OCALA, Fla. (Nov. 14, 2023) – Light Up Ocala returns Saturday, Nov. 18, 4 to 9 p.m. The annual lighting ceremony located in historic downtown Ocala will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. The theme for this year’s event is, “Celebrate the Spirit of Downtown.”

The event will include three entertainment zones throughout the downtown area that will feature live music and performers and more than 100 vendors the whole family will enjoy.

• Stage One – Sponsored by HCA Florida Hospital
  • Downtown Square – SE Broadway and Magnolia Avenue
  • Live music by Audio Exchange, 4 to 8:30 p.m.
  • Photo opportunities at the holiday tree
• Stage Two – Sponsored by Advent Health
  • Citizens’ Circle – Fort King Street and Osceola Avenue
  • Photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus
  • Community showcase featuring a variety of local dance and performance groups, 4 to 8:30 p.m.
• Midtown Street Party – Sponsored by Wawa
  • Corner of NE First Street and NE First Avenue
  • Featuring live DJ, Acrobatic Variety Show and Powerskip Shows, 4 to 8:45 p.m.

   

  Additional entertainment throughout the evening includes the Punch and Judy puppet show located at the corner of Fort King Street and Magnolia Avenue, Living Angels located at Fort King Street and SE First Avenue, photo ops and kids’ zone located at the parking lot on NE First Street between N Magnolia and NE First Avenue.

  At 4:30 p.m., the Junior Sunshine Parade will begin at the corner of S Magnolia Avenue and E Fort King Street. The parade will make its way through downtown, going past the gazebo, up to NE First Street, and then returning to SE First Avenue and E Fort King Street. The parade will include performances from local dance studios, Fort King Middle School Falcon Band, Girl Scouts Troops, and a special appearance by Santa.

  Guests are encouraged to utilize four parking lots that will offer free shuttle rides throughout the event:

• The first shuttle will pick up guests at the Marion Technical Institute parking lot, 1614 SE Fort King St., and drop guests off at the intersection of SE Watula Avenue and SE Third Street. This shuttle will run approximately every 20 minutes between 3:30 and 9:30 p.m.

• The second shuttle will pick up guests at the E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St., and will drop guests off at the intersection of N. Magnolia Ave. and NE Third Street.This shuttle will run approximately every 20 minutes between 3:30 and 9:30 p.m.

• The third shuttle will pick up guests at the Ocala Skate Park, 517 NE Ninth St., and will drop guests off at the intersection of NE Watula Avenue and State Road 40. This shuttle will run approximately every 10 minutes between 3:30 and 9:30 p.m.

• The fourth shuttle will pick up guests at the Discovery Center parking lot, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., and will drop guests off at the intersection of NE Watula Ave. and State Road 40. This shuttle will run approximately every 10 minutes between 3:30 and 9:30 p.m.

This year’s Light Up Ocala event is sponsored by Advent Health, Blue Gator, Bogin Munns & Munns, Campus USA Credit Union, Certified Roofing Solutions, College of Central Florida, Cox Communications, Elite Medical Ocala, Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Memory Gardens, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steak Burgers, Fun 4 Ocala Kids, FWH & Associates, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, HSM Solutions, Insight Credit Union, JVC Broadcasting, MidFlorida Credit Union, National Homecraft, Ocala Electric Utility Services, Ocala Water Resources, Phillips Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, Rasmussen University, REMAX Realty, The Martial Arts Center of Ocala, Tri-Eagle Sales and Wawa.

For more information, including a complete list of event road closures, visit www.ocalafl.gov/lightup or call 352-368-5517.