The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department will host four summer camps June 1 through July 30. Summer camp program offerings will be as follows:

Lily’s Leaping summer camp at Lillian F. Bryant Community Center, 2200 NW 17th Pl.
City Kids summer camp at E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St.
Junior and senior summer camp at Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave.
Junior Historians summer camp at Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E. Fort King St.

City Kids and Lily’s Leaping summer camps will offer a new fun theme each week. Discovery Center summer camps provide opportunities for curious young scientists to learn more about the world around them. Junior Historians summer camp will explore local history and nature with young adventurers.

Detailed information about each camp, including how to register, can be found at www.ocalafl.org/summercamp. Fees and participant ages vary per program. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the following safety precautions will be in effect for day camp operations:

Guidelines for drop-off and pick-up protocols must be observed by all participants
Parents/guardians will not be permitted to enter the buildings
Temperature and health screenings at drop-off
Where practical, children will be seated six-feet apart and groups will be limited to 10 or less
All children and staff will be required to wear cloth face coverings

Camp registration begins Monday, March 1 for City residents. General registration for non-residents opens Thursday, April 1. Parents or guardians can register online via ActiveNet or by phone. Registration will be on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, please call the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at 352-368-5517.

Saturday, April 24, 2021
Tuscawilla Park
9 AM – 2 PM

Come celebrate Arbor day in beautiful Tuscawilla Park. We have a full day of fun for the whole family!

• Tree Giveaways
• Youth Fishing Derby
• Rock Wall Climbing
• Feed Live Butterflies
• Tree Rappelling
• Yoga In The Park
• Eco-Friendly Vendors
• Live Music
• Food Trucks
• …and much more!

Sponsorship Information

Earthfest would not be possible without the generosity and support of our sponsors! If you are interested in joining us as a sponsor of Earthfest please fill out the sponsorship packet and send it to our Community Special Events Manager Amy Casaletto at acasaletto@ocalafl.org.  

Additional Inquiries

For more information or inquiries about Earthfest, please contact our Community Special Events Manager Amy Casaletto at acasaletto@ocalafl.org.

Post Date: 09/22/2020 10:36 AM

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 22, 2020) – The Ocala Recreation and Parks department will host the annual Boo Bash at E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St., Saturday, October 31, 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. This family-friendly Halloween event is free to attend.

Boo Bash will offer games, spooky activities and plenty of candy! Costumes are encouraged, and all ages are welcome. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Due to health and safety measures, guests must reserve a time to attend. To reserve a time slot, email jbaker@ocalafl.org or call 352-401-3920. Capacity will be limited to 50 people in each time slot to allow for proper social distancing.   In between each reserved group, stations will be sanitized and cleaned in preparation for the next reserved group of visitors.  Guests will be required to wear a face covering inside the center. Children under 3 are not required to wear a face covering. Continue reading →

Post Date: 09/02/2020 10:46 AM

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 2, 2020) – The Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., will reopen to the public Saturday, Oct. 3. In response to COVID-19, the Discovery Center will offer modified hours. Tuesdays through Fridays will offer two sessions, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Saturdays, there will be three sessions available, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 4.pm. Admission prices apply per session.

The new exhibit, Astronaut Academy, will open Saturday, Oct. 3. General admission to the Discovery Center is $8 per person, $7 for seniors or veterans, and free for children two and under. A family four pass is $28. Memberships are available which include free admission as well as discounts on many programs. Saturday programming like Sing-a-long Science, STEAM Saturday and Star Lab Planetarium will be available at limited capacities for an additional fee. Information and pricing are available at www.mydiscoverycenter.org. Continue reading →

Youth Ages 2 – 17
Science Classes at the Discovery Center
Ages 2 – 15
Classes start Sept. 15
?‍? These fun, hands-on learning classes range from ages 2 to 12 with topics like LEGO Robotics, Junior Zookeepers, Create Scientists and more!
Learn More

Start Smart T-Ball
Ages 4 – 5
Oct. 21 – Nov. 18
Wednesdays | 6 – 7 P.M.
Hey batter batter! Mini-athletes will learn to bat, catch, throw and run bases in a safe and encouraging environment.
Register Now Continue reading →

• Date:09/11/2020 8:00 PM – 9:45 PM
• Location:Tuscawilla Park
  829 NE Sanchez Avenue
  Ocala, Florida 34470

Bring the entire family to this free movie which will be shown in the grassy area to the east of the Discovery Center parallel to NE Eighth Avenue.  Refreshments available for purchase.  Please bring your own lawn chairs and blankets.  For additional details, please contact Ocala Recreation and Parks at 352.368.5517.

September 3 – 6

Performances held on our newly renovated outdoor stage! 

Back by popular demand! Broadway Under the Stars returns for an encore presentation September 3-6. This 90-minute cabaret on the outdoor stage behind the theatre features four of OCT’s best-known performers. Seating is limited and safely distanced, with tables of up to four for your party. Join us for an enchanting evening! FIND OUT MORE…

OCALA, Fla. (July 16, 2020) – The Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA), in partnership with the City of Ocala, has made the decision to reschedule the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series to 2021 due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, including restrictions for attending public gatherings in Florida, community reservations about attending public events, and the limited resources to execute the event. After conversations with series partners, including the Levitt Foundation, the series is being slated for 2021 to provide time to overcome the effects of COVID-19  and to secure additional resources.

In addition to the important objective of safeguarding the health of the community, the long-term sustainability of the series was also considered. Moving forward, the series will need to secure additional resources to continue the level of performances the community has come to expect and enjoy. The Levitt Foundation has committed to continued grant support of the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series in 2021, and the City and MCA are working on additional resources to support the series.  Organizations interested in supporting the series through volunteerism or sponsorship should contact Ocala Cultural Arts at 352-629-8447 or artinfo@ocalafl.org.

“Marion Cultural Alliance is the nonprofit partner of the Levitt AMP Music Series and supports the decision by the City to postpone the popular free music series until next spring,” said Jaye Baillie, Marion Cultural Alliance Executive Director. “This decision did not come easily as this concert series, now in its fourth year, is loved by thousands of friends, families, and neighbors who enjoy this free concert series. However, the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic is driving the decision. We want to ensure the people of our community, including the attendees, performing artists, sponsors, community partners, vendors and dedicated staff remain safe.”

To stay up-to-date on Levitt AMP Ocala, visit www.ocalafl.org/levittamp or follow @LevittAMPOcala on Facebook or Instagram.