. Attendees have the opportunity to speak with those treating victims of human trafficking, and learn what to do, who to call, and how to help. For more information on this event, and others that are a part of this project, click here.
January 31st
Grandview Invitational Draft Horse Show
Just imagine the possibility of 168 one ton horses in a ring at the same time, along with 21 world class hitch wagons, being maneuvered by some of the best drivers in the industry! You can imagine the organized chaos that gets executed perfectly, a marvelous undertaking to see. The pure power and excitement of this equine venture is one of the most crowd pleasing horse events on the planet. There will be up to 32 of these one ton draft horses working together at a full trot within the show ring all together. Come out to the Florida Horse Park January 31st – February 2nd, to see these amazing horses work as a team!
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