What Arts & Culture Are Available in Ocala, Florida?

[Ocala Civic Theatre](/ocala-civic-theatre) hosts Drinks with the Director, a free pre-show cocktail hour on the opening night of The Thanksgiving Play, on Thursday, October 29, 2026, in Studio A at 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd in Ocala. Executive and Artistic Director Greg Thompson, director Vickie Ramirez and the show's creative team join moderator Scott Fitzgerald for a spoiler-free preview of the production; the Civic's event description sets the program from 5:45 to 7:00 PM, while the listing header shows a 5:30 PM start. The hour includes time for guests to meet the directors and designers and ask questions. Admission is free, complimentary hors d'oeuvres are served and a private bar sells drinks. Space is limited, and the Civic asks guests to RSVP by 3 PM on October 29. The play's 7:30 PM opening performance follows.

[Ocala Civic Theatre](/ocala-civic-theatre) offers Play Date, a free on-site theatre workshop for children ages 5 to 12, during the 2:00 PM Saturday matinee of The Thanksgiving Play on October 31, 2026, in Studio A at 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd in Ocala. Teaching artists from The Academy at Ocala Civic Theatre lead age-appropriate activities in acting, music, creative movement and art while parents watch the show. Play Date begins half an hour before showtime and runs until the end of the performance, or 4:45 PM at the latest. The workshop is free with a parent's ticket to the Saturday matinee, and space is limited to 20 children. Registration is online or through the box office at (352) 236-2274.

Florida Oddities Markets brings the Ocala Oddities Market to the Ocala Downtown Market, 403 SE Osceola Ave. in downtown Ocala, on Friday, November 20, 2026, from 6 to 10 p.m. The evening market gathers vendors selling taxidermy, bones, crystals, insect art, pagan and witchy items, handmade art and other curiosities, and the organizer says the event runs rain or shine. The Ocala market is where the Florida Oddities Markets series started before it expanded to Gainesville, Inverness and Melbourne. More background is in the [Ocala Oddities Market guide](/ocala-oddities-market).