City of Ocala Announces 2027 Tuscawilla Art Park Series: OTrak Chalk Walk, Art Outside the Lines Brunch and Poetry Festival

The City of Ocala announced the 2027 Tuscawilla Art Park Series on Oct. 29, 2026, a three-event lineup covering visual, performing and literary arts. According to the city's press release, the events take place on Saturdays in January, February and April at the Tuscawilla Art Park, 213 NE Fifth St., and Ocala Union Station, 531 NE First Ave. Two of the three events are free. The Tuscawilla Art Park is near Tuscawilla Park in downtown Ocala.

Illustration: AI-generated by Only In Ocala; not a photo of the Tuscawilla Art Park.

At a Glance

• OTrak Chalk Walk: Saturday, Jan. 30, 2027, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuscawilla Art Park, 213 NE Fifth St.; free


• Art Outside the Lines Brunch and Public Art Tours: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2027, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ocala Union Station, 531 NE First Ave.; $40 per person, tickets on sale Nov. 16


• Art Park Literary and Poetry Festival: Saturday, April 10, 2027, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuscawilla Art Park; free


• Vendor and food truck applications: ocalafl.gov/artpark


• Contact: City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division, 352-629-8447 or artinfo@ocalafl.gov

OTrak Chalk Walk: Saturday, Jan. 30

Professional and student artists create original chalk artwork along the OTrak while competing for awards. The city says professional artists compete for Best in Show, Second Place and Fan Favorite, and student artists compete for First Place and Fan Favorite, along with additional membership prizes. Winners are announced at 3:30 p.m. at the Tuscawilla Art Park.

The release lists an interactive 3D chalk art installation, live music by Kenna Dee and Dirty Chai, community performances, local artisans and craftspeople, and food trucks. Admission is free.

This is the fourth annual Chalk Walk, per the city's Sept. 23 release, which set the 2027 theme as "Inspired by the Masters." That release lists cash prizes of $1,000, $500 and $500 for professional artists (first place, second place and fan favorite) and $500 and $100 for students (first place and fan favorite). The competition is open to professional artists who live and work in Florida and to Marion County middle and high school students, with no application fee. Artist applications are at ocalafl.gov/chalkwalk. Our arts calls roundup covers the artist application details.

Art Outside the Lines Brunch and Public Art Tours: Saturday, Feb. 20

The brunch is the one ticketed event in the series and takes place at Ocala Union Station, not the Art Park. The city's release says it includes brunch, a wine and cocktail bar, and a private string trio performance by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra on the station's open-air platform. A panel discussion with arts leaders and artists is to address contemporary art trends and developments in Ocala's arts community.

Guests can also join a one-hour guided bus tour of the City of Ocala's permanent and temporary public art collection. Buses depart at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The city's event page adds that the brunch is provided by Scrambles Cafe, that the bar serves wine and mimosas, that the bus is climate-controlled, that guests choose a tour time when buying a ticket, and that capacity is limited.

Tickets are $40 per person and go on sale Nov. 16. The event page says tickets are sold online at ocalafl.gov/aotlbrunch and at the Cultural Arts office, 201 SE Third St., Second Floor.

Art Park Literary and Poetry Festival: Saturday, April 10

The festival brings poetry readings, author workshops and chances to meet local and regional writers to the Tuscawilla Art Park. Readings include selections from the "Art Park Literary and Poetry" book, which features work by North Central Florida poets and Marion County middle and high school students. The city also lists literary vendors, newspapers, magazines, comic artists, nonprofit organizations, live music, community performances and local food trucks. Admission is free.

Who Can Apply to Take Part

Literary and visual arts vendors, nonprofit organizations and food trucks can apply online at ocalafl.gov/artpark. The city says applications must be complete and any applicable fees paid to be considered.

Planning a Visit

The Tuscawilla Park guide covers the neighboring park, and the Ocala Discovery Center, the children's science center inside the park, is a possible add-on for families. For art outside the series, the First Friday Art Walk runs monthly downtown, and things to do in Ocala lists more outings.

Sources: City of Ocala press release "Tuscawilla Art Park Series Returns in 2027" (Oct. 29, 2026); City of Ocala press release "Artist Applications Open for 2027 OTrak Chalk Walk" (Sept. 23, 2026), for the fourth-annual designation, theme and prize amounts; City of Ocala Art Outside the Lines event page (ocalafl.gov/aotlbrunch), for the brunch caterer, bar, bus and ticket details. Checked Oct. 31, 2026.