A guide to our favorite monthly happenings and can't miss events.
Hinterlands
City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave.
Now-January 1 | 8am-5pm
Artist Megan Welch, a painter and educator who lives in Northeast Florida, has created an exhibition of portraits in oil and graphite that portray the stories of those navigating the temporal nature of life, the unknown and the human condition. Open Monday-Friday. Call (352) 629-8447 for more information.
Magnolia Junkin’ Market
Two Sisters Vintage, 540 NE 14th St.
November 13 & 14 | 8am-3pm
Rain or shine, explore a treasure trove of antique, vintage, reclaimed, hand-painted and unique items, as well as crafts and “junque” from 50+ vendors. There will be curbside cuisine, fresh fudge, cookies, pies and homemade sweets, as well as lots of fun to be had at this free annual event—Ocala’s original vintage market. Visit facebook.com/twosistersvintagethrift
COMMUNITY
Ocala Cars & Coffee
War Horse Harley-Davidson
5331 N. U.S. Hwy. 441
7:30am-12pm
Enjoy more than 300 of Central Florida’s most unique cars, trucks and motorcycles at this free, family-friendly event featuring live music and coffee beverages by Oasis Tropical Café. Call (352) 732-2488 or visit warhorseharley.com for more information.
Hackin’ It for Hospice
Candler Hills Golf Club
8137 SW 90th Terrace Road
7am-12pm
This charity golf tournament benefits Hospice of Marion County. Registration begins at 7am, followed by breakfast and a shotgun start at 8:45am. Register your team of four at hospiceofmarion.com and plan to stay for lunch after the tournament. Call Damian Romano at (352) 854-4840 for more information.
Brown’s Fall Festival
Brown’s Country Market
13940 U.S. Hwy. 301, Oxford
10am-4pm
Shop seasonal produce and plants and enjoy live music, local vendors, food trucks, a classic car show, ax throwing and a kids’ corner. The event benefits Villagers for Veterans and the Humane Society of Sumter County. Call (352) 303-1550 or visit brownandbrownfarms.com for more information.
TEDxOcala
College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Road
10am-4pm
Fifteen innovative speakers present their ideas on the theme “Voice” at Ocala’s sixth annual TedxTalk. They include renowned horse expert Pat Parelli, international speaker Courtney Epps, and other educators, storytellers, entrepreneurs and artists. Visit tedxocala.com for tickets and more information.
Marion County Chili Cook-Off: Quarantine Edition
Big Lee’s-Serious About Barbecue
3925 SE 45th Ct.
11am-3pm
The 39th annual Chili Cook-Off is scaling back in a pandemic year. Instead of the usual event, last year’s champion Big Lee’s-Serious About Barbecue will serve their winning chili to benefit The Cornerstone School. T-shirts and swag available online at facebook.com/chilicookoff
Six Gun Territory Wild West Weekend
Kirby Family Farm, 19650 NE 30th St., Williston
November 7 & 8 | 10am-4pm
Experience wild west showdowns, train robberies, shootouts and can-can dancers along with train rides, a petting zoo, live music, food and a carousel. Call (352) 812-7435 or visit kirbyfarm.com for more information.
Sunshine State Mopar Show & Swap Meet
Florida Horse Park, 11800 C.R. 475-A
November 14 & 15 | 8am-4pm
See some of the most impressive cars from across the state, enjoy music, food and vendors and meet “Mr. 4-Speed” Herb McCandless. Call (352) 427-8382 or visit floridamoparassociation.com for more information.
Push-Ups for Pups
CrossFit Pinnacle, 7175 S. Pine Ave.
9am-12pm
Athletes are raising pledges for push-ups to benefit the Humane Society of Marion County. The winning athlete will choose a shelter pup to take to the park and treat with a puppuccino. Call (352) 209-8213 or email marketing4crossfit@gmail.com for more information.
Ocala Pet Expo
Tuscawilla Park, 829 NE Sanchez Ave.
10am-2pm
The fifth annual pet expo brings together vendors, demonstrations and adoptable pets, featuring professional dog trainer Letty Towles, Ocala Fire Rescue’s arson investigation dog Gracie and the Soccer Dogs. Human and animal treats available for purchase; leashed pets welcome (no intact males permitted). Call (352) 622-5600 for more information.
Drive-In Theater Tour: Chondra Pierce
Ocala Drive-In, 4850 S. Pine Ave.
5-8pm
The “Queen of Clean” brings her signature brand of southern comedy to the outdoor stage. Gather the family in the car, bring lawn chairs if you wish and purchase your favorite drive-in concessions for a night of laughs. Visit etix.com/ticket/p/2892485 for tickets and more information.
Conservation Summit: Preserving Open Spaces & Beautiful Places
Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club
8300 NW 31st Lane Road
12-2:30pm
Horse Farms Forever, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited and the American Farmland Trust, hosts Adam Putnam speaking about land conservation and Billy Van Pelt presenting a report on the loss of prime agricultural lands. Visit horsefarmsforever.com/conservation-summit to register.
Hot Cars & Cool Cats Car Show
2250 NE 70th St.
10am-3pm
A car, truck and motorcycle show set in a large field under the oak trees to benefit the Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS). The family-friendly event offers food, music and vendors as well as an educational tour to meet Maximus the Siberian tiger. Call (352) 266-2859 or visit earsinc.net for more information.
Holiday Market
Marion Therapeutic Riding Association (MTRA)
6850 SE 41st Ct.
10am-3pm
The second annual arts and crafts fair supports Small Business Saturday by featuring local vendors while raising awareness and funds for MTRA’s therapeutic riding programs for young people and veterans. Enjoy music, a holiday photo booth, car show, food and family activities. Call (352) 732-7300 or visit mtraocala.org for more information.
ARTS
Florida: Explored
City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Administration, 828 NE Eighth Ave.
Now-January 15 | 9am-5pm
Ocala artist Dan McCarthy’s exhibition includes pieces created during his exploration of Indian Lake State Forest, a hidden gem in Marion County, capturing the mood and feeling of this wild space. Open Monday-Friday. Call (352) 629-8447 for more information.
First Friday Art Walk
Ocala Historic District
6pm
Stroll Ocala’s historic district to view and shop local art, enjoy live music on the square and participate in hands-on family art activities.
Visit ocalafl.org for details.
Petals and Paint: Antique Hydrangeas and Heartfelt Gratitude
Gallery B an Art Collective Art Gallery
405 E. Silver Springs Blvd.
2-5pm
Artist Julie Shealy and floral designer Taylor Grace come together for a unique workshop that allows participants to create a custom seasonal floral arrangement and a painting of the design. Register at julieshealy.com or call (352) 875-2419.
Elvis: Era of a King
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St.
6-9pm
World champion Elvis tribute artist Cote Deonath brings a high-energy show featuring four eras of The King—from the ‘50s through the ‘70s. Opening acts for this show to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Marion County include a Buddy Holly tribute and Ed Sullivan impersonator George Trullinger. Call (352) 351-1606 or visit reillyartscenter.com
Second Saturday Art Studio
Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St.
10am-12:30pm
Artists ages 12 and up of all levels are invited to bring their own painting supplies for a serene studio session with lead artist Kay Deuben. Canvas, coffee and snacks included. RSVP to Ashley.justiano@mcaocala.com or call (352) 369-1500.
Handel’s Messiah
The Sharon, 1051 Main St., The Villages
3pm and 7pm
The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring four guest soloists, presents this Advent-season favorite. For tickets and more information call (352) 751-7799 or visit thesharon.com
Pipeline
The Sharon, 1051 Main St., The Villages
7pm
This timely play examines the school-to-prison pipeline affecting young black men through the eyes of a teacher and mother. Performances continue through December 12th. Call (352) 751-7799 or visit thesharon.com for tickets and more information.
Artist’s Outlook
Appleton Museum – virtual
7-8:15pm
A free Zoom chat with artist Clayton Pond, whose vibrant color interactions offer the viewer a charming, idiosyncratic interpretation of the world through the infinite possibilities that color relationships present. appletonmuseum.org
A Christmas Carol
Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd.
Rediscover Scrooge and Dickens’ classic story with the magic of live theater and the season’s merry message of peace and goodwill. Performances offering distanced seating run Thursday-Sunday through December 20th. Call (352) 236-2274 or visit ocalacivictheatre.com for tickets and more information.
Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi-The Four Seasons
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St.
3-4pm
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra, featuring concertmaster Stewart Kitts on violin, performs Max Richter’s fresh yet familiar new hybrid composition—a 21st century view of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Limited seats are distanced by family groups. Call (352) 351-1606 or visit reillyartscenter.com for tickets and more information.
Spoken Word Ocala
Marion Cultural Alliance, 23 SW Broadway St.
7-9pm
Spoken word artists of any style—beat to baroque, formal to freestyle—are invited to share community-friendly content in an open mic event in The Brick’s courtyard. The socially distanced event will also be shared on Facebook Live. Find details on Spoken Word Ocala’s Facebook page.
ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
| Date | Time | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1 | 11:30 am | Fareeza | Pi on Broadway |
| November 1 | 1:00 pm | Jeff Jarrett | Swampy's Bar & Grille |
| November 4 | 5:00 pm | Conrad Marcum | Bank Street Patio Bar |
| November 5 | 6:00pm | Jeff Jarrett | Ocala Downtown Square |
| November 5 | 7:00 pm | Conrad Marcum | Pi on Broadway |
| November 7 | 4:00pm | Conrad Marcum | Eaton's Beach Florisiana Cuisine |
| November 12 | 6:00pm | Jeff Jarrett | Bank Street Patio Bar |
| November 13 | 7:00 pm | The Big Bad | The Crazy Cucumber |
| November 13 | 7:00 pm | Conrad Marcum | Infinite Ale Works |
| November 13 | 7:00pm | Becky Sinn | The Keep Downtown |
| November 14 | 5:00 PM | Jeff Jarrett | Eaton's Beach Florisiana Cuisine |
| November 14 | 6:00pm | Good2Go | O'Calahan's Pub & Eatery |
| November 15 | 11:30 am | Conrad Marcum | War Horse Harley-Davidson |
| November 19 | 5:30pm | Gilly & the Girl | La Cuisine |
| November 19 | 7:00pm | Jeff Jarrett | Pi on Broadway |
| November 20 | 7:00 pm | Houston Keen | The Corkscrew |
| November 20 | 7:00 pm | The Big Bad | The Crazy Cucumber |
| November 20 | 7:30 pm | Classic Albums Live: The Music of Woodstock | Reilly Arts Center |
| November 21 | 6:00 pm | Conway Twitty and Johnny Cash tribute | Rainbow Springs Club |
| November 21 | 9:00 pm | Jeff Jarrett | The Lodge |
| November 22 | 2:00 pm | Conrad Marcum | Eaton's Beach Florisiana Cuisine |
| November 22 | 3:00 pm | Jeff Jarrett | Gator Joe's Beach Bar & Grill |
| November 27 | 6:00 pm | Fareeza | Ocala Downtown Square |
| November 27 | 6:30 pm | Becky Sinn | La Cuisine French Restaurant |
| November 27 | 6:30 pm | Conrad Marcum | The Crazy Cucumber |
| November 27 | 7:30 pm | Gilbert Gottfried | Reilly Arts Center |
| November 27 | 8:00 pm | Jeff Jarrett | County Line Smokehouse & Spirits |
| November 28 | 6:30 pm | Jeff Jarrett | The Crazy Cucumber |
