4th Annual Ocala Pet Palooza

A batch of Florida laws took effect Oct. 1, 2026. Here is what changes for Ocala and Marion County drivers, renters, landlords and smoke shops, from the new $2,000 crash-report threshold to the nitrous oxide ban.

Bricks & Minifigs, the buy-sell-trade LEGO franchise, is opening a store at Six Gun Plaza, 4901 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, and holds its first Buy Day on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A horse parade on the Downtown Square, three Ocala Downtown Market events in three days, Jeeptoberfest and a free Hocus Pocus screening headline Ocala's Oct. 9-11 weekend.

Crews are driving bridge piles for the new I-75 interchange at NW 49th Street, but Buc-ee's now says its Ocala travel center will open in 2029. Here is the location, the site plan and the timeline.

The Forge, a multi-restaurant complex in downtown Ocala's former WMOP radio building, is open with The Blind Eye speakeasy, Ignite, The Hammock and five more tenants. Here is every restaurant, the hours and the history.

Canceled in January after about 50 years, the McIntosh 1890s Festival was rescued by a volunteer board a week later. It returns Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, with 250+ vendors under the live oaks.