Daily
Ocala
Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
Good morning, Ocala. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 18th of February.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Skateboarding legend Rodney Mullen will celebrate the Ocala Skate Park expansion at the grand opening on Saturday, Mar. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 517 NE Ninth St; a free Bones Brigade screening (Q&A at 6:30 p.m.) will run from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Marion Theatre. Ocala-News
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Ocala Main Street invites the community to honor Newt Perry with a Walk of Fame plaque unveiling on Feb. 24 at the Marion Theatre. The free event will begin at noon and feature a short program, film screenings, and a special exhibit at Heart of the Park. Ocala Gazette
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Marion County leaders extended the mandatory burn ban for seven days through next Tuesday in response to regional wildfires. The move comes as eight counties in North Central Florida enforce similar bans. WCJB
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Inspections done Feb. 9-15 show some Marion County restaurants in Ocala earned perfect scores, while others have high-priority health violations that need follow-up reviews (they are not an immediate threat). Ocala StarBanner
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Theme park crowd calendars show that spring break in Florida will be busiest from late February until early May, so visitors planning trips to Disney, Universal, and other parks may want to look for less crowded dates online. Local travelers are advised to check updated schedules to plan their breaks. Ocala StarBanner
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Vanguard High School's undefeated girls soccer team lost 5-1 to Bishop Kenny in the Region 1-4A title game on Feb. 17 at Jacksonville's Bishop Kenny High School. The loss ended a 21-0 season as five seniors graduate and 15 players are set to return next season. Ocala StarBanner
- ➤ Ocala native Brittany Bowe led Team USA speedskaters to a fourth place finish in the women’s team pursuit event on Tuesday with a time of 3:02.00; she raced with teammates Mia Manganello & Greta Myers and will next compete in the 1500m race. Ocala-News
- ➤ Ocala-area sports fans can vote on 27 Athlete of the Week nominees—featuring baseball, basketball, soccer and lacrosse standouts—until Friday at noon; nominations come from MaxPreps data and submissions by coaches and athletic directors, highlighting performances from Feb. 9-14. Ocala StarBanner
-
Candlelight: Tribute to Adele
8:30-9:29 PM — Ocala Civic Theatre, Inc. — $31.44 — Experience the soulful music of Adele illuminated by candlelight in a unique atmosphere.
-
10th Annual VOCAL Furball: A Western Extravaganza
6-10 p.m. — World Equestrian Center - Ocala — Ticket required — A whimsical night of Western style and heartfelt giving for Marion County's cats and dogs.
-
Burnyzz Gatornationals FanFest 2026
6-9 p.m. — Burnyzz — Vehicle registration $10 early, $15 day of show — Celebrate the Gatornationals with live music, driver autographs, and family-friendly activities.
-
L.E.A.F. Series: Spring Gardens Workshop
10:30 a.m. — Sholom Park — Free — Get hands-on guidance for preparing and planting your spring garden in this interactive workshop.
-
Latino Festival
11 AM – 6 PM — Ocala Citizens' Circle — Free entry — Celebrate Latin American culture with music, food, and handicrafts.
-
Candlelight Tribute to Queen and The Beatles
4-7 p.m. — Ocala Civic Theatre, Inc. — Ticket prices vary — Experience a magical candlelight concert showcasing the legendary music of Queen and The Beatles.
-
The Ocala Boat Show
11 a.m. – 7 p.m. — World Equestrian Center - Ocala — Exclusive boat show savings — Discover the latest models from MasterCraft, Barletta, and Tidewater with expert guidance for your next adventure.
-
Irish Eyes are Mile'ing 5K
8 a.m. — Ocala Citizens' Circle — $30 early entry fee — Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a 5K run supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
-
Live On Stage: Steel Magnolias
2-4 PM — Ocala Civic Theatre, Inc. — Price info not provided — Experience heartfelt laughter in a vibrant Louisiana beauty salon.
-
Marion County Fair at I-75 Flea Market
4-11 p.m. — i-75 Flea Market-Vallejo Eventos — $5 admission — Experience family-friendly rides, games, live music, and thrilling circus acts at this annual community fair.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Ocala
Welcome to the Daily Ocala, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Ocala, Florida community. If you like the Daily Ocala, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Ocala.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Ocala and across Florida. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Ocala
A free Ocala community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailyocala.com/sitemap