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Art and Culture in Ocala, Marion County
In Marion County, arts, culture and festivals are always in season.

Ocala Symphony Orchestra's Symphony Under the StarsFestivals
In Marion County, arts, culture and festivals are always in season. Throughout the year more than 250 civic clubs and organizations promote festivals celebrating the cultural variety of Marion County. Major annual events include: Fine Arts for Ocala's Ocala Art Festival; "God and Country Day"; the Ocala Christmas Parade; Ocali-Fest; Light-Up Ocala; the McIntosh 1890 Festival; Boomtown Days in Dunnellon; Belleview Founder’s Day and other smaller festivals and events.

The importance of agriculture is recognized through other events such as the Florida Horse Park Festival of the Horse which occurs each April and features the finest horses and riders competing in dressage, cross-country and show jumping. The Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) Ocala Winter Circuit is a highly respected series of horse-jumping competitions held over a seven-week period at HITS Post Time Farm on U.S. Highway 27. Approximately 3,500 horses and 7,000 horsemen from around the world attend each year. Other agriculture based events in our area include the annual Master Gardeners Show, the Southeastern Youth Fair; Florida Equestrian Classic; the Shriners’ Rodeo, the Professional Pro Rodeo and many breed-specific horse shows.

The Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Conventions Bureau offers a detail event listing on their website. Please click here to view their current list of community festivals and events.

Fine Arts for Ocala
An active appreciation of fine arts has been an integral part of the cultural life of Ocala for years. "Fine Arts for Ocala," (FAFO) was founded in 1967 and it promotes visual and performing arts programs for people of all ages. The group’s annual autumn art show, held on the grounds of the Ocala City Hall, downtown, attracts more than 50,000 people during its two days to view and purchase works of art, enjoy entertainment, and an exhibition of the artwork of area school children. FAFO also sponsors a "Symphony Under the Stars," each year which features guest orchestras and conductors.

The Ocala Civic Theatre
Since 1950, Ocala has had its own community theatre which is the second largest in the state. The Ocala Civic Theatre offers live, professional-quality musical and dramatic productions. Each year 44,000 people attended at least one Civic Theatre show. The theatre also has a youth program, a program for seniors, and shows by professional touring companies. They are supported by a enthusiastic volunteer group.

The Ocala Symphony Orchestra
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra, established in 1975, is a fully-professional orchestra composed of outstanding musicians from the community and the finest music schools throughout the region. The non-profit organization is dedicated to serving Central Florida with the highest quality in musical experiences. In addition to the annual concert schedule, the orchestra performs free community concerts such as the “Symphony Under the Lights” on Ocala’s Historic Downtown Square in cooperation with the City of Ocala, hosts and a Young Artist Competition to seek out talented young musicians, and performs at many special events such as Fine Arts for Ocala’s Annual "Symphony Under the Stars" on Mother’s Day.

The Appleton Museum of Art
The crowning jewel in Marion County's multi-faceted cultural scene is The Appleton Museum of Art, jointly owned by the Florida State University Foundation, and the Central Florida Community College Foundation. Located on East Silver Springs Boulevard and housed in an elegant neo-classical-style building, the museum is a regional landmark and one of the southeast's finest cultural assets. The vast permanent collection includes 18th and 19th century academic art from Europe, Canada and the U.S., Pre-Columbian art, African art, Asian art, and Antiquities. The permanent collection is complemented by three seasons of important traveling exhibitions each year. In 1996 the Edith-Marie Appleton wing added a 22,000 square foot gallery to house traveling exhibitions, making The Appleton one of the largest art museums in Florida.

Truly a community resource, The Appleton is open daily and offers tours, films, concerts, lectures and family programs. The Gift Gallery carries a wide selection of art books and art-related merchandise. For a current exhibition schedule call (352) 236-7100.