Events in Ocala Today, This Weekend & Beyond

Ocala hosts dozens of events every weekend including live music at venues like Reilly Arts Center and Circle Square Cultural Center, farmers markets, equestrian competitions at the World Equestrian Center, community festivals, and family-friendly activities throughout Marion County. Use our live calendar above to filter by date and find exactly what is happening this weekend.

Many Ocala events are free to attend, including the Appleton Museum of Art's Free First Saturday program, downtown Ocala art walks, library programs across Marion County, community park events, and many seasonal celebrations. Visit our dedicated free events guide at onlyinocala.com/free-events-ocala for a comprehensive list.

Ocala's biggest annual events include the Ocala Arts Festival (January), Light Up Ocala (November), King of the Wing (March), Ocala Breeders' Sales (multiple dates), the Marion County Fair, the Habitat for Humanity Strawberry Festival, Oktoberfest at World Equestrian Center, and the Festivals of Speed. These events draw tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Ocala's top concert and performance venues include the Reilly Arts Center (intimate concerts, comedy, theater), Circle Square Cultural Center (national touring acts), the Marion Theatre (classic downtown venue), the World Equestrian Center (large-scale events), and the Appleton Museum of Art (cultural performances). Many restaurants and bars also host live music weekly.

As horse country, Ocala hosts world-class equestrian events year-round. The World Equestrian Center hosts weekly hunter/jumper and dressage competitions, the Florida Horse Park hosts polo matches and cross-country events, and HITS Ocala runs a winter circuit. Major sales events like the Ocala Breeders' Sales draw international buyers.

Ocala is packed with family events including seasonal celebrations like trunk-or-treat events and Christmas light displays, the Marion County Public Library's extensive children's programming, splash pad days at Citizens' Circle and Lily's Splash Pad, outdoor movie nights, festivals with kids' zones, and educational programs at the Discovery Center and Appleton Museum.

Ocala's food scene hosts regular tasting events including King of the Wing (March), Bourbon in the Barn, the Ocala Beer and Wine Festival, restaurant weeks, and farmers markets. Food trucks gather at rotating locations throughout the week. Use the category filter on our calendar above to find all upcoming Food and Drink events.

Ocala celebrates every major holiday with community events. Highlights include Light Up Ocala and the downtown Christmas parade in November/December, New Year's Eve celebrations at the downtown square, Memorial Day ceremonies, Fourth of July fireworks in downtown Ocala and at the World Equestrian Center, Halloween trunk-or-treat events across Marion County, and Easter egg hunts at local parks.

For live music in Ocala tonight, check our calendar filtered by Music and Concerts. Regular live music venues include Reilly Arts Center, Circle Square Cultural Center, the Orange Blossom Opry, numerous downtown restaurants and bars, and seasonal outdoor concert series. Many spots offer live music Thursday through Saturday evenings.

If you are organizing an event in Ocala or Marion County and would like it featured on our calendar, submit it through the event form at onlyinocala.com/events/submit. We verify all event details including date, time, venue, and pricing before adding them to ensure our calendar remains accurate and trustworthy for the community.