Events – December 18-24, 2020


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Posted December 18, 2020 | Compiled by Lisa McGinnes

COMMUNITY

Now-1/2

Astronaut Academy
Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave.
Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm

Kids of all ages learn about space travel with hands-on exhibits exploring the space station, Mars rover and rockets. www.mydiscoverycenter.org

Now-12/24

Santa Photos
Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Rd.
Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm, Sunday 11am-7pm

Socially distanced photos with Santa. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged; visit paddockmall.com for more information.

Now-12/30

Christmas Holiday Tour
Grandview Clydesdale Farm
6-7:30pm

Evening guided tours get up close and personal with the majestic Grandview Clydesdales at their farm decorated with holiday lights. Offered Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Visit grandviewclydesdales.tours for tickets and more information.

12/18

Marion Oaks Farmers Market
Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane
9am – 12pm

Fresh vegetables, artisan food products and handmade crafts.

12/18

Marion County Friday Market
McPherson Government Complex, 601 SE 25th Ave.
9am-12pm

Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, cinnamon buns, jerky, freeze dried treats, olive oils and seafood.

12/18

Wildlands Nature Adventures
Heritage Nature Conservancy, 2005 NE Third St.
10am-12pm

Who gives a hoot? Kids ages 6-16 will discover which owls you can find in your backyard and learn owl calling and how to dissect and owl pellet. Visit ocalafl.org/recpark or call (352) 368-5533 to register.

12/18

Blood Drive
Ocala Police Department, 402 S. Pine Ave.
12-5pm

Ocala Police Department and One Blood invite the community to honor the late Chief Greg Graham by donating blood. Receive a $20 gift card plus a wellness check and COVID-19 antibody test. Visit oneblood.org to make an appointment.

12/18 - 23

Christmas Train
Kirby Family Farm, 19630 NE 30th St., Williston
6-10pm

View the farm’s thousands of Christmas lights from a train pulled by a 100-year-old locomotive and ride the 1950 Ferris wheel and Italian carousel. Admission includes a visit with Santa, petting zoo and magic show. Continues select dates through Dec. 27. Visit kirbyfarm.com for more information. 

12/18

After Dark in the Park: Elf
Tuscawilla Park, 829 NE Sanchez Ave.
7pm

Ocala Recreation and Parks invites families to bring chairs or blankets for a free movie with free hot cocoa while it lasts. Visit ocalafl.org/holidays for more information.

12/18

Sunset Cinema: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Sholom Park, 7110 SW 80th Ave.
7:30pm

Bring your chairs, blankets and snacks for a family movie under the stars. Visit sholompark.com for tickets and more information.

12/19

Ocala Downtown Market
Southeast Third Street and Southeast Third Avenue
9am-2pm

A variety of vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, arts and crafts, rain or shine. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more information.

12/19

Holiday Market
Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Road
11am-2pm

Shop specialty vendors and holiday gifts in the Center Court. Have gifts wrapped with a donation to Marion County Children’s Alliance. Kids can enjoy crafts and families can take selfies with the Chick-fil-A cow. Visit paddockmall.com for more information.

12/22

Interfaith Sunrise Breakfast
Gator Joe’s, 12431 SE 135th Ave., Ocklawaha
7-9am

Honor the staff of Interfaith Emergency Services with a sunrise campfire on Lake Weir, breakfast and community prayer. Visit fb.com/interfaithsunrisebreakfast for more information.

12/22

School Is Out, Science Is In
Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave.
8am-5pm

Kids age 8-11 can spend the day learning about polar science with experiments and play. Visit mydiscovercenter.org for more information.

12/22

Networks CEMG
Power Plant Business Incubator, 405 SE Osceola Ave.
8:15-9:15am

Email tom@ocalacep.com for more information.

12/23

1 Million Cups Ocala
Power Plant Business Incubator, 405 SE Osceola Ave.
9:30-10:30am

Two local startups present their business idea to an audience of community entrepreneurs. Email ryan@ocalacep.com for more information.

ARTS

Now-12/20

A Christmas Carol
Ocala Civic Theatre
2pm & 7:30pm

The timeless holiday story of Scrooge presented in live theater. Performances Thursdays-Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 2 and 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Visit ocalacivictheatre.com for tickets.

Now-12/20

Playing with the Elements
8th Ave. Gallery, 1531 NE 8th Ave.
6-9pm

Enjoy an opening reception for the exhibition featuring the abstract works of Vandy Shake. Exhibit continues through December 20th by appointment only. Visit fb.com/8thavegallery for details.

Now-12/20

Explosion of the Flamboyans
Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St.
10am-5pm

A new solo exhibition featuring artwork by Alma Lugo depicting her life as a Puerto Rico native living in the diaspora. Open Tuesday-Saturday. Visit fb.com/mcaocala for more information.

Now-1/1

Hinterlands
City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave.
8am-5pm

Artist Megan Welch, a portrait 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.

Now-1/3

The Spaces Between
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd.
10am-5pm Thursday-Saturday; 12-5pm Sunday

A mixed media exhibition featuring the theatrical landscapes of Christian Duran. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

Now-1/3

Mid-Century Tourism on the Silver River
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd.
10am-5pm Thursday-Saturday; 12-5pm Sunday

An exhibition featuring Bruce Mozert’s iconic Silver Springs photographs plus ephemera from Silver Springs and Paradise Park. Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

Now-1/3

The Art of Adventure
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd.
10am-5pm Thursday-Saturday; 12-5pm Sunday

The serigraphs of 1970s artist Clayton Pond highlighting his “Leisure-time Obsessions Series.” Visit appletonmuseum.org for more information.

Now-1/15

Florida: Explored
City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Administration, 828 NE Eighth Ave.
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.

12/18

Appleton Store at Home
Virtual
6:30-8:30pm

Shop jewelry, books and gifts from the Appleton Museum’s store. Free registration is required; visit appletonmuseum.org for details.

12/18-19

Carols by CandleLight
Savannah Center, 1545 N. Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages
3 & 7pm

The holiday spectacular benefits Rotary Club of the Villages-Noon. Visit thevillagesentertainment.com for tickets and more information.

12/18

Holiday Concert
The Sharon, 1051 Main St., The Villages
3 & 7pm

The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra plays holiday favorites to celebrate the season. Visit thevillagesentertainment.com for tickets and more information.

12/18-20

Open Air Concert Series
The Villages Polo Club, 703 N. Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages
7pm

A new golf cart drive-in concert experience. Lineup includes: 12/18 Absolute Queen, 12/19 Celebrating Tom Jones and 12/20 The Christmas Tenors. Visit thevillagesentertainment.com for tickets and more information. 

12/22

Teaching Tuesday: Winter Crayon Resist
Appleton Museum-virtual
10-10:30am

The Appleton Museum presents a live streaming art project that the whole family can make at home with basic art and craft supplies. Online at fb.com/appletonmuseum.

12/22

Spoken Word Ocala
Brick City Center for the Arts, 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.

GOVERNMENT

12/21

Marion County Development Review Committee
Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave.
9am

The DRC votes on waiver requests, drainage/site plans, subdivision master plans, preliminary plats, improvement plans and final plats. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.

12/21

Ocala Housing Authority Board
Virtual
10am

Participate online via ocalahousing.org. Call (352) 369-2636 for more information.

12/22

City of Belleview Code Enforcement Board
City Hall Commission Room, 5443 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview
5:30pm

Call (352) 245-7021 for more information.

12/24

Marion County Development Review Committee Staff Meeting
Office of the County Engineer Bldg 1 Conference Room, 412 SE 25th Ave.
8:30am

Applicants may discuss proposed or current projects with county review staff prior to meeting formally with the Development Review Committee. Call (352) 671-8686 for more information.

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

12/18

Slickwood
Lake Sumter Landing Market Square | 5pm

12/18

Blondeambition
Brownwood Paddock Square | 5pm

12/18

Andrew Morris Band
Spanish Springs Town Square | 5pm

12/18

Becky Sinn
La Cuisine French Restaurant | 6:30pm

12/18

Stephen Lopez
The Crazy Cucumber Eatery and Bar | 6:30pm

12/18

Fareeza
Infinite Ale Works | 7pm

12/18

Warren McCullough
Hiatus Brewing Company | 7pm

12/18

Joe’s Garage
Charlie Horse | 7pm

12/18

Classic Albums: Led Zeppelin II
Reilly Arts Center | 7:30pm

12/18

Anthill Cinema
Marion Theatre | 8pm

12/18

Jeff Jarrett
The Lodge | 9pm

12/19

Rocky & the Rollers
Spanish Springs Town Square | 5pm

12/19

Johnny Wild & the Delights
Brownwood Paddock Square| 5pm

12/19

5.0.1.
Lake Sumter Landing Market Square | 5pm

12/19

William Cintron
Circle Square Commons | 6pm

12/19

The Big Bad
La Cuisine French Restaurant | 6:30pm

12/19

Jezabelle
First and Last Tab | 9pm

12/20

The Big Bad & Side Piece
Charlie Horse | 3pm

12/20

Mike & Band
The Club at Candler Hills | 5pm

12/20

Jenu Six
SpringHill Suites Marriott Ocala | 7pm

12/20

Bobby Blackmon & the B3 Band
Lake Sumter Landing Market Square | 5pm

12/20

Dance Express
Spanish Springs Town Square | 5pm

12/20

Steve Hogie Band
Brownwood Paddock Square | 5pm

12/20

Pantera and Slayer Tribute
O’Malley’s Alley | 8pm

12/20

Pantera and Slayer Tribute
O’Malley’s Alley | 8pm

12/21

Cactus Jack & the Cadillacs
Brownwood Paddock Square | 5pm

12/21

The Band 4 Play
Lake Sumter Landing Market Square | 5pm

12/21

Paradise Band
Spanish Springs Town Square | 5pm

12/22

Studio 77
Lake Sumter Landing Market Square | 5pm

12/22

John Dixon Band
Brownwood Paddock Square | 5pm

12/22

Old Skool Band
Spanish Springs Town Square | 5pm

12/23

Nate
The Club at Candler Hills | 5pm

12/23

Anita Drink Band
Anita Drink Band | 5pm

12/23

MPiRE
Brownwood Paddock Square | 5pm

12/23

Spazmatics
Lake Sumter Landing Market Square | 5pm

12/24

Blue Stone Circle
Lake Sumter Landing Market Square | 5pm

12/24

Crossfire
Spanish Springs Town Square | 5pm

12/24

Jeff Jarrett
Bank Street Patio Bar | 5pm

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