September 1st
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. Market Hours: Saturdays 9am-2pm Rain or Shine
Join the cast of Avenue Q for a night of debauchery! The Bad Idea Bears, known to convince others to perform naughty acts, will be bar hopping throughout downtown Ocala. Participating locations include: Infinite Ale Works, Molly Maguire’s, The Courtyard on Broadway, Ocala Wine Experience and Pi on Broadway. Save the date and join the rest of the Avenue Q cast on September 28th – 29th and October 5th – 6th at Avenue Q – The Broadway Musical! Get your tickets here!
Located in beautiful Downtown Ocala, Infinite Ale Works is a production brewery that specializes in Belgian inspired beers. Infinite’s tasting room features 34 different taps of adventurous craft beer that will suit any discerning palate as well as a variety of drafts and bottles. Keep an eye out for new and upcoming events via Facebook
Head to the Ocala Breeders’ Sales, OBS, for a night of laughs with Dean Napolitano. As one of the nation’s leading auction and sale companies in the Thoroughbred industry OBS offers seasonal sales of yearlings, two year olds, and mixed stock. Learn more about OBS at http://www.obssales.com/ and check the event page for updates.
The Rafter Cross Cowboy Church welcomes you to their first fall obstacle practice. Ride at your own pace or enjoy over 20 challenging obstacles with all new trails. At 11 a.m., Judging obstacle information will be provided for those wishing to learn more about what judges are looking for and get a chance to practice judging. Check the event page for venue details.
The Florida Horse Park will host its first annual Filipino festival dubbed as Fiesta Ko Sa Florida and Philippine food Street Festival. Showcasing an array of Filipino street food, its culture and traditions the event will provide entertainment, raffles, and more. Admission fee is $10, check the event page for updates!
Steak Night & Live Music at Whispering Oaks Winery features your choice of a 16 oz. Steak (Porterhouse, or Ribeye) or wild caught Alaskan Salmon. Select from extra large Idaho baked potato, fresh green beans, ranch style baked beans, salad bar & pumpernickel bread from our wood fire oven all for only $27.50 per person!* Make your reservations online now!
Head to the center of the park for Chess, Checkers, Jenga, Scrabble, Connect 4 …and maybe even more. If you have a board game, please bring it to play with your friends, or come out and make some new ones. Depot Park features a Children’s Play Area with a custom splash pad of tumbling waterfalls, water soakers, and ground jets. A water’s edge promenade hosts special events like food truck rallies, art festivals, and musical performances. A recurring event happening Fridays and Saturdays.
Kanapaha offers a guided tour of the Gardens the first Saturday of every month, starting at 10:00 AM. Regular admission price for non-members and members are admitted free of charge. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens (Gainesville, Florida) is comprised of 24 major collections visually accessible from a 1 ½ mile paved walkway. These include the state’s largest public display of bamboos and the largest herb garden in the Southeast.
September 2nd
Birds and Brews – Guided Bird Walks | First Magnitude Brewing Company | 6:45 PM
First Magnitude is teaming up with the Alachua Audubon society to host monthly bird walks! They meet the first Sunday of each month at 6:45 p.m. in front of the metal Maggie sign by the entrance to The Source. The group, led by volunteers from the Alachua Audobon Society will head for Depot Park at 7:00 PM. Once at Depot, there will be an hour-long guided tour identifying all the lovely aerial pals! The tour should return to the brewery around 8:00 PM, giving you plenty of time to have a nighthawk…er…nightcap. Equipment provided or bring your own!
You’re invited to take part in a park ranger program. Topics vary with each program offering an opportunity to learn something new about Silver Springs State Park and Florida’s unique environment. The Ranger Program is held every Sunday, the program begins at 2 p.m. and is free with park admission.
September 5th
Archery 101 for Adults, Session I | Brick City Adventure Park | 5:30 p.m.
Try something new and unique with this beginner archery program for adults ages 17 and up. Class fee is $15 a month per person and includes 4 classes. Classes start September 5th through 26th and meet each Wednesday from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at Brick City Adventure Park – 1211 SE 22nd Road, Ocala, FL. Follow the link for more information about Session II and Session III
September 7th
September Art Walk | Downtown Ocala | 6 – 9 PM
The new First Friday Art Walk season is back on Friday, September 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. This is a FREE community event and takes place the first Friday of each month from September through May. Located within Ocala’s historic downtown, event festivities include artist displays, live entertainment, free family art activities and extended shopping hours. Check the event page for a full lineup of activities. Additional activities and events will be happening simultaneously all throughout downtown at some of our participating businesses. #shoplocal #eatlocal #buylocal
Join us at Angie Lewis State Farm in Downtown Ocala for an evening of Music and Art. Musician DJ Rocket will create original music while performing on a piece of furniture painted by Artist Jordan Shapot. Shapot, an Ocala-based artist, will be painting LIVE throughout the evening. Sip ticket includes one drink, Sit ticket includes 2 drinks and a designated seat at the event, and Support tickets include 2 drinks, a designated seat at the event, and a signed print from featured artist Jordan Shapot. Ages 18+ only. Beer + wine served.
Friday Night Gator Block Party at Celebration Pointe is the ideal kickoff to football weekends for every home game this year. Enjoy live music, restaurants and food trucks, lawn games, and appearances by UF celebrities. Kids are welcome to attend the early hours of Chomp the Block with Fun 4 Gator Kids as they host exclusive family activities from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Local landscape artists will be gathering to create live paintings at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. The 3 day event is part of the 15th Worldwide Artist Paint Out, linking artists and locations all over the world and promoting art as a universal language that has no borders. The lush settings and vistas of Kanapaha Gardens will offer the artists an abundance of inspiration. The gardens have long been a muse for the local creative community, and hosted in 2002 one of the very first paint outs in Florida. Regular admission price for non-members and members are admitted free of charge.
September 8th
Ocala Plein Air Painters | Silver Springs State Park | 9 AM
You’re invited to watch canvases come to life as artists with Ocala Plein Air capture the beauty of Silver Springs State Park. Enter through the main entrance to discover art created in real time of the beautiful Silver Springs State Park. The event is free with paid park admission.
The Sparr UMC Horse Show has been a vital part of the equestrian community for many years. With its deeply rooted community involvement, they strive to give both the new and the experienced an opportunity to show in a small venue with a warm family friendly environment while providing a safe area for families to compete, learn and demonstrate horsemanship and sportsmanship. This is a recurring event free to spectators, happening every second Saturday of the month (except for December) at 9:00 AM.
USEF Approved Horse Show featuring Morgan Horses, American Saddlebreds, Carriage Pleasure Driving, Opportunity Classes for all breeds and an Exceptional Rider division. Sponsored by the Florida Morgan Horse Association. For more information, visit FMHA.net. An Ocala Landmark since 1945, the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion enjoys a reputation as Marion County’s premier agricultural showplace.
September 9th
Exhibition Talk: “Shadow & Reflection” | Appleton Museum of Art | 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Suzanne Williamson and John Capouya will give a talk, “Envisioning Florida’s Sacred Landscapes through a Collaboration of Words and Images”, on view at the Appleton June 30-September 30. Photographic artist Suzanne Williamson and writer John Capouya re-envision the past with images and words inspired by their exploration of Florida’s Native American mound sites. Using photographs printed on transparent fabric, metal and paper, as well as creative nonfiction texts, they create an installation — an environment — that illuminates the multiple meanings of these monuments.
September 11th
Art 101-Paper Quilling | Appleton Museum of Art | 10 AM – 12:30 PM
Join the Appleton Museum of Art for a one-day workshop that will inspire your creative side and provide a fun, successful experience. All supplies are included, fee is $40 for Appleton members; $60 for nonmembers. Advanced Registration required at AppletonMuseum.org or by contacting Hollis Mutch at mutchh@cf.edu or 352-291-4455, ext. 1613
September 13th
BEE a Detective! Scavenger Hunt | Depot Park | 6 PM
A bee expert from the Gainesville Area Bee Club and UF IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory will provide the sweet deets about honey bees, see bee keeping equipment up-close and even taste some honey. Valhalla Spa Organics will buzz by with bee-friendly products and information on their Free Honey Bee Rescue/Removal! Right after the show and tell they will host a scavenger hunt for kids ages 3-12. This event is FREE and open to the public.
Take a unique seat on the Reilly stage for an intimate evening of Jazz and drinks! Marty Liquori’s Hot Club de Ville performs music from the 1930s created by the Hot Club of France, a Gypsy Jazz group began by violinist Stephane Grappelli and guitarist Django Reinhardt. The two musicians began this endeavor after hearing the Hot Jazz of Louis Armstrong, and was the first jazz group without horns, consisting of two guitars, violin and upright bass. Guest will enjoy swing tunes, sambas, tangos, boleros and ballads. Gypsy jazz covers a range of emotions from sadness to wild abandonment! Join us on stage for signature cocktails, and a night for relaxing with great music.
September 14th
10th Annual Chair-ity Event | Ocala Marion County Association of Realtors | 6 pm
Join the Ocala/Marion County Association of REALTORS®- Young Professionals Network as they host the 10th Annual Chair-ity Event, benefiting Hands of Mercy Everywhere. Come, bring a friend, and help make a difference in our community! Tickets are only $20 and include admission to the event, food, beer, wine and entertainment. Visit the event page to learn about the benefiting charity.
Celebrate the opening of “La Diaspora: Keepers of Heritage” with hors d’oeuvres and wine; panel discussion with the artists at 7 p.m. On view September 15-January 18, “La Diaspora: Keepers of Heritage” includes paintings, prints, sculptures and mixed media by members of the Puerto Rican Arts Diaspora in Orlando-PRADO. The exhibition pays homage to master artist Domingo García-Dávila, who was involved in the migration process of Puerto Ricans to the United States in the 1940s. From realism all the way to surrealism, the work shares an appreciation of their diasporic roots. This free event is open to the public.
Become inspired at the Empowering Women Event! This is a FREE 2-day event giving you access to inspiring speakers, music, and fellowship each day at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 7 PM. This is truly a weekend celebrating the unique voice, virtue, and moral authority of women. Limited $15 tickets available that include an intimate tea party and lunch with the guest speaker. Friday noon lunch for ages 30 and up, and Saturday lunch for ages 15-30.
Larsen Farms is committed to being your supplier of choice for Idaho’s Finest Alfalfa, a complete line of mixed and grass hay plus bagged feed & shavings. An Ocala Landmark since 1945, the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion enjoys a reputation as Marion County’s premier agricultural showplace. Easily accessible from all directions, the Pavilion is located half a mile East of Hwy 441, just North of Hwy 27 on Old Jacksonville Road.
A relaxing evening for women cyclists of ALL disciplines. Wine and snacks provided or BYOW for an informative clinic on bicycles maintenance, repair and safety. Also featuring booths from sponsors along with in-store sales. Hosted at Brick City Bicycles, this is a full service bike shop staffed with several Professional cyclists as well as expert mechanics in both road and mountain bikes.
September 15th
Orlando Water Lantern Festival | Orlando Watersports Complex | 5 PM – 10 PM
ORLANDO Water Lantern Festival presented by One World. One World Water Lantern Festival is an amazing experience where you’ll witness the magic of lanterns as they light up the water. Enjoy Food Trucks / Music / Fun, Design your Lantern and launch it later that evening. Get your tickets here.
Join the Marion Saddle Club for a day of fun at the Florida Horse Park. The Florida Agriculture & Horse Park Authority is a 500 acre facility that holds events of all kinds. We are open to the public at all times. Come visit and get event updates here.
Join the Gainesville Cycling Club for their monthly Family Friendly Ride from Depot Park down the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail to the Lake Alachua Overlook for a 9 mile round trip. A shorter option is to ride to the Sweetwater Overlook, which is a 6 mile round trip. Parents and helmets required. Tag-alongs and bike trailers welcome, but no training wheels. This event is FREE and you do not have to be a member of the Gainesville Cycling Club to join, check the event page for more information.
This year, HPW Coalition will be hosting our first annual Run for Your Life 5K family friendly color run to benefit opioid awareness and help those affected by opioids. Early registration guarantees participants a T-shirt and ends August 15. Late registration ends at the start of the event and does not guarantee participants a T-shirt; however, a limited number of shirts will be on sale during the day of the race. Register here
In coordination with the Gainesville Latino Film Festival, celebrate South American culture with music, dance and artifacts at the Florida Museum. Enjoy the musical group Danzas PeruJax as they perform traditional music and dance. This unique program will also display seldom-seen Andean artifacts from the Museum’s South American ethnographic collection. This is a bilingual, family event. Click for more information.
Intro to Cows-Cow simulations and mechanical flag will be used to help you and your horse learn and understand the basic maneuvers to get started with working cattle. The Cow Clinic will focus on building confidence & connection. While you focus on learning how to work a herd & individual cows you will also learn more about the moves to help you and your horse have more success while working cattle, like spins, stops and lead changes.
September 15th
Orlando Dressage | The Grand Oaks Resort | September 15 – 16
The Grand Oaks Resort will host a full day of Dressage events from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Covered Arena. Admission is FREE and spectators are welcome! The Grand Oaks Resort is a premier vacation destination with over 400 acres of rolling hills, Granddaddy Oaks and home to a large private collection of antique carriages & equine artifacts. Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as “the highest expression of horse training“, where “horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements.” For more information click here.
September 16th
Future Champion Horse Show | S.W. Equestrian | 8 AM
S.W. Equestrian Center is proud to present Future Champions Horse show, a show specifically for horses and ponies FOR SALE or LEASE. Offering boarding, lessons and training on our beautiful 9acre riding facility in Williston FL. Over 20 years in the horse industry!
September 19th
Middle & High School Environmental Jeopardy | Inverness, FL
Local middle & high schools compete in testing their environmental knowledge during the 23rd Annual “Save Our Waters Week” join the College of Central Fl for Jeopardy featuring prize money of$500.00 to the winning school along with bragging rights! Events vary upon age High School will play at 5:30 p.m. and Middle School at 7:00 p.m. This event will be held at Conference Center, College of Central Florida, Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto. Admission is free! Learn about CF’s Vintage Farm in our Community Spotlight!
September 20th
Kayak and Koffee | Silver Springs State Park| 9:30 am
Weekday outings on the Silver Rivers, ideal for beginners and those interested in nature and wildlife-viewing. Equipment provided. Fee is $30 / person ages 18 and up. Fee includes equipment and refreshments following the outing. Paddlers will meet at 9:30 am at the Silver Springs State Park launch site (Route 40 entrance). Can’t make it this week? No worries this event happens the third Thursday of every Month.
With this year’s theme, The Greatest Show, you will enjoy a literal showing of all that MCA stakeholders. The sponsors, volunteers, partners and artists, and what they do to impact change and inspire our community. The evening includes live performances, the presentation of the MCA Arts Awards, and the announcement of the 2018-2019 Cultural Grants. The event starts at the Discovery Center with tapas and libations at 6 PM and then moves to the Reilly Arts Center for the greatest show! Applaud the Arts is presented by Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute and Urology Institute of Central Florida.
September 21st
Moonlight Paddles | KP Hole, Dunnellon | 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Paddle the Rainbow River under the light of the moon. Launch from KP Hole and paddle to the head springs. Equipment provided. Fee $35 / person (equipment provided) or $20 / person using your own equipment. This event is best suited for those ages 18 and up. The launch will vary based on moonlight schedule.
Enjoy great fun while supporting this youth organization that educates young people on the Nine Core Values of Life and Nine Healthy Habits. The Marion County Junior Golf, Inc. is a non-profit company founded to bring a youth development program to the children of Marion and surrounding counties. Hosted at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, this is a private club located in Ocala, Florida offering its members and guests amenities of a luxurious lifestyle. Tickets event via event page.
The first annual West port FFA Alumni open Rodeo. Tickets fee $10 for ages 13 up and $7 for ages 6 to 12 and 5 and under free admission. Tickets proceeds help benefit FFA members of West Port High school. Learn more about West Port here.
The 3nd Annual Oktoberfest will be held in Swamp Head’s tasting room, decked out with all of the necessary accouterments from the cliche blue and white EVERYTHING to maybe a couple people shoved into some far too tight lederhosen. Including exclusive Swamp Head steins (one whole liter), stein holding competition and food provided by Stubbies Pop-up Sausages and LEJ Pretzel Company.
September 22nd
Southeastern Baroque Fall Horse Show | The Grand Oaks Resort | September 22 – 23
Featuring USEF Andalusian, Lusitano, Friesian, Open Breed and Dressage Classes. Southeast Baroque is a horse show group created to host and promote shows in the Southeast United States with Andalusian, Lusitano, Friesian Breeds and Working Equitation Shows for All Breeds!! Fall Breed Show is with Open Breed Dressage. FREE admission, open to the public, spectators are welcome! Visit this website to learn more here
This year we’re doing it right: A giant beer hall tent in Tuscawilla Park to take advantage of the beautiful views while not letting any stinkin’ hurricanes or other weather get the jump on us. We have an awesome and eclectic line-up of bands complete with some traditional German fare and bands from Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, and New Orleans. General Admission is FREE for all. VIP tickets are $65 and include $20 in food/beer credit, a souvenir stein OR boot, festival t-shirt, indoor lounge, and VIP seating.
Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day is an annual celebration of boundless curiosity hosted by Smithsonian Magazine. Participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. The Museum Day ticket provides free admission for two people to the Appleton on Saturday, September 22, 2018. Tickets will be available for the public to download beginning at midnight on August 15, 2018. Get your ticket here.
Partners of the Park is a volunteer organization of equestrians and equestrian enthusiasts dedicated to delivering a variety of schooling, dressage, and hunter-jumper shows for riders and spectators alike. Profits go toward building a better horse park for everyone to enjoy. Get event updates here.
September 23rd
Partners of the Park 3-Phase Schooling | Florida Horse Park | 8 AM Partners of the Park is a volunteer organization of equestrians and equestrian enthusiasts dedicated to delivering a variety of schooling, dressage, and hunter-jumper shows for riders and spectators alike. Profits go toward building a better horse park for everyone to enjoy.
September 28th
Winner of the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt and packed with heart. The production team that brought you the smash hit Sweeney Todd is bringing the band back together for this hilarious and irreverently Adult play about finding your purpose. This time we’re going bigger and even more insane with a show no one else in Ocala has ever attempted. We’re proud to bring Avenue Q to life and answer the question “What do you do with a B.A. in English“! The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q.
September 29th
Cops & Cars 2018 | Ocala Police Department | 9 AM – 2 PM
The Ocala Police Department is hosting an inaugural Cops & Cars show on September 29th at OPD headquarters, to raise funds for United Way. In addition to supporting local causes,they look forward to the opportunity for officers to connect with citizens through a shared interest. Vintage and current OPD emergency vehicles will be on display, including the popular MRAP SWAT vehicle. Save the date!
September 30th
STRIDE Schooling show #4 | Florida Horse Park | 8 AM – 5 PM
This is our PINK show in honor of Irene Gentile. Donations collected for Marion Therapeutic Riding Association. Be sure to wear Pink!
The Florida Agriculture & Horse Park Authority is a 500 acre facility that holds events of all kinds. The Florida Horse Park is open to the public at all times.
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