Daily
Ocala
Thursday, April 9th, 2026
Good morning, Ocala. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 9th of April.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Huddy’s Escape in Ocala offers an immersive escape room experience that features adventure, mystery & horror games for friends & families and corporate groups. Locals Adam Tencza and Leigh Zeedyk have expanded the venue to Gainesville, earning a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award in 2025. Ocala Gazette
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ A two-week ceasefire with Iran was announced on April 7, but Florida gas prices, which averaged $4.16 per gallon on April 8, may rise to around $4.30 later as the Energy Information Administration warns that full restoration of flows (and relief for consumers) will take months. Ocala StarBanner
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Florida law bans bat removal from structures from April 16 to Aug. 14 (bat maternity season) so bats can safely raise their pups; residents needing bat exclusion must secure a special permit outside this period. Ocala StarBanner
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ On Wednesday, April 8 at 10 a.m., the Florida Department of Corrections hosted a statewide culinary competition at Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala where inmates prepared diverse dishes to gain kitchen skills + certifications for food service jobs. WCJB
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ The family-operated assisted living facility at 1810 SE 16th Avenue was sold for $6.3 million on April 1 to Hallowstone Deerwood Property, LLC from Hampton Deerwood Propco, LLC for its 4.14 acre site featuring a 22,134 sqft main building built in 1999 + a 1,600 sqft addition from 2021. Ocala-News
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Art Park Literary and Poetry Festival
10 AM - 5 PM — Tuscawilla Art Park — Free entry — Celebrate the power of language with live poetry, author showcases, and musical performances.
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A Sudden Impulse Quarter Horse Show
8 AM – 8 PM — World Equestrian Center - Ocala — $735,000 in guaranteed prize money — Experience thrilling competition with AQHA and NSBA classes at this premier equestrian event.
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Hot Cars and Cool Cats Car Show
10 AM — The Hot Cars and Cool Cats Car Show at The Nassiveras — $10 entry for vehicles — Experience custom trophies, great food, music, and support a good cause at this fun-filled car show.
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Ocala Big Bloom Home & Garden Show
12-6 p.m. — World Equestrian Center - Ocala — Free admission — Discover a vibrant showcase of flowers and hands-on gardening activities for all ages.
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International Jazz, Art & Poetry Festival Ocala
6-8 PM — Appleton Museum of Art — Fundraising event — Immerse yourself in jazz, vibrant art, and soulful poetry while honoring jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie and Alice Coltrane.
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Extravaganza 2026
9 AM – 10 PM — World Equestrian Center - Ocala — Free entry — Experience three days of premier paso fino horse competition at this prestigious event.
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One time never before seeing Home
Don’t miss your chance to see this perfect 3/2/2 plan offered at $269,500. Hurry, It will not last!
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Arnold Irchai and Dale Fedele Concert
3-4 p.m. — Reilly Arts Center — $4 – $185 — Experience intimate chamber music with virtuosic musicians from the Ocala Symphony in a unique performance setting.
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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.
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