Good morning, Ocala.

The Ocala Blue Star Mothers will host a Veterans' Day car show at Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park (2601 E Fort King St) on Sunday, November 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature cars, jeeps, trucks, motorcycles, food trucks, raffles, music, a silent auction and prizes, with a $25 fee for participants and free admission for others, as proceeds benefit veterans and military heroes.

Home Depot filed a special use permit to build an outdoor sales location at 8445 SW 80th Street in southwest Ocala on a site once approved for an apartment complex—one that nearby retirement community residents had opposed.

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners will review the proposal on November 18 as On Top of The World Communities, LLC seeks to change the zoning so the retailer can open its second store in the county.

Recent data from the National Weather Service shows that parts of our region are under severe to extreme drought conditions because of less-than-average rainfall and persistent dry air.

The forecast indicates that the dry weather will continue through the month and may lower well levels and damage crops—farmers and residents should exercise caution with bonfires.

A local resident expressed frustration that broken and few bus benches make commuting difficult — on October 7 the City Council approved a $227,065 purchase for 15 new bus shelters to improve seating at transit stops.

Officials celebrated progress—community partnerships and state funding were highlighted during a hard hat tour of the Empath Health Dementia Center construction in Ocala yesterday.

They said the backing will help complete the center, which will soon offer new dementia care for the community.

A UF Health official spoke on diabetes awareness yesterday, urging local residents to pay attention to risk factors and adopt healthy habits— the briefing stressed early detection and preventive measures.

Apartment rents in Ocala remained steady as listings showed a median price of $1,700 in October—matching last month's figures and staying below both state and national medians.

One-bedroom units ranged around $1,180 and two-bedrooms at about $1,400, according to the latest data from Zumper.

On Friday, Nov. 14, Vanguard beat Auburndale 21-14 in a playoff game at (Booster Stadium in Ocala) as quarterback Terrance Lewis dodged Auburndale's James Tilus to secure the win.

Paso Fino Fall Festival

8 AM – 11 PM — Florida Horse Park — Admission details not provided — Experience an exciting day of Paso Fino horse shows with food, music, and family fun.

Brown's Christmas Market 2025

10 AM – 4 PM — Brown & Brown Farms and Country Store — Free park and shop — Enjoy a festive market filled with unique gifts, crafts, and fun activities for kids.

A Tuna Christmas Live Performance

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Ocala Civic Theatre, Inc. — Ticket information available — Experience the festive comedy that brings laughter to the holiday season.

Symphony Under the Lights

7:30 p.m. — Reilly Arts Center — Free entry — Enjoy a joyful outdoor concert performed by the Ocala Symphony and Youth Symphony under festive lights.

Ocala Holiday Market & Food Festival

11 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Southeastern Livestock Pavilion — Free entry — Enjoy a festive day filled with unique crafts, delicious food, and fun activities for the whole family.

A Tuna Christmas

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Ocala Civic Theatre, Inc. — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a hilarious holiday celebration with beloved characters returning to spread joy.

9th Annual Florida Thoroughbred Transformation Expo

7 a.m. - 7 p.m. — Florida Horse Park — $25 entry — Discover diverse equine talents at a weekend filled with competitions and prizes for thoroughbreds.

The Nutcracker Ballet

7-8:30 p.m. — Reilly Arts Center — Family-friendly event — Experience the enchanting story of Clara and the Nutcracker in a magical ballet performance.