Friends of the Ocala Public Library is holding its next clearance book sale beginning on Friday, March 6 for Friends members only (memberships are available at the door) from 1:30 pm-3:30 pm, and then opens to the general public on Saturday, March 7, 10 am-2 pm. Sale is held in the Ocala Public Library headquarters meeting rooms, 2720 Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.

Proceeds of the sale benefit children and adult programs, materials, audio and ebooks, and staff development at Ocala headquarters, Reddick, Ft. McCoy, and Sankofa branches of the Marion County Public Library system.

All children’s books and all paperback books are 25 cents each, and hardbacks are 50 cents each. Cash and checks only

Celebrate the springs at SpringsFest and make it a full day of adventure, entertainment, and outdoor family fun at beautiful Silver Springs!

Explore the park your way — hike our scenic trails, enjoy a leisurely bike ride, and experience the magic of our famous Glass Bottom Boat tours. Enjoy live music throughout the day, shop unique finds from talented local artists and vendors, and indulge in delicious food and refreshing drinks available for purchase.

March 7th & 8th
10am – 4pm

Glass Bottom Boat tours and concessions are available for an additional fee.

Whether you’re looking for relaxation, recreation, or a little bit of both, SpringsFest has something for everyone.

 Admission is paid upon entry — just $2 per person.

Gather your friends and family and join us for a weekend filled with fresh air, community spirit, and springtime memories. Click here to learn more!

Visit the Appleton for Free First Saturday! Enjoy free admission all day to see our permanent collection, special exhibitions, or to make art in the Artspace.

Saturday hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free First Saturdays are sponsored in part by Marion Cultural Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts and CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

THIS YEAR:
Florida SpringsFest invites you to celebrate the cultural richness and environmental significance of Florida’s springs with this year’s relaxed outdoor Family Fun Day. Meet an expert, go for a garden stroll or take a long hike, ride your bike, paddle the Silver River, Historic Glass Bottom Boat tours (additional fee, reservations recommended ), Food & Drinks, Exhibitors, fun activities for the entire family, learn more about local history, Ranger Programs, discuss sustainability, visit vendors, and see local artists create. Well-behaved pets on a handheld leash are permitted outdoors, excluding boats and buildings. Join us the first full weekend each March 7-8, 2026 -10am to 4pm @ Silver Springs State Park (5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, Fl.) 2$/person regular park admission. More information on our Facebook page @ Florida SpringsFest. Vendors selling local handmade items and environmentally related exhibitors are welcome to apply for a booth space: https://www.cognitoforms.com/…/SilverSpringsStateParkVe…

The beloved multicultural event will highlight different Latin American countries with music, food and handicrafts. All members of the community are invited to celebrate the uniqueness of each country. Parking and admittance to the festival are free of charge. For updates, visit Festival Latino Downtown Ocala on Facebook.

Enter your TRUCK, CAR, MOTORCYCLE, or UNIQUE VEHICLE for a chance to win Best of the Best in the vehicle category, bragging rights, and a cool trophy. The show offers music, chance drawings, split the pot, plus access to the Habitat Strawberry Festival!
Price to Enter:
 $20 FOR ONE CAR OR $35 FOR TWO CARS BEFORE FEB. 27TH $25 PER CAR – DAY OF FESTIVAL REGISTRATION

Categories:
2000 or newer
Environmentally Friendly
Custom Motorcycles
Custom Vehicle
Farm Vehicle
Unique Vehicle
Off Road Vehicle
Best of Show
People’s Choice

ABOUT OUR FESTIVAL:
The 12th Annual Habitat Ocala Strawberry Festival returns to the McPherson Complex on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is FREE, making it the perfect family-friendly event for all ages.

Volunteers from the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association (MTRA) will assist with traffic control and parking throughout the day. Parking is $5 per vehicle, with proceeds benefiting both MTRA and Habitat for Humanity of Marion County.

This year’s festival will feature over 235 unique and exciting vendors, a lively Kid’s Zone with a petting zoo, fresh strawberries from Plant City farmers, and strawberry treats that truly melt in your mouth. Guests can enjoy a bigger-than-ever car show showcasing cool cars, trucks, and motorcycles, along with a pie-eating contest, an action-packed BMX show, and live entertainment throughout the day.

Many local nonprofit organizations will be represented with vendor booths, and several photo booths will be available for capturing festival memories. With food for every taste and activities for every generation, the Strawberry Festival offers something for everyone.

Habitat for Humanity could not host this event without the incredible support of over 700 dedicated volunteers who donate their time, energy, and expertise. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors for helping make this beloved community event possible.

All proceeds raised from the annual Strawberry Festival will go toward building a new Habitat home—the Strawberry House—providing a low-income family with an affordable mortgage and a safe, secure place to raise their children.

For more information, visit:
https://habitatocala.org/strawberry/

Learn to play the guitar with classical guitarist and composer Gregorio Rivera!
Gregorio is offering Acoustic Guitar classes on Saturdays for Beginner or Refresher from 10 a.m.- 11 a.m..
Each class is one hour: 30 min theory, 30 min practice. Each student will come with their acoustic guitar. No amps. Class size is small so that Gregorio can individualize instruction for your level of skill.
Gregorio teaches with notes, and each student will get a small music notebook to write down each lesson.

What can you expect? It takes about 6 months to learn the basics. Later on, we can get a jam band going for the advanced students. We could jam on Beatles, Folk Songs, etc.

GUITAR LESSONS
DESCRIPTION- 10 weeks

String 1 notes, note values, motion
String 2 notes, 4th interval, play 2 strings at once, drones
String 3 notes, Mixolydian scale, Twinkle-twinkle, triads, Yankee Doodle
String 4 notes, Dorian scale, 5th interval, Power chords, Tom Dooley
String 5 notes, Aeolian scale, Ionian scale, scale degrees, more chords, duets
String 6 notes, Phrygian/Flamenco scale, Andalusian Cadence, Eighth notes
Sharps, Flats, Whole Tone Scale, G Major Scale, G chord, D chord, Em chord
Drone chords, minor Pentatonic scale, Blues scale
Syncopation, Latin Montuno, JAM: Guajira, DUET: Andalusian Cadence in E Phrygian
DUETS: Highway Blues, Boogie Woogie, Elf Dance

COST $20 each session.

352-213-1431 TEACHER TELEPHONE for questions about lessons.

ABOUT GREGORIO

Gregorio Rivera is a guitarist and composer who blends Jazz, Classical and Latin into a captivating and authentic sound. Drawing on influences from Maurice Ravel, Tom Jobim and Baden Powell, he began writing and playing music at a young age, developing a distinctive style that focuses on simplicity and originality. Gregorio has written 5 books for guitar and 24 books for piano. Gregorio has over 10 years of teaching piano, guitar and theory. He has audio samples on Soundcloud and videos on YouTube.

AUDIO FILES: https://soundcloud.com/gregoriomusic

VIDEO FILES: https://www.youtube.com/@guitarist-composer

PBS: Artistry In Motion: Gregorio Rivera

Sneak peek look at the works of Battle of the Brushes Round 5 contenders! Meet several of the artists competing and get first crack at purchasing their art!
–
Exhibiting artists include:
Lili Hart, Drake Arnold, Jordan Shapot, Chris Hershberger, Tracie Thompson, Dennis Salcedo, Guiseppe Solito, DJ Reynolds, Noel Smith, Jordan Jones, Keilee Caltagirone, and Jamie Antonetti

Join KennaDee for food, fun and acoustic originals and fan favorites! 

Come one, come all!
Welcome to “Sideshow”, a solo painting exhibit by Esta Mann!

On March 7th 6-9PM,
Shapot Art Gallery and Esta Mann invite you to the opening of a circus-themed
art exhibit, which includes 23 paintings by Mann, fun art installations,
dazzling performances, tasty treats, and delicious beverages!

“Sideshow”
playfully explores Esta’s early fascination with the circus through a series of
delicate watercolor paintings. These paintings depict the wacky, often
dangerous, and forever entertaining ins and outs of circus life.

The circus is coming
to town, and we hope to see you there!

Opening Reception: Saturday, March 7th, 6PM-9PM

Artist Talk (Moderated by RJ Jenkins): Tuesday,
March 10th 5:30PM-7:30PM

Closing Reception: Sunday, March 22nd 1PM-4PM

Exhibit Runs: March 7th- 22nd

Shapot Art Gallery
is located at 2318 NE 8th Rd., Ocala, FL 34470.

Join us for the 2nd Sunday Makers Market at Heart of the Park in Tuscawilla Park – a monthly open-air market celebrating local makers, artists, and creative small businesses!

 60+ Vendors · Handmade Goods · Art & Crafts
 Food Trucks & Treats
 Live Music & Park Vibes
 Kids Craft Area + Discovery Center Museum Open

Stroll the sidewalks under the trees, shop unique finds, support local artisans, and enjoy a fun day in the park with family + friends. This event connects Midtown Station to Heart of the Park – come make a day of it!

 Every 2nd Sunday
 10am–2pm
 Heart of the Park · Tuscawilla Park
 Free to attend!
 Pet friendly • Family friendly

Want to be a vendor? Apply here: Ocalamainstreet.org/2ndSunday

Join KennaDee for food, fun and acoustic originals and fan favorites!

Our 20th Anniversary Community Carnival! 

BIG news, Belleview! We’re turning 20, and we want to celebrate with the community that made it all possible! 

You’re invited to the ultimate family fun day. The best part? Admission is 100% FREE! 

Come out for a day filled with magic, laughter, and community spirit. Whether you’ve been with us since Day 1 or are just meeting us now, we can’t wait to see you there!

FEATURING
Balloon Art 
Face Painting 
Magic Show 
Carnival Games 
Tasty Treats 

 WHEN: Sunday March 8th
 TIME: 1pm – 4pm
 WHERE: Belleview Community Center

Welcome to Tony Sands’ Rat Pack Together Again! Step back in time and experience the unforgettable magic of the legendary Rat Pack! Join us for an afternoon of timeless music, laughter, and charm as we pay tribute to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. Rat Pack Together Again is more than just a show — it’s a thrilling journey into the golden era of entertainment. With brilliant musical arrangements from Tony’s Live BIG BAND Swingtopia, classic comedy sketches, and the unmistakable swagger of the original icons, this performance brings the Rat Pack to life in a way that will leave you cheering for more. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering their legacy for the first time, this sensory experience will transport you back to a time when swing was king and cool was effortless. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to relive the music that inspired generations. Come for the songs, stay for the showmanship — and leave with memories that last a lifetime.

We’re proud to bring another comedy showcase to Mutiny Ocala! Come see some of the hottest rising talent from across America.

Best of all, it’s FREE!

7 Comedians!
2 States!
1 Microphone!

Join us at Mutiny on Sunday, March 8th~

Join KennaDee for food, fun and acoustic originals and fan favorites!

There’s something for everyone at this family-fun event, from midway rides and games for all ages to fair food for every appetite.

Admission and parking are free.

Unlimited ride wristbands (for riders 36″ & taller) are $37 on site ($35 cash price) or online before 5 pm Wed., March 11 for $29 each, 2/$55 or 4/$99.

Ride tickets are also available at the carnival. Pre-sale special: $45/50 tickets 1 free ride. (Rides take multiple tickets each.) Visit the website for coupon savings on rides and food and event updates.

Midway hours: 5-10 pm Wednesday – Thursday, 5-11 pm Friday, noon-11 pm Saturday, 1-10 pm Sunday. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult age 21 .

More information: 866-666-3247 or Leesburg Carnival