<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3d99is_1GnQxEeQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3d99is_1GnQxEeQ00" width="1616" height="1080" ><figcaption>Light Up Ocala will return to downtown on November 21. Credit: Ocala-News.com Staff Photo</figcaption></figure>Downtown Ocala will transform into a holiday spectacle later this month as the city’s yearly tradition, Light Up Ocala, returns with three entertainment zones, a downtown parade, and more than 100 vendors. The free, family-friendly festival will return on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. throughout historic downtown Ocala.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3lkIqB_1GnQxEeQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3lkIqB_1GnQxEeQ00" width="1200" height="630" ><figcaption>Light Up Ocala will take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.</figcaption></figure>The evening will culminate in the ceremonial flipping of the switch on the Downtown Square at approximately 6 p.m. to illuminate thousands of holiday lights across the city center. Festivities will begin with the Junior Sunshine Parade, which steps off from the intersection of S Magnolia Avenue and E Fort King Street. Led by the Ocala Police Department Mounted Unit, the downtown processional will feature routines by local dance studios, Girl Scout troops, and youth organizations. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=168Wy1_1GnQxEeQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=168Wy1_1GnQxEeQ00" width="1478" height="886" ><figcaption>The lighting of the tree is scheduled for 6 p.m. on November 21. Credit: Ocala-News.com Staff</figcaption></figure>Live entertainment will be staged across three distinct zones throughout the afternoon and evening. At the Downtown Square stage, rock group Audio Exchange will perform live from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., pausing for the official 6 p.m. lighting ceremony. Visitors to the square can also take holiday photos beside the central Christmas tree and visit the Smile Time photo booth. At Citizens’ Circle, a community showcase stage will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring performances from local dance academies, choral ensembles, and performance troupes.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4Tx0LC_1GnQxEeQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Tx0LC_1GnQxEeQ00" width="1616" height="984" ><figcaption>Holiday lights in downtown Ocala in 2022 Credit: Ocala-News.com Staff</figcaption></figure>North of the square, the Midtown Street Party along NE 1st Street and NE 1st Avenue will offer continuous entertainment from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., including a live DJ, an acrobatic variety show, and jump rope performances. Additional family-friendly attractions include a Punch and Judy puppet show at the corner of Fort King Street and Magnolia Avenue, along with an interactive Kids’ Zone stationed in Parking Lot 5 near NE 1st Street and N Magnolia Avenue. To ease traffic and accommodate the thousands of spectators expected to attend, the City of Ocala is operating free shuttle services from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. across four park-and-ride pickup locations. ADA-accessible shuttles will run every 20 minutes from the Marion Technical Institute at 1614 SE Fort King Street and the E.D. Croskey Recreation Center at 1510 NW Fourth Street.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=37wXsA_1GnQxEeQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=37wXsA_1GnQxEeQ00" width="1920" height="1440" ><figcaption>Christmas lights on the gazebo at the Historic Downtown Ocala Square. Credit: Ocala-News.com Staff Photo</figcaption></figure>Additional shuttles will depart every 10 minutes from the Ocala Skate Park at 517 NE Ninth Street and the Discovery Center at 701 NE Sanchez Avenue, dropping passengers off near NE Watula Avenue and SR 40. Downtown parking will also be available at both city parking garages. Motorists utilizing Parking Garage One must enter and exit exclusively via E Fort King Street, while Parking Garage Two will accept incoming vehicles from SW 2nd Avenue with exits routed onto SW 3rd Avenue. For more information regarding stage lineups, shuttle routes, or event guidelines, visit the city’s official Light Up Ocala event page. Are you planning to attend Light Up Ocala this year, or do you have a favorite memory from past ceremonies? Share your thoughts in a comment below or submit a letter to the editor.</div></body>

Block Source: ocala-news.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

Downtown Ocala will transform into a holiday spectacle later this month as the city’s yearly tradition, Light Up Ocala, returns with three entertainment zones, a downtown parade, and more than 100 vendors. The free, family-friendly festival will return on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. throughout...

Light Up Ocala returning to downtown on Nov. 21

NewsBreak

Downtown Ocala will transform into a holiday spectacle later this month as the city’s yearly tradition, Light Up Ocala, returns with three entertainment zo

Light Up Ocala returning to downtown on Nov. 21

Comments