Ocala, your Nov. 13–15 plans are here 🎶🛍️
A new downtown bistro, holiday crafts, a free concert and weekend discoveries.
 Ocala forecast updated November 10, 2026. November 11–15 highs/lows (°F): Wed 80/57, Thu 77/52, Fri 69/41, Sat 64/40, Sun 70/50. Forecast may change. |
| Wednesday, November 11, 2026|Issue #15|Ocala / Marion County |
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Your Weekly Ocala Insider | November 11 |
Hey, Ocala! 💚 Holiday shopping season is arriving, the music calendar is full, and a new downtown bistro is ready to welcome you. Here’s your guide to November 13, 14 and 15, with a free concert, handmade finds and a Sunday afternoon performance. We’re also taking a moment for Veterans Day and looking ahead to Light Up Ocala. Let’s make a local plan! |
🗓️ Your Weekend, in 10 Seconds |
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 Holiday Craft Show promotional photo courtesy of event organizer Ballantine Management; prior-show image. |
📰 Around Town | Holiday Season Is Arriving |
Save the date: Light Up Ocala returns November 21 The downtown holiday celebration is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 3–8 p.m.—the weekend after this guide. The Junior Sunshine Parade begins at 3 p.m.; browse vendors and enjoy the holiday atmosphere before the evening lights. See the official visitor guide → |
Shopping starts this weekend The Holiday Craft Show brings handmade gifts, artwork and décor to WEC November 13–15. We’ve included the hours and ticket options below so you can plan your visit. Read our craft show preview → |
🎉 Your Weekend Guide | November 13–15 |
 Wall of Echoes promotional image via Reilly Arts Center. |
🛍️ Ocala Holiday Craft Show Friday–Sunday, November 13–15 World Equestrian Center, Expo Center 1 • 1284 NW 87th Court Road Browse more than 350 artisans and crafters. Regular hours: Friday noon–4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Advance $10 admission covers all three days; $10 at the box office covers one day. Children 12 and under and parking are free. Friday’s 10 a.m.–noon preview is separately ticketed. Details & tickets → 🎶 Sunset Songs: Kendall Street Company Friday, November 13 | 7–9 p.m. Citizens’ Circle • 151 SE Osceola Avenue A free downtown concert with food trucks and drinks available for purchase. Bring your own chair and make an evening of it. Details & tickets → 🤠 CountryLIVE Friday, November 13 | 7:30 p.m. Reilly Arts Center • 500 NE 9th Street A tribute production celebrating Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Keith Urban and Luke Bryan. This is a tribute show. Tickets listed at $41–$70. Details & tickets → 🥬 Ocala Downtown Market Saturday, November 14 | 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Market Pavilion • SE 3rd Street and SE 3rd Avenue Meet local farmers, artisans, craftspeople and food vendors at the weekly rain-or-shine market. Details & tickets → 🎸 Wall of Echoes: A Pink Floyd Tribute Saturday, November 14 | 7:30 p.m. Reilly Arts Center • 500 NE 9th Street A rock evening pairing Pink Floyd favorites with visual effects. Tickets listed at $25–$50. Details & tickets → 🎻 Music Box 3: Duo Sylvania Sunday, November 15 | 3 p.m. Midgett Black Box, Reilly Arts Center • 500 NE 9th Street Violinist Tania Moldovan and guitarist Silviu Ciulei bring an intimate chamber program spanning classical and folk influences. Tickets listed at $15–$45. Details & tickets → Times, ticket availability and prices can change; check the organizer links before heading out. |
🍴 Now Open | First Avenue Bar & Bistro |
 First Avenue Bar & Bistro promotional cover image from the restaurant’s website. |
A new chapter at a familiar downtown address First Avenue Bar & Bistro is now open at 48 SW 1st Avenue, in the former La Cuisine space. The American dining concept opened October 20 and celebrated a ribbon cutting November 4. Hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 4:30 p.m. to close. The bar and lounge advertise happy hour from 4:30–6 p.m., with $7 cocktails, glasses of wine and bar bites. Call 352-452-9811 for reservations. Menus & reservations → Read our restaurant spotlight → |
✨ Local Spotlight | A Weekend of Live Music |
Wall of Echoes promotional image via Reilly Arts Center. |
Choose your soundtrack From Friday’s free Kendall Street Company concert to Saturday’s Pink Floyd tribute and Sunday’s violin-and-guitar program, there’s a different sound for every day of the weekend. Read our weekend music article → A Veterans Day moment Before the weekend, Redeemer Christian School presents the Veterans Day Memorial Concert on Wednesday, November 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Reilly. The Redeemer Christian Wind Ensemble pairs patriotic music with historical stories from Dr. Pete Nadeau. Concert information & tickets → |
🌿 Hidden Gem | A Silver Springs Trail Break |
 Silver Springs State Park, Ocala, Florida. Photo by Kelsey Wilkerson on Pexels |
A quieter plan between the weekend’s events If you’d rather trade a shopping aisle for a trail, Silver Springs offers walks through local natural habitats. The 1.3-mile Sandhill Trail explores longleaf pine habitat and begins near the camping-entrance ranger station. Bring water, choose a route that suits your group, and check current conditions and entrance fees before heading out. Boat tours and rentals cost extra. Choose a trail → Hours & fees → |
🎨 Local Discovery | Tuscawilla’s Outdoor Gallery |
Make a little room for public art The 2026–27 Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition brings ten selected sculptures to Tuscawilla Park and Tuscawilla Art Park. The two-year exhibition offers an open-air way to explore the city’s creative side at your own pace. Tuscawilla Art Park is at 213 NE 5th Street, just north of downtown. Consider a short art stop before your Reilly outing. Explore the exhibition → |
💚 Local Deals & Budget-Friendly Finds |
A free Friday night: Sunset Songs at Citizens’ Circle has no admission charge; food and drinks are extra. Concert details → Craft show ticket tip: The advance $10 general admission ticket is valid all three days; the $10 box-office ticket is valid for one day. Children 12 and under attend free, and parking is free. Check ticket options → New bistro happy hour: First Avenue Bar & Bistro advertises $7 cocktails, glasses of wine and bar bites from 4:30–6 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday. Check current offerings → |
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A Little Local Laugh |
I went to the craft show for one small gift. Apparently, my definition of “small” now requires a second shopping bag. |
Until next Wednesday, Ocala! 💚 Know a new restaurant, a hidden gem, or a neighbor who deserves a shoutout? Hit reply and tell us about them. If this guide helped you make a plan, forward it to a friend—and thank you to the veterans and military families in our community. — Lisa & The Ocala Insider |