North Central Florida may be much warmer, greener, and sunnier than a traditional winter wonderland, but don’t let that fool you—we celebrate the holidays with style. The crowning moment of our holiday celebrations every year is Light Up Ocala, the night when downtown Ocala begins to blaze with Christmas lights, and we come together as a community to celebrate life and joy.
This year is the 34th annual Light Up Ocala event, and it begins at 4 P.M. on Saturday November 18th. Guests can expect quality live entertainment on four different stages, 100 vendors, an exciting variety of food trucks, street performers, jugglers, Living Angel statues, and much more. For the adventurous there will be laser tag, and younger kids will enjoy bounce houses and slides. Other highlights include the anticipated Junior Sunshine Parade, and a special appearance from Santa and his elves. The celebration will culminate in the long-awaited tree-lighting ceremony, when our giant Christmas tree and all of downtown becomes drenched in a kaleidoscope of lights. And our love of the holidays doesn’t stop there! All this holiday season, our gorgeous downtown district will remain lit so that you and your family can come catch some Christmas spirit along with our amazing downtown attractions.
Performance Schedule
Stage #1 | Downtown Square
4 pm | James Wynn
5 pm | The 45’s
5:40 pm | James Wynn
6 pm | The 45’s
6:30 pm | Tree Lighting
7 pm | James Wynn
7:20 pm | The 45’s
Stage #2 | Citizen’s Circle
4 pm | Macey Mac
5:05 pm | Florida Twirling Academy
5:20 pm | Extensions Dance Studio
5:30 pm | Mary Ellen School of Dance
5:50 pm | Les Premieres, KIDZSINGS, ENCORE, Madison Street Academy
6:10 pm | Honey’s School of Dance
6:20 pm | Howard Middle School
6:30 pm | Tree Lighting
6:40 pm | Dance by Sheila
6:50 pm | Marion County 4H G.R.A.C.E.
7 pm | Balcony Dance
7:20 pm | The Arts District
7:40 pm | James Wynn
Stage #3 | North Lot
4:20 pm | Muttville Comix
5:20 pm | Bruce Sarafian
6 pm | Muttville Comix
6:30 pm | Tree Lighting
7 pm | Bruce Sarafin
7:50 pm | Muttville Comix
Stage #4 | South Magnolia
4:10 pm | Westport High School
5 pm | Karen B. Jackson
6 pm | Macey Mac
6:30 pm | Tree Lighting
7 pm | Blessed Trinity Catholic Church Choir
7:40 pm | Blessed Trinity Handbell Choir
Worried about parking? Free shuttle rides will be available for attendees throughout the evening on Saturday, November 18th.
Free parking will also be available in the downtown parking garage located at 296 SE Broadway Street throughout this event, as well as the County Courthouse parking garage located at 110 NW First Avenue from 3 to 10 pm. Parking in the garage is on a first-come, first-serve basis!
• The first shuttle will pick up guests at the Marion Technical Institute parking lot, 1614 SE Fort King St., and will drop guests off at the intersection of SE Osceola Avenue and SE Third Street. This shuttle will run approximately every 20 minutes between 3:45 and 9:30 p.m.
• The second shuttle will pick up guests at the Let’s Skate Ocala ice rink located in Tuscawilla Park, 500 NE Sanchez Ave., and will drop guests off at the intersection of NE Osceola Avenue and State Road 40. This shuttle will run approximately every 10 minutes between 3:45 and 9 p.m.
Light Up Ocala
Saturday, November 18th, 2017
4 P.M. in Downtown Ocala
To find out more about Ocala’s local holiday celebrations, contact us at Showcase! We’re happy to help you and your family celebrate the holidays, and love where you live!