Light Up Ocala Returns Nov. 21 With Three Stages, a Mounted Parade and Free Shuttles

Downtown Ocala fills with music, vendors and holiday lights on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, when the City of Ocala hosts its annual Light Up Ocala from 3 to 8 p.m. The free, family-friendly event, now in its 42nd year, builds to the official lighting ceremony at approximately 6 p.m. on the Downtown Square, according to the City of Ocala's Nov. 2 announcement. Planning details are also on the Light Up Ocala 2026 guide.

A Parade Led by Mounted Police

The afternoon opens at 3 p.m. with the Junior Sunshine Parade, which begins at the intersection of S. Magnolia Avenue and E. Fort King Street and winds through downtown. The Ocala Police Department Mounted Unit leads the procession, followed by local dance studios, Girl Scout troops and an appearance by Santa Claus, the City says. Parade and vendor applications for 2026 are closed.

Three Places to Listen and Watch

The City is spreading the entertainment across three areas. Stage One, on the Downtown Square between SE Broadway Street and Magnolia Avenue, runs from 3:30 to 8 p.m. with live music by Audio Exchange, holiday tree photo opportunities and a Smile Time photo booth, and it hosts the 6 p.m. lighting ceremony. Stage Two, at Citizens' Circle between Fort King Street and Osceola Avenue, runs from 3 to 7 p.m. with a community showcase of local dance and performance groups, plus a meet and greet with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Living Angels.

The Midtown Street Party, between NE First Street and NE First Avenue, runs from 3 to 7:30 p.m. with a live DJ, an Acrobatic Variety Show and jump rope performances. Families can also find the Punch and Judy Puppet Show at the corner of Fort King Street and Magnolia Avenue and a Kids' Zone at Parking Lot 5, near NE First Street and N. Magnolia Avenue. More than 100 vendors sell crafts, art and food.

Getting There Without Circling for a Space

Free shuttles run from 2 to 9 p.m. from four lots. Marion Technical Institute (1614 SE Fort King St.) and the E.D. Croskey Recreation Center (1510 NW Fourth St.) have shuttles every 20 minutes, and both routes are ADA accessible. The Ocala Skate Park (517 NE Ninth St.) and the Discovery Center (701 NE Sanchez Ave.) have shuttles every 10 minutes. Drop-offs are near SE Watula Avenue and SE Third Street (Marion Technical Institute), N. Magnolia Avenue and NE Second Street (Croskey), and NE Watula Avenue and State Road 40 (Skate Park and Discovery Center).

Drivers who prefer downtown can use the two parking garages. Garage One allows entry and exit from E. Fort King Street only; Garage Two allows entry from SW Second Avenue and exit onto SW Third Avenue.

More holiday planning

- Light Up Ocala 2026 guide
- Light Up Ocala event listing
- Christmas events in Ocala 2026
- Christmas lights in Ocala
- Ocala Christmas Parade, Saturday, Dec. 12

For questions, the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department can be reached at 352-368-5517, and the City's event page is at ocalafl.gov/lightup.

Sources: City of Ocala news release, Nov. 2, 2026 (schedule, stages, parade, shuttles, parking) and City of Ocala, Light Up Ocala (42nd anniversary, sponsorships). Checked Nov. 4, 2026. AI tools helped gather the sources and draft this page; each fact was checked against those sources before publishing.