OCALA, Fla. (Nov. 3, 2025) – Light Up Ocala returns Saturday, Nov. 22 from 3 to 8 p.m. in historic downtown Ocala. The event will feature live entertainment, family activities, more than 100 vendors and the official lighting ceremony, which will take place at approximately 6 p.m. on the Downtown Square.
Entertainment Zones and Activities
- Stage One – Downtown Square (Sponsored by HCA Florida Healthcare)
- Stage Two – Citizens’ Circle (Sponsored by Advent Health Ocala)
- Midtown Street Party
Other attractions include the Punch and Judy Puppet Show on the corner of Fort King Street and Magnolia Avenue, The Living Angels at Citizens’ Circle, and a Kids’ Zone located at Parking Lot 5 near NE First Street and N. Magnolia Avenue.
Junior Sunshine Parade
The Junior Sunshine Parade begins at 3 p.m. at the corner of S. Magnolia Avenue and E Fort King Street. The parade will travel through downtown and feature local dance studios, Girl Scout troops and a special appearance by Santa. The Ocala Police Department Mounted Unit will lead the procession.
Shuttle Services
Free shuttle service will be available from four locations between 2 and 9 p.m. Guests are encouraged to park at one of the following lots:
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Marion Technical Institute (1614 SE Fort King St.) – The shuttle drops off between SE Watula Avenue and SE Third Street and runs every 20 minutes and is ADA accessible.
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E.D. Croskey Recreation Center (1510 NW Fourth St.) – The shuttle drops off between N. Magnolia Avenue and NE Second Street and runs every 20 minutes and is ADA accessible.
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Ocala Skate Park (517 NE Ninth St.) – The shuttle drops off between NE Watula Avenue and State Road 40 and runs every 10 minutes.
- Discovery Center (701 NE Sanchez Ave.) – The shuttle drops off between NE Watula Avenue and State Road 40 and runs every 10 minutes.
Sponsors
This year’s event is sponsored by:
Advent Health Ocala, Blue Gator, Campus USA Credit Union, Classic Hits 104.7 WITG, College of Central Florida, Cox Communications, Elite Medical Ocala, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Ocala, Florida Blue - FWH, Florida Northern Railroad, Fun 4 Ocala Kids, GTE Financial, Hawthorne Center for Rehabilitation and Healing, HCA Florida Healthcare, Hilton Ocala, JVC Broadcasting, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, Ocala Athletix, Ocala Oaks Rehabilitation Center, Phillips Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, Pointe Grand Ocala, Rasmussen University, Smile Design Dentistry, Suncoast Credit Union, Sun Kool Air Conditioning, Tasty Chick’n/KFC, Total Family Solutions, and Wawa.
For more information, visit www.ocalafl.gov/lightup or call our Recreation and Parks Department at 352-368-5517.
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