Ocala News
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
By TomL
I love the CEP series about the schools interview with Lori Conrad. Many years ago while Obama was in office the Obama team led by Micheal Obama decided every child needed a college education.
So meanwhile while they were going through high school some passed algebra or trigonometry. I took a poll of people and ask 20 people if they had ever used either of these subjects in their lives. 99% said no never used it, one said he did, he was a pilot. They said that students had to pass algebra to graduate. They were stuck, who do they go to if they can’t do a math problem. “Their parents? Their parents had never had it in school so many children got discouraged and just quite. They were left behind only to finish their high school education outside the school system. Are beginning to get the point. Then COVID hit!
Back then I started saying we needed to look at the curriculum, it was then I started saying in my papers that it would not work. Boys and Girls or men and women graduate from college and there was not enough jobs requiring a college education. Who is going to drive trucks? Who is going to do jobs that you does not require a college degree. Of course the college graduate does not want to drive a truck or work in construction so they don’t take a job that back then for $5 or $6 per hour. After all they were a college graduate so the one’s without jobs floundered for a while until they had to take a job they did not want or starve. They applied their learning skills and wound up OK! Continue reading
Friends of the Ocala Public Library is holding its next clearance book sale beginning on Friday, August 1 for Friends members only, (but memberships are available at the door) from 1:30 pm-3:30 pm, and then opens to the general public on Saturday, August 2, 10 am-2 pm. Sale is held in the Ocala Public Library headquarters meeting rooms, 2720 Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
Proceeds of the sale benefit children and adult programs, materials, audio and ebooks, and staff development at Ocala main, Reddick, Ft. McCoy, and Sankofa branches of the Marion County Public Library system.
All childrens books and all paperback books are 25 cents each, and all hardbacks are 50 cents each. Cash and checks only.
Ocala Business Leaders is a group of local professionals who provide a wide range of quality goods and services to our community. Each business strives to maintain the highest level of professional integrity and customer satisfaction. When you’re looking for goods or services, call a member of Ocala Business Leaders
Friday, July 4, 2025 | 6 -10 p.m. | Free to attend
Tuscawilla Park | 800 NE Sanchez Ave.
Celebrate Independence Day with an unforgettable evening at Patriotic Skies! Enjoy a spectacular fireworks display that lights up the night sky, live music to keep you dancing, and a fun-filled Kids Zone featuring games and activities for the whole family. Satisfy your cravings with a variety of delicious food from local food trucks, offering everything from savory snacks to sweet treats. Whether you’re relaxing with loved ones or enjoying the entertainment, this free event is the perfect way to celebrate America’s birthday in style. Don’t miss out – bring your chairs, blankets, and your patriotic spirit!
Entertainers
Bryce Mauldin, originally from Webster, FL, is bringing serious Florida fire to the Nashville country scene. As a fully independent artist, he’s racked up over 20 million streams on his original music and built a massive following across social media with a sound that appeals to fans of both classic and modern country.
From high-energy hits like “City Limits”—channeling the rock-influenced edge of Jason Aldean—to the heartfelt, steel-guitar-driven “Seeing Somebody Else,” Bryce’s music spans generations and styles while staying true to his roots. His songwriting is personal yet universally relatable, giving a voice to fans through real-life storytelling.
With his distinctive style and growing momentum, Bryce Mauldin is quickly carving out his place as one of country music’s rising stars.
Emma Forgette
In the world of country music, few voices shine as brightly and authentically as Emma Forgette’s. Born in New Jersey but rooted in Ocala, Florida, Emma is quickly making her mark on the contemporary country scene.
She began her musical journey just three years ago at age 17, exploring opera, rock, pop, and theater, but always returning to her first love—country music. Her powerful voice and wide range draw comparisons to some of the genre’s greatest female artists, and her dream of performing at the Grand Ole Opry feels well within reach.
Emma’s musical foundation runs deep. She played first-chair flute through school and is now learning guitar, adding to her already impressive artistry. Offstage, she’s a true country girl—living on a family farm, collecting cowboy boots, and embracing the simple joys of rural life. Continue reading
Ocala, FL — The Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership has been named a finalist for the 2025 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). ACCE is an association based in Alexandria, Va., with over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.
The award, sponsored by GrowthZone, is the most prestigious and competitive award in the chamber industry, recognizing excellence in operations, member service and community leadership. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and impacted key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic prosperity and quality of life.
“This year’s finalists represent excellence in the chamber industry,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “Each has shown how chambers can lead as community partners, forward-thinking leaders and problem solvers to drive growth and make a lasting impact on regional prosperity. We congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.” Continue reading
