Ocala News
Based on the popular PBS KIDS® TV Series.
Sept. 13 – Jan. 3
Come on, vente! Explore Alma’s neighborhood in the Bronx as you practice critical thinking skills and celebrate
vibrant Puerto Rican culture in this new exhibit. Be transported to Alma’s colorful neighborhood to explore a
bustling Bodega, a local community center with Bomba instruments and dance, Alma’s father’s Pet Clinic, a 6 Subway train and Park as well as Alma’s family Duplex where her Puerto Rican extended family lives and plays.
Alma loves solving problems and finding solutions, and young visitors will too!
The Marion County Sexual Assault Center marked a milestone Aug. 15, 2025, as the nonprofit celebrated its official certification with a ribbon cutting at its facility on SW 1st Ave. in Ocala. The Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership joined Executive Director Besty Weber, her staff, board, and community supporters to recognize the center’s mission of providing round-the-clock services to survivors of sexual violence.
Weber praised her staff for their work, noting that the center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to those in need. With statistics showing one in four women and one in 26 men experiencing sexual violence or attempted sexual violence in their lifetimes, the center’s role is more important than ever. Alongside offering critical support services, the Marion County Sexual Assault Center is committed to raising awareness, educating the community, and working toward prevention. These efforts reflect the generosity and philanthropic spirit that define Marion County.
At Stirrups ‘n Strides Therapeutic Riding Center, we witness miracles every day — not the kind that make headlines, but the quiet kind that happen when someone who’s been told “you can’t” discovers that, with the right support, they can.
We serve children, adults, and veterans with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges through therapeutic horseback riding, equine-assisted therapy, carriage driving, and equine-assisted learning. For some, it’s the first time they’ve experienced independence. For others, it’s the first time they’ve smiled in weeks. For all, it’s a place of belonging, growth, and unconditional acceptance.
A child with cerebral palsy gains strength and balance while riding a horse that instinctively adjusts to their movement.
A teen with autism who struggles to speak finds connection and calm through grooming a gentle pony.
A veteran battling PTSD rediscovers peace in the rhythm of a horse’s gait and the trust of a nonjudgmental companion.
These moments aren’t rare at Stirrups ‘n Strides — they’re what we do. But we can’t do them without YOU.
To mark this exciting occasion, 18 South graciously hosted the Ocala Metro CEP staff, Board of Directors, and special guests in their beautiful Members Lounge for a special Watch Party Celebration. Guests enjoyed delicious food and drinks, sponsored by Zinnia Wealth Management, as we gathered to celebrate our finalist recognition for Chamber of the Year and honor the incredible work of the CEP team. It was a night full of pride, community, and well-deserved recognition!
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Leda Pérez, who has been named the new Executive Director of the Frank DeLuca YMCA. A strong communicator and coach, Leda has a proven track record in program development, team leadership, and community engagement. Her passion for wellness and her people-centered leadership style make her a fantastic fit for our community Y family.
Leda and her family are excited to continue to serve our Ocala community and continue to be engaged and involved with Ocala Business Leaders.
The Reilly Arts Center welcomes a variety of national and local artists for performances of rock, blues, soul and classical in August and September. Unless otherwise indicated, events are held at the Reilly Arts Center located at 500 NE 9th St. Ocala, FL 34470. Tickets can be purchased at reillyartscenter.com or by contacting the Reilly Arts Center box office at (352) 351-1606. Box office hours are 10 AM – 2 PM, Tuesday through Friday. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Reilly Arts Center during box office hours.
Unlimited Devotion: Celebrating the Music of the Grateful Dead
Friday, August 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Tickets from $28
Get ready to jam with Unlimited Devotion, Florida’s premier Grateful Dead tribute band! Blending the spirit of the Dead with their own jazz and funk influences, UD delivers high-energy, exploratory performances that keep fans coming back for more. From massive block parties to packed venues, this South Florida quintet brings the groove—and the good vibes—every time they hit the stage!
Press Images Available.
Girls Night: The Musical
Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Tickets from $40
Grab your friends and get ready to laugh, cry, and dance in the aisles—GIRLS NIGHT: THE MUSICAL is the ultimate night out! This Off-Broadway hit follows five friends on a hilarious and heartfelt journey through love, loss, and friendship, all set to a soundtrack of favorite hits like “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive,” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman.” It’s Mamma Mia meets Sex and the City—and it’s a party you don’t want to miss!
Press Images Available. Continue reading
Field Trip Add-On Programming
StarLab Planetarium
Explore the wonders of the night sky, tour the solar system and hear the myths behind our favorite constellations in our inflatable planetarium set up in the exhibit gallery. Up to 25 people can be accommodated with on-floor seating. ADA access is available and chairs can be made available upon request.
Animal Meet & Greet
Get to know some of our animal residents with a hands-on presentation. Students will have an opportunity to get up-close and even touch a few of our animals.
Animal Adaptations
Discover more about how animals adapt to their surroundings with a series of hands-on classroom activities that will challenge students from a new perspective.
NASA Space
Description: NASA Space is the classroom version of our StarLab Planetarium. Travel across our solar system on the big screen! Ask your curiosities about space while getting up close to our planets and let your imaginations run wild. Ideal for groups larger than 25.
Ends Aug. 30
Every bug – and every person – has unique abilities and traits that make them super. Bug Squad will create excitement about learning by immersing children in an exhibit inspired by fictitious superheroes and factual science. In this imaginative world, insects don’t just have super abilities, they are real superheroes! Kids will be introduced to a squad of uniquely characterized bugs that are designed to inspire a love for science and an appreciation for diversity.
Bug Squad was produced by Omaha Children’s Museum. Omaha Children’s Museum is a special place where children can challenge themselves, discover how the world works and learn through play. The mission of Omaha Children’s Museum is to engage the imagination and create excitement about learning.
The REC Marion County Monthly Meeting, will be held at Ocala Golf Banquet room located at 3130 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL 34470 FL, Monday July 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM. Doors open at 6 PM. Next Month’s meeting at Ocala Golf Banquet Room on Monday Aug. 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM. Doors open at 6 PM.
Forward Momentum
By Tamara Fleischhaker
In Ocala, horses are more than just a backdrop—they’re the rhythm of daily life, the foundation of local identity, and the lifeblood of a multi-billion-dollar economy. But thanks to the CEP’s Equine Initiative, they’re also becoming a source of inspiration for the next generation. What began as a simple effort to educate business partners about the equine industry’s scope has grown into something far greater, a community-wide movement that reaches classrooms, sidewalks, and civic events.
Where Hooves Meet Literacy: In a county with more than 80,000 horses, not every child has the chance to meet one. But that’s exactly what happens through the CEP’s literacy outreach, developed in partnership with Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses. These tiny, trained therapy horses visit schools to promote reading, kindness, and confidence. The result is a heartwarming experience where children, some reading aloud for the first time without fear, share books with a patient four-legged listener by their side. This unique program doesn’t just teach literacy—it fosters empathy, curiosity, and a newfound love of horses among students who may never have had that opportunity otherwise. Continue reading
