May is looking to be a very busy month with so much going on around Ocala. But before we get into that, we want to remind you to round out April by joining us for the Earthfest at Arbor Day in the Great Outdoors Event at Tuscawilla Park this Saturday, April 28th from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. This super-event brought to you by Ocala Recreation and Parks and Marion County Extension Office promises to provide lots of fun and excitement in celebration of everything earthy and outdoorsy… You’re going to want to plan to get up early and go home late.
EARTHFEST SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
9am Breakfast with the Birds and the Marion County Audubon Society. Satisfy your hunger for both food and the outdoors! Enjoy a bird-watching tour of Tuscawilla Park!
10am – 3pm Tree climbing, outdoor recreation and educational activities, children’s wood craft building, scavenger hunt, dunking booth, face painting, tree give a way, live music, vendor court, and great food!
Noon – 3pm Meet Abby! Winter’s trainer, both in real life and in the movie Dolphin Tale, will join us to speak about our oceans and the animals that call it home. Abby is bringing Winter’s prosthetic tail too! Look for her at the Educational Activities Tent.
3pm – 5:30pm Science Saturday with the Marion County 4-H at the Discovery Center! (please register participants on our website here)
4pm – 8pm Let’s Celebrate! Horseshoes, corn hole tournament, dunking booth, dog agility demonstrations, sidewalk chalk activity for all ages, Sidewalk Astronomy at the Discovery Center, face painting, music, and food!
8pm Movie in the park! End it with a Splash as we watch DOLPHIN TALE!
Also, to compliment the City’s curbside recycling efforts, Recycle All Electronics (RAE) will be on site at Earthfest to take your old electronics off your hands. While these can’t be recycled curbside, they can be recycled. It’s easy. Bring your old laptops, PC’s and cellphones to Earthfest. Dump that stuff off with RAE and then go have a good time knowing that you did your part to save the Earth.
So What’s Going on in May?
Here we go. There is a lot going on, so plan in advance (don’t get stuck at home doing chores and homework!)
If you haven’t heard about the Feel Downtown campaign, you’re going to want to pay attention, because there are exciting things brewing in Downtown Ocala… you can go to this YouTube link for a sneak peek of a Feel Downtown video series…and watch for more news on the Feel Downtown website coming soon.
FEEL DOWNTOWN SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
May 4: The First Friday Art Walk runs from 6-8pm downtown and will feature the drawing of the winning raffle ticket for the People’s Choice Horse from Horse Fever 2. The Save the Marion group will host an Avengers Street Party from 5-8pm to kick off the opening of the Avengers movie at the Marion Theater. A concert on the square will follow at 8pm featuring The Royal Guardsmen, the band originally from Ocala known for “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron” and other hits, as well as opening groups Mercy and Night Call.
May 5: Downtown Derby Days will run 3-8pm Saturday on the Downtown Square featuring live bluegrass music, a Derby Hat contest for ladies, Kentucky Derby action on big-screen televisions, photos with horses, Pick-A-Winner contest, along with Mint Juleps, beer and wine sold on the square by Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille. Come early and pick up some fruits and veggies at the Ocala Farm Market held every Saturday on the Downtown Square from 8am – 1pm.
May 12: The Dance Festival (previously scheduled for April) was rescheduled due to rain and will now be held on the Downtown Square from 4-8pm. If you thought you missed it, you got a reprieve. This event includes live entertainment by local talent, workshops, games, giveaways, food, FUN and more! For more information call Dianna Paglia at Honey’s School of Dance 266-3009 or 622-7555.
ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY:
Wings Over Ocala will be held at the Ocala International Airport May 3-6 from 8am to 5pm. The event will feature a static display of classic war bird aircraft along with antique cars and planes. Call (352) 427-2171 for more information.
The Ocala Recreation and Parks Department will host the annual Kids, Cops and Firefighters Family Fun Festival at the Martin Luther King Recreation Complex on May 5th from 10am-1pm. Join those “in uniform” for family friendly activities and hands on equipment demonstrations.
The second annual Quad Games will be held at Tuscawilla Park on May 11th from 3 – 8pm. This event, brought to you by Ocala Water and Sewer and Recreation and Parks Departments features a water conservation amazing race, an aqua soup softball game and other water based activities to “wet” your appetite for knowledge on water conservation. Don’t eat before you come because yummy rib dinners will be on sale.
There are others bringing you FUN in May too. We wanted to share a few of those with you. 
May 12 – Mid Florida Duck Derby at Tuscawilla Park from 11am – 3pm. Food and children’s activities will compliment the capstone event, “The Duck Derby”. For more information call the Children’s Home Society of Florida (352) 572-8567.
May 13 – Symphony Under the Stars at Ocala Golf Club from 7 – 9pm. A signature event of Fine Arts for Ocala including a performance by the Central Florida Symphony Orchestra, food, vendors and a fireworks display. Tickets for this event are on sale now. Call 352-867-0355 for more information.
May 19 – Appleton Museum’s Silver Toast to the Arts will be held at the museum grounds from 10am to 5pm. The event will feature the works of local artists, musicians and a children’s activity area. Also included is free admission to the museum in celebration of their 25th Anniversary. For more information call (352) 291-4455.
