A guide to our favorite monthly happenings and can’t-miss events!
April 2 – Butterfly and Blueberry Festival
Timberline Farm
Each Saturday and Sunday in April, through the 24th, enjoy the wispy fl utter of butterflies up close in the butterfly tent, take a hayride, pet some farm animals or shop at the country store at Timberline Farm in Belleview. Listen to live music while you browse the booths and sample local honey, peanuts, cotton candy, blueberry desserts and other tasty foods. Visit timberlinefarm.net
April 2 – McIntosh Garden Show and Plant Sale
McIntosh Civic Center, Van Ness Park
Get your garden on with the McIntosh Seedlings and Garden Club’s annual plant sale. This is the perfect time of year to shop for new plants, seeds, veggies and more. Choose from perennials, annuals, vegetables, houseplants and herbs, along with garden decor for inside and outside your home. Proceeds help sponsor scholarships to the Wekiva Youth Camp. Visit mcintoshseedling.com
April 7 – “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”
College of Central Florida Dassance Fine Arts Center
The beloved characters from the “Peanuts” comic strip will come to life when 12 CF Visual and Performing Arts students present the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” from April 7th-10th. Performances are 7:30pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 7-9, and 3pm Sunday, April 10. Tickets are $6-$12 and can be purchased at CF.edu/Musical or by calling (352) 873-5810. For more information about CF events, visit CF.edu
April 7 – King of the Wing
Citizens’ Circle, Downtown Ocala
From 5 to 8pm learn who makes the best wings while enjoying entertainment, prizes and more, all to benefit ARC of Marion County. Hosted by Marion County Building Industry Association. Tickets $10-$30. To learn more, call (352) 266-2701.
April 8 – Fundraising Dinner
Southeastern Livestock Pavilion
Champions For Champions will stroll back to the 1950s on Friday, April 8th at 6pm. The event includes a silent auction and dinner. It is sponsored by Adam Hanson Better Communities Fund and the NFL Caring for Kids Foundation. $50 per person. Call (866) 996-2182 or go to championsforchampions.org
April 9 – 3-Phase Schooling Show
Majestic Oaks Farm, Reddick
April is a great time of year to get out and about and you can see dressage, cross-country and show jumping trials in the beautiful setting of Majestic Oaks Farm. Among the grandfather oaks and rolling hills, enjoy the day while watching competitors ride, jump and take on challenging cross-country courses. Visit majesticoaksocala.com
April 9 – 10th annual 5K Race Against Child Abuse
Calesa Township
For this 10th anniversary 5K race/walk, Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection has teamed up with Calesa Township. Participants will help support efforts against child abuse while seeing the newly built Calesa Township neighborhood. Teams can sign up and walkers are welcome. Prizes and awards will be given. Visit kimberlyscenter.org
April 14 – Ocala International Horse Trials
Florida Horse Park
Eventing is a three-day test of horse and rider, consisting of an arena dressage test, a cross-country course and a final show jumping competition in the ring on day three. It’s a challenge to excel at all three disciplines and each has its own standard of excellence. The Florida Horse Park hosts this event April 14th-17th. It includes food trucks, vendor booths and several days of spirited competition in spring weather. Visit flhorsepark.com
April 16 – Brick City Beer and Wine Festival
Citizens’ Circle, Downtown Ocala
The eighth annual celebration is back on this year with a promising lineup of beer and wine to sample and purchase, live music, activities and food trucks including Country Boys BBQ, Curry Coma, McFood Land and MexiRican. There’s even a root beer sampling bar for the kids. Radio station Wind FM is sponsoring the Battle of the Bands with Second Chance, SidePiece and Saltmine Zombies vying for the crown. Sponsored by Ocala-Silver Springs and Ocala-Sunset Rotary clubs. Proceeds will benefi t Interfaith Emergency Services, Marion County Literacy Council and Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection. Visit brickcitybeerfest.com
April 16 – Cornhole Tournament
Brick City Adventure Park
Find a partner for this cornhole tournament and bring your best aim. For ages 16 and older, test your skills at putting that little bag into the goal. This deceptively easy sport promises fun and challenges for all. From 11am to 4pm, you can also check out food trucks and hear live music. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3HKpdrF or call (352) 671-8560.
April 16 – Hot Cars & Cool Cats Car & Motorcycle Show
2250 NE 70th St, Ocala
The annual event, 10am to 3pm, will support the Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS). Meet the tiger Maximus and have some family fun. Free to spectators. $10 to register a vehicle. To learn more, call (352) 266-2859.
April 22 – Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn
Reilly Arts Center
Bela Fleck is a 15-time Grammy Award winner who has taken the banjo across multiple genres. Abigail Washburn is a singer-songwriter and clawhammer banjo player. The two met at a square dance, began collaborating musically and eventually fell in love. Their deep bond, combined with the way their distinct musical personalities and banjo styles interact, makes theirs a picking partnership unlike any other. Show time is 7:30pm. Visit reillyartscenter.com
April 22 – “Black Comedy”
Vanguard High School
Vanguard High School’s VHS Players present Peter Shaffer’s Black Comedy, on Friday, April 22nd and Saturday, April 23rd in Vanguard High School’s Black Box Theatre at 7 NW 28th Street, Ocala. Doors open at 5:30pm, the performance begins at 6pm. For more information, visit vhsplayers.com
April 22 – Levitt AMP Concerts
Webb Field
The Marion Cultural Alliance, in partnership with the City of Ocala, will host the 2022 Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex at 1510 NW Fourth St., 7 to 9pm Fridays, April 22nd through July 1st (excluding May 27). Sponsored in part by the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation. Visit ocalafl .org/levittamp
April 23 – HOPS Historic Home & Art Tour
Various homes and gardens
The Historic Ocala Preservation Society’s spring tour will include six historic homes in two of Ocala’s downtown Historic Districts. You can start the tour at 712 E. Fort King St. or 120 NE Sanchez Ave. Local artists will have works on display at multiple homes. Food and drinks will be available from food trucks and mobile bars. Tickets are available at SpringHomeTour.eventbrite.com and at Your Hearts Desire at 915 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Visit facebook.com/events/628319804950278
April 23 – Hope Is On The Horizon Sunset 5K
Classic Mile Park
This 5K run will benefit Transitions Life Center. It begins at 5:30pm. The cost is $35 per runner; or $10 per person for a fun run aft er the main event. Walkers and rollers (wheelchairs) welcome for a donation. Learn more at tlcocala.org
April 28 – “Jews of Florida: Centuries of Stories”
Appleton Museum of Art
Scholar and oral historian Marcia Jo Zerivitz will give a special presentation highlighting the first comprehensive history of the Jews of Florida, from colonial times to the present. Admission is free for the lecture. Visit appletonmuseum.org
April 29 – “Assisted Living: The Musical”
Reilly Arts Center
Gently having fun with the idea of assisted living homes, this unique show began in Florida and features the shenanigans at Pelican Roost, a fictional active senior living community where 70 is the new 20. Tickets available from reillyartscenter.com
April 30 – International Jazz Day
Marion Theatre
Going beyond jazz, embracing funk and the start of American rock and roll, this evening will have you dancing in the aisles as the theater celebrates Inter-national Jazz Day with the Keith Caton Blues Band and the SeanTMusic Ocala Funktet. Funk out with “Superstition,” “Mr. Clean,” “What’s Going On?” and more. Tickets available from reillyartscenter.com
