Good morning, Ocala.

The 2025 Hometown Heroes Awards Gala was held Sept.

4 at the Circle Square Cultural Center at On Top of the World in Ocala to honor over 100 first responders from Marion County and seven nearby counties. The event was co-sponsored by NAMI and Hiers-Baxley and raised funds for mental health support — a night that celebrated local heroism.

Fort King Presbyterian Church celebrated 60 years of service after it was founded on August 1, 1965 in the old Ocala High School cafeteria on Fort King Street—led by Rev Malcolm B.

Koehler and Rev Edwin W. Albright Sr.

Jason Myers, a 28-year-old from Belleview, lost his life when his Corvette went airborne and struck a tree along County Road 439 near Umatilla on September 5, and his friend Zach Craig was seriously injured — family and friends are mourning his loss.

Beacon RV and Boat Storage opened today on Southwest 38th Street near the airport with a ribbon cutting and more than 400 parking spaces for boats and RVs—officials say the facility meets growing demands in Marion County.

Two Ocala residents — 44-year-old Danny Lee Fletcher and 42-year-old Carla Ruth Pilkons — were arrested on September 7 after a video showed them stealing a pair of $100 Nike sneakers from The Lotus House thrift store, and both admitted to the theft when they were later spotted riding bicycles nearby.

Data from Zumper shows that Ocala apartment listings edged up from last year's median of $1,700 to $1,725 in August — one-bedroom rents increased 3% from July.

On Sept. 8, 2025, the Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission approved a step — a move toward a large residential/commercial development in SW Ocala that could change the area.

MCA Annual Auction & Closing Party

5-7 p.m. — Marion Cultural Alliance at Brick City Center for the Arts — Supports local arts — Experience a festive evening with art and community spirit while bidding on unique auction items.

2025 Ocala Comic Con Weekend Pass

8:00 PM – 10:29 AM — World Equestrian Center - Ocala — Kids 10 and under are FREE — Experience Florida's largest comic convention packed with comic books, video games, and cosplay.

Marion Oaks Hispanic Heritage Celebration

11 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Marion Oaks Community Center — Free entry — Celebrate Hispanic heritage with art activities for kids and live entertainment.

2025 Adult Spelling Bee

6:30-8:30 p.m. — Marion Theatre — Participant: $25, General Admission: FREE — Compete to be Ocala’s Smartest Speller and support local causes.

The Grass Roots Concert

5-8:30 p.m. — Circle Square Cultural Center — Ticket purchase required — Enjoy a lively performance with classic hits from the renowned Rock and Roll era.

Absolute Queen - A Tribute to Queen

7:30-9 p.m. — Reilly Arts Center — Tickets available — Experience the electrifying atmosphere of a live Queen concert with mind-blowing costume changes and all the classic hits.

Threads of Light - A New Requiem

3:00 – 4:30 PM — Reilly Arts Center — Ticket information not provided — Experience a world premiere by local composer Joshua L. Mazur with the Ocala Symphony and Chorus.

2025 Grand National Show

6 AM - 11 AM — World Equestrian Center - Ocala — Check for pricing — Experience the thrill of equestrian excellence at the Grand National Show.

Grand Prix Dining Experience

6:30-9 p.m. — World Equestrian Center - Ocala — Table pricing from $500 — Indulge in a three-course meal while enjoying top-level equestrian sport under the lights.

4th Annual Grays Halloween Festival

5-10 p.m. — Ocala Downtown Market — Free entry — Celebrate the Halloween season with fun festivities at this community festival.