McIntosh 1890s Festival
The McIntosh 1890s Festival returns Saturday, October 17, 2026, filling the oak-lined streets of historic McIntosh in north Marion County with more than 250 vendors, food, live music by local musicians and family-friendly activities.
The 2026 McIntosh 1890s Festival is Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The one-day festival is centered on Van Ness Park, 5822 Avenue F, McIntosh, FL 32664, in north Marion County on US-441 between Ocala and Gainesville. Admission is free, with more than 250 vendors, food, church-prepared meals and live music. The festival does not provide parking; private property owners offer paid parking.
What Is the McIntosh 1890s Festival?
The McIntosh 1890s Festival was founded in 1974. According to WCJB, attendance has grown from roughly 4,000 people to about 35,000, and the official festival website reports more than 30,000 attendees. The event is set among McIntosh's shaded, oak-lined streets and preserved architecture.
For about 50 years the festival was run by the nonprofit Friends of McIntosh, chaired by Bev Dodder. On January 13, 2026, the group announced it was permanently discontinuing the festival, citing rising costs, a shrinking and aging membership and declining community support. One week later, on January 20, 2026, the McIntosh Town Council unanimously adopted a resolution allowing a newly formed volunteer board to run the event. The festival was paused during COVID, and the 2024 festival was canceled.
250+ Vendors
Art, crafts, antiques and more
Family Activities
Family-friendly throughout the day
30,000+ Attendees
Per the official festival site
Festival Highlights
What visitors will find along Avenue F, Avenue G and 4th through 8th Streets on festival day.
More than 250 vendors set up booths offering fine art, handcrafted goods, antiques, jewelry, vintage-inspired items, home décor, gifts and specialty products.
Food vendors are joined by meals prepared by local churches, and local musicians perform live music during the festival. Family-friendly activities round out the day.
Visitors can take self-guided tours of McIntosh's historic sites and walk the town's shaded, oak-lined streets and preserved architecture. More about the town is on the McIntosh, Florida guide.
The festival is centered on Van Ness Park, 5822 Avenue F. Booths line Avenue F, Avenue G and 4th through 8th Streets, and the east side of town is closed to all traffic. The official 2026 festival map (PDF) shows the booth layout.
Festival Planning Guide
When
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. One day only.
Where
Around Van Ness Park, 5822 Avenue F, McIntosh, FL 32664. McIntosh is in north Marion County on US-441 between Ocala and Gainesville.
Admission
Free, according to the Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau. Food and vendor purchases are separate.
Parking
The festival and the Town of McIntosh do not provide parking. Private property owners offer parking on their property for a small fee. The east side of town is closed to all traffic.
Official details and the festival map are posted at mcintosh-1890s-festival.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the McIntosh 1890s Festival?
The McIntosh 1890s Festival is a one-day outdoor festival in the small historic town of McIntosh, in north Marion County on US-441 between Ocala and Gainesville. Founded in 1974, it fills the town's shaded, oak-lined streets with more than 250 vendors of fine art, handcrafted goods, antiques, jewelry, vintage-inspired items, home décor, gifts and specialty products, along with food vendors, meals prepared by local churches, live music by local musicians, family-friendly activities and self-guided tours of historic sites. The official festival site reports more than 30,000 attendees.
When is the McIntosh 1890s Festival in 2026?
The 2026 McIntosh 1890s Festival takes place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is a one-day event held in October.
Where is the McIntosh 1890s Festival held?
The festival is held around Van Ness Park, 5822 Avenue F, McIntosh, FL 32664. Vendor booths line Avenue F, Avenue G and 4th through 8th Streets, and the east side of town is closed to all traffic during the event. McIntosh is in north Marion County on US-441 between Ocala and Gainesville. A festival map is posted on the official website at mcintosh-1890s-festival.com.
Is admission free to the McIntosh 1890s Festival?
Yes. According to the Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau, admission to the McIntosh 1890s Festival is free. Food and vendor purchases are paid for separately.
Where do visitors park for the McIntosh 1890s Festival?
The festival and the Town of McIntosh do not provide parking. Private property owners in town offer parking on their property for a small fee.
Who runs the McIntosh 1890s Festival?
The nonprofit Friends of McIntosh ran the festival for about 50 years before announcing on January 13, 2026 that it would permanently discontinue the event, citing rising costs, a shrinking and aging membership and declining community support. On January 20, 2026, the McIntosh Town Council unanimously adopted a resolution allowing a newly formed volunteer board to run the festival, which kept it on the calendar for October 2026.
More October Events Near Ocala
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Fall festivals across Ocala and Marion County.
Ocala Craft Shows
Arts and crafts shows around Ocala.
Ocala Arts Festival
The following weekend, October 24, 2026.
Halloween in Ocala
Halloween events around Ocala.
McIntosh, Florida
Guide to the historic town of McIntosh.
Free Events
Discover free activities and events.
About This Guide
Only In Ocala verified the 2026 date, hours, location and parking policy against the official festival website (mcintosh-1890s-festival.com). Admission and vendor details are cross-checked with the Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau, and festival history is drawn from WCJB and Ocala-News reporting. Last reviewed September 29, 2026. Details can change, so visitors should confirm with the official festival website before attending.