|
Subscribe | Get featured
Hey Daytona Beach, hope your week’s off to a good start! A candlelit Valentine’s concert, a Mardi Gras dog parade, Tina Turner musical, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
Track record in community service: Flagler Beach Historical Museum has named Sheila Pillath executive director, effective February 1, 2026. The former United Way of Volusia-Flagler leader brings fundraising and grant expertise to the museum — see her leadership background.
New vision for aviation business: Embry-Riddle appointed Joe Gibney as dean of the David B. O’Maley College of Business at its Daytona Beach campus. He most recently served as senior advisor at Ridgewood Infrastructure — see his focus and background.
America250 celebrations kick off: Florida will mark George Washington’s birthday as a state holiday Feb. 16, with free entry to state parks Feb. 12 to 16 and state sponsored NASCAR events in Daytona Beach — see what’s planned statewide.
Free group training for life: Oogie, a two-year-old pup at Southeast Volusia Humane Society in New Smyrna Beach, is ready for adoption and hoping for a Volusia County family soon — learn how to adopt Oogie.
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
|
🫶 We got your back
Trail expansion takes shape: Construction is underway on a new half-mile segment of the Spring-to-Spring Trail in West Volusia. The path will link West Highbanks Road to DeBary Plantation Boulevard along Donald E. Smith Boulevard, and will open to walkers, runners, and cyclists once finished, with the project managed by Volusia County. Get all the details.
Your neighbors are Googling you: It’s uncomfortable but true — employers, new friends, even other parents at school pickup search names all the time. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up first, it can shape opinions before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so your first impression actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s someone you care about, you can help them too.
Racing, rallies and coastal rides: The 85th annual Daytona Beach Bike Week runs Feb. 27 to March 8, drawing hundreds of thousands to Volusia County. Major races are set at Daytona International Speedway, including the 56th DAYTONA Supercross and flat track season openers March 5 and 6, plus shows and activities across town. Get all the event details.
Gold is having a moment: Between inflation headlines, market swings, and growing global uncertainty, precious metals are (again) in the spotlight. American Hartford is currently offering up to $25,000 in free silver when you open a qualified account. They’ll also help you set up a penalty-free gold IRA with a lowest price guarantee, no buyback fees, and 7-day price protection.
Local gear lifesaver: When a string snaps or a cable ghosts mid-practice, Jessup’s of New Smyrna comes through with guitars, keyboards, amps, and the easy-to-forget accessories, plus friendly know-how so you can sort it out fast and get back to making the good kind of noise.
A second opinion never hurts: Not every financial advisor is the right fit, and it’s okay to explore your options. Unbiased matches you with an advisor based on your personal situation, giving you a chance to ask questions in a free, no-pressure conversation to see if the fit makes sense. No obligation — just helpful advice.
Steamy noodle fix: When cravings hit, Bamboo Garden in Ormond Beach serves herb-bright pho with slurpable noodles and a clean, comforting broth that haunts mid-meetings. If your crew’s split, bánh mì and bubble tea keep the peace, sparing you the group-text debate.
|
📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
🏎 Daytona 500 Qualifying @ Daytona International Speedway | Wednesday (2/11) at 8:00 AM – Pre-game the 500 with some pure speed theater as Cup Series stars rip solo laps for the pole, and the outside pole, at Daytona. No bumping, just nerves, noise, and bragging rights. Bring earplugs, sunscreen, and your finest left-turn opinions.
🖼 Guided Trip to Cummer Art Museum @ Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens | Wednesday (2/11) at 8:30 AM – Let someone else wrangle I-95 while Guest Curator Ruth Grim leads a curated day trip up to Jacksonville’s Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, and more. Expect art you can linger with, riverfront gardens, insider context, and smug bus ride gossip on the way home.
📚 Boozy Book Fair @ Ormond Brewing Company | Wednesday (2/11) at 5:00 PM – Boozy Book Fair is popping up at Ormond Brewing with Novel Tea Book Shop, where the reading list comes with beer. Expect local authors, favorite vendors, young creatives, and a scavenger hunt with perks, plus enough romance vibes to make a solid Galentine’s night.
This weekend
🐶 DeLand Mardi Gras Dog Parade & Festival @ Downtown DeLand | Saturday (2/14) – Whether your dog tolerates beads or you just love prime people-watching, the Krewe of Amalee’s annual Mardi Gras Dog Parade packs more than 10,000 locals and their four-legged showboats into downtown. Expect ridiculous costumes, shameless strutting, and small-town charm, best enjoyed with coffee and patience.
🎤 Motown and more @ Peabody Auditorium | Saturday (2/14) at 9:00 AM – Nothing jump-starts the morning like a throwback sing, swing, and dance party with the King Myles Big Band Orchestra. Expect Motown vibes and jukebox classics like Rock Around the Clock, Earth Angel, The Twist, and Tutti Frutti, plus cardio your doctor will actually applaud.
♀ Volusia Women’s Day @ Brannon Center | Sunday (2/15) at 11:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to ditch the to-do list and catch up with great women, this is it. Volusia Women’s Day is back at the Brannon Center with vendors, wellness tips, and community vibes. Come for the connection, stay for the sparkle.
📿 Create Your Own Mala @ Horizon House Yoga | Sunday (2/15) at 11:30 AM – Trade doomscrolling for a hands-on mala workshop with Shelly Kwiatkouski, where you learn knotting and pattern-making, then leave with beads you made. Materials, a group meditation, and quality conversation included, all for $99. Consider it therapy with knots, and you get to keep the beads.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
📻 Daytona Beach report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 74°F – Low: 51°F – Precip: 0%
Patchy fog before 9am. Sunny, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South southwest wind around 5 mph.
—
Tomorrow – High: 73°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 5%
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. West wind around 5 mph.
This house is wild
Beachside Daytona split level with 4 beds and 3 baths, renovated and sold furnished. Open layout with quartz counters, KitchenAid suite, and wine fridge. Upgrades include 200 amp service, newer aluminum roof, Hardie siding, gutters, and hurricane rated windows. Private pool and a flexible lower level for an in-law suite, within blocks of the beach, dining, and Seabreeze High.
Take a peek inside →
|
🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
|
 |
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
|
|
|
|
