Ocala Downtown Square, Ocala FL
Where the square is, who runs it, where to park, which city events use it and which restaurants face it
A City of Ocala venue at the corner of State Road 40 and Magnolia Avenue in the heart of Marion County's county seat
Where Is the Ocala Downtown Square?
On Google Maps the square is the open block bounded by E Silver Springs Blvd (State Road 40) on the north, S Magnolia Ave on the west, SE 1st Ave on the east and SE Broadway St on the south. The City of Ocala lists the venue at 1 SE Broadway St., while Google Maps files it as a park at 1 Downtown SQ with a 4.7-star rating from 416 reviews. Downtown Ocala is the county seat of Marion County. Open the square on Google Maps.
Ocala Downtown Square at a glance
- Owner and manager: City of Ocala (listed as a city special event venue)
- Address: 1 SE Broadway St., Ocala, FL 34471 (city listing)
- Capacity for events: 1,000 people
- Built-in features: stage with power; gazebo
- Restrooms: none public; downtown businesses for customers
- Admission: the city lists the Art Walk, Santa photos and Light Up Ocala as free
Who runs the square and what it has
The City of Ocala's Recreation and Parks page on staging an event on city property names the Downtown Square as a designated special event venue. It lists room for up to 40 non-food vendors, a built-in stage with power, up to four portable toilets, and no food trucks.
The city's holiday programs page describes a gazebo on the square, where Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for free photos on four December evenings. The city pages reviewed for this guide do not list a splash pad or an ice rink at the square itself. The splash pad the city lists is at Citizens' Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave., a short walk southeast.
What Events Use the Ocala Downtown Square?
Only events the City of Ocala itself publishes are listed here. Dates come from the city's event pages as of Oct. 29, 2026 and can change, so the pages linked below are the authority.
| Event | When (per the City of Ocala) | Cost and details |
|---|---|---|
| First Friday Art Walk | First Friday of the month, October through May, 6 to 9 p.m. | Free. Centered on the Downtown Square; the city's Cultural Arts Info Booth is on the square's south side. |
| Light Up Ocala | Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, 3 to 8 p.m.; lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. | The city's 42nd Light Up Ocala, with 100+ vendors, live entertainment, a kids' zone and the Junior Sunshine holiday parade. The city lists the Downtown Square as Stage One and Citizens' Circle as Stage Two. |
| Santa on the Square | Dec. 8, 10, 15 and 17, 6 to 8 p.m. | Free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the square's gazebo; guests bring their own phone or camera. |
| Retro Sounds (2027) | 7 to 9 p.m.; three concerts planned, dates not yet posted | City concert series at the Ocala Downtown Square; band information not yet announced. |
First Friday Art Walk dates, 2026 to 2027 season
The City of Ocala's Art Walk page lists more than 40 artist displays, monthly live entertainment, free family art activities and extended shopping hours. The city cancels the event in bad weather and posts updates on its Facebook page and the Ocala Cultural Arts Instagram account. Remaining dates this season:
- Nov. 6
- Dec. 4
- Jan. 8 (second Friday)
- Feb. 5
- March 5
- April 2
- May 7
Details for the biggest night of the year are on the city's Light Up Ocala page and in the Only In Ocala Light Up Ocala guide. The Junior Sunshine Parade winds through downtown and leads to the lighting ceremony, according to the city; the city had not posted 2026 stage and shuttle details when this page was checked. Santa's photo evenings are on the city's holiday page, and the Retro Sounds listing is on the city's Retro Sounds page.
Nearby, Citizens' Circle (151 SE Osceola Ave.) hosts the city's Sunset Songs Series and the Brick City Bluegrass Festival, so those events are not held on the square itself. The full list of area events is on the Only In Ocala events calendar.
Where Do You Park for the Ocala Downtown Square?
The City of Ocala Downtown Services page says downtown offers a variety of free parking, including the downtown parking garage, and that Parking Garage No. 2 is now open with access from SW 2nd Avenue and SW 3rd Avenue. The city's Art Walk page adds that free public parking includes the downtown garage on SE Broadway St. and street spaces after 6 p.m.
- Meters run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and take coins, cards and the ParkMobile app.
- Meter rates are $1.25 an hour south of State Road 40 and $0.75 an hour north of it. The square sits south of State Road 40.
- Drivers with a valid disability permit or Disabled Veteran plates do not pay municipal meters or pay stations for up to four hours.
- Overnight parking is not allowed without an authorized permit, and trailers are prohibited in city garages and lots.
- The city's Downtown Services office answers parking questions at 352-629-8379 or parking@ocalafl.gov.
Garage-by-garage lot locations, space counts and the city map are in the downtown Ocala parking guide.
Which Restaurants and Shops Face the Ocala Downtown Square?
Each business below was checked on Google Maps on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, and none was marked permanently or temporarily closed. Addresses, phone numbers and closing times are as posted on the business's Google Business Profile that day; the closing times describe that Thursday only. Businesses along S Magnolia Ave and SE 1st Ave are on the square's west and east edges, and the rest are within roughly a block. For a longer list, see the downtown Ocala dining guide.
| Business | Address | Type (Google) | Status on Oct. 29, 2026 | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry's Seafood, Bar & Grille | 24 SE 1st Ave, Ocala | Bar and grill | Open, closes 10 PM | (352) 840-0900 |
| Cantina Tex Mex Tequila Bar | 35 SE 1st Ave, Ocala | Tex-Mex restaurant | Open, closes 10 PM | (352) 325-8226 |
| Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop | 20 SE Broadway St, Ocala | Candy store | Open, closes 10 PM | (352) 421-5542 |
| Brick City Southern Kitchen | 10 S Magnolia Ave, Ocala | Southern restaurant | Open, closes 9 PM | (352) 512-9458 |
| Mark's Prime Steakhouse | 30 S Magnolia Ave, Ocala | Steakhouse | Open, closes 9 PM | (352) 402-0097 |
| Ivy on the Square | 53 S Magnolia Ave, Ocala | Southern restaurant | Open, closes 9 PM | (352) 622-5550 |
| District Bar and Kitchen | 110 SW Broadway St, Ocala | Restaurant | Open, closes 10 PM | (352) 579-2222 |
| Katya Vineyards | 11 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala | Fine dining restaurant | Open, closes 10 PM | (352) 528-2675 |
| Symmetry Coffee Company | 101 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ste 102, Ocala | Coffee shop | Closed at check time, opens 7 AM Friday | (352) 657-1177 |
What Is the History of the Ocala Downtown Square?
According to the City of Ocala's Ocala History page, Ocala became the county seat of the newly formed Marion County in 1846, and by 1847 settlers had built a courthouse on the square. At incorporation in 1868, the town's limits were set 1,000 yards in all directions from the downtown square. The city says fire virtually destroyed the center of town on Thanksgiving Day in 1883, and rebuilding in brick and other fire-resistant materials gave Ocala the nickname "Brick City." The Downtown Commercial Historic District is nationally designated.
The wider downtown picture, including shopping, arts and nightlife, is covered in the downtown Ocala guide and the downtown Ocala overview.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ocala Downtown Square
Where is the Ocala Downtown Square?
The Ocala Downtown Square is the block in downtown Ocala bounded by E Silver Springs Blvd (State Road 40) on the north, S Magnolia Ave on the west, SE 1st Ave on the east and SE Broadway St on the south, as drawn on Google Maps. The City of Ocala lists its address as 1 SE Broadway St., and Google Maps lists it as a park at 1 Downtown SQ.
Who owns and runs the Ocala Downtown Square?
The City of Ocala. The city lists the Downtown Square among its designated special event venues on its Recreation and Parks page, with a capacity of 1,000 people, a built-in stage with power, space for up to 40 non-food vendors, no food trucks and no public restrooms.
Is there a gazebo at the Ocala Downtown Square?
Yes. The City of Ocala describes a Downtown Square gazebo on its holiday programs page, where Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for free photos on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (Dec. 8, 10, 15 and 17, 6 to 8 p.m.). The city pages reviewed for this guide do not list a splash pad or ice rink at the square itself; the splash pad the city lists is at Citizens' Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave.
Where do you park for the Ocala Downtown Square?
The City of Ocala says downtown has a variety of free parking, including the downtown parking garages, and Parking Garage No. 2 is open with entrances on SW 2nd Avenue and SW 3rd Avenue. Street meters run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at $1.25 an hour south of State Road 40 and $0.75 an hour north of it. Overnight parking is not allowed without a permit.
What events are held at the Ocala Downtown Square?
The City of Ocala lists the First Friday Art Walk (first Friday, October through May, 6 to 9 p.m., free, centered on the Downtown Square), Light Up Ocala (Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, 3 to 8 p.m., lighting ceremony at 6 p.m.), Santa on the Square (Dec. 8, 10, 15 and 17, 6 to 8 p.m.) and the Retro Sounds concert series (7 to 9 p.m., three concerts in 2027, dates not yet posted).
Are there public restrooms at the Ocala Downtown Square?
No. The City of Ocala states that the Downtown Square venue has no public restrooms and that event organizers may bring in a maximum of four portable toilets. For the First Friday Art Walk, the city says there are no designated public restrooms and that many downtown businesses have restrooms for customers.
What restaurants are next to the Ocala Downtown Square?
Google Business Profiles show open restaurants within a block or so of the square, including Harry's Seafood, Bar & Grille (24 SE 1st Ave), Cantina Tex Mex Tequila Bar (35 SE 1st Ave), Brick City Southern Kitchen (10 S Magnolia Ave), Mark's Prime Steakhouse (30 S Magnolia Ave), Ivy on the Square (53 S Magnolia Ave) and Katya Vineyards (11 E Silver Springs Blvd), as of Oct. 29, 2026.
Why is Ocala called the Brick City?
The City of Ocala says the center of town was virtually destroyed by fire on Thanksgiving Day in 1883. Rebuilding used brick and other fire-resistant materials instead of lumber, so Ocala became known as the "Brick City," a name still used today.
More Downtown Ocala Guides
How We Checked This Page
The square's boundaries and the restaurant listings come from Google Maps and each business's Google Business Profile, viewed Oct. 29, 2026. Venue details, events, parking rules and history come from City of Ocala pages: the special event venue list, First Friday Art Walk, Light Up Ocala, holiday programs, Retro Sounds, Downtown Services and Ocala History. Anything the city pages did not state, such as hours for the square itself, a splash pad or an ice rink at the square, or a Christmas parade route, was left out.
AI tools helped gather the sources and draft this page; each fact was checked against those sources before publishing. Questions or corrections? Contact our team or read our editorial guidelines.
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Plaza del Centro de Ocala (Ocala Downtown Square)
La Plaza del Centro de Ocala es una plaza pública de la Ciudad de Ocala en 1 SE Broadway St., Ocala, FL 34471, en el Condado de Marion. Ocupa la manzana entre E Silver Springs Blvd (State Road 40), S Magnolia Ave, SE 1st Ave y SE Broadway St. La ciudad la incluye entre sus lugares para eventos, con un quiosco (gazebo), un escenario con electricidad y capacidad para 1,000 personas, pero sin baños públicos. El First Friday Art Walk se celebra el primer viernes de cada mes, de octubre a mayo, de 6 a 9 p. m., y es gratis. Light Up Ocala es el sábado 21 de noviembre de 2026, de 3 a 8 p. m. La ciudad indica estacionamiento gratuito en el centro, incluido el Parking Garage No. 2, con entradas por SW 2nd Avenue y SW 3rd Avenue; los parquímetros funcionan de lunes a viernes, de 8 a. m. a 6 p. m.