Events in Ocala today

Discover the health benefits of meditative drumming in a welcoming, hands-on session. A selection of drums will be available so you can try different sounds and see what resonates. Those who already have a drum may bring it for a blessing or to receive guidance on using it. Drumming engages the whole body and may naturally support stress and anxiety relief. Please listen to your body and consult your doctor before starting any activity that could cause injury. The fee is $20 per class.

Learn the rhythms of salsa and bachata with a series of dance classes at PM Respiratory Services in Ocala. The lineup includes a beginner salsa session, a bachata class, and an intermediate salsa session. Regular admission is $15, with a current special of $10 per person when paying in cash or $12 when using a credit card.

This guided drumming circle at Your Phoenix is Rising uses rhythm to ease stress, restore balance, and help participants connect with their inner beat. Open to beginners and seasoned drummers alike, the session fosters healing, creativity, and a strong sense of community through shared music-making and self-expression. Skilled facilitators lead the group in exploring the restorative qualities of sound and connection, offering steady guidance as the rhythms support a clearer mind, lifted spirit, and emotional well-being. Expect an inviting atmosphere where the pulse of the drums encourages relaxation and a renewed feeling of vitality and peace. Bring curiosity, energy, and a desire to heal, and let the rhythm lead the way.

Enjoy a weekly Yu-Gi-Oh locals event each Wednesday. Entry is $5.

Enjoy a joyful, hands-on painting workshop at the Eighth Avenue Adult Activity Center. This inclusive series welcomes participants of all abilities to explore creativity with guidance and encouragement. While everyone is invited, activities are thoughtfully tailored to support individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and ESE students are welcome. There is no cost to attend, all supplies are provided, and no prior art experience is required. With appreciation to the James E. and Betty J. Huffer Foundation, these sessions offer a warm place to paint, learn, and connect.

Five Guys is partnering to raise funds for Wreaths Across America in Ocala and for Gainesville VA in Gainesville. This fundraiser takes place at Five Guys and is limited to the Ocala and Gainesville locations.

Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge brings its acclaimed 19-piece big band to the Reilly Arts Center for a milestone stop on its first central Florida tour in more than three years, marking the ensemble’s 30th anniversary. With seven Grammy nominations and recognition from New York Music Daily as one of the nation’s standout large jazz ensembles, the band has earned praise from critics in more than 30 countries. The group unveils new compositions and fresh arrangements that reflect Chuck’s jazz foundation blended with American folk, roots, rock, and contemporary classical influences. The Florida-based ensemble includes artists from across the country, with New York violinist Sara Caswell playing a prominent role in the group’s vivid sound. Special guests on the tour include trumpet great Randy Brecker, NEA Jazz Master and three-time Grammy winner Terri Lyne Carrington, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, Grammy-nominated vocalist Kate McGarry, and local favorite Alison Nash. After the tour, the band moves directly into the studio to record its eighth album.

Spartan DEKA and Zone Health and Fitness bring a fitness challenge to Ocala that turns training into a game, celebrates progress, and measures overall ability. In the DEKA MILE format, ten functional stations are each kicked off by a 160 meter run, adding up to one mile of running alongside the work in the zones. Participants can earn a DEKA MILE Mark and use it as a stepping stone toward preparation for DEKA FIT 2026. Space is limited.

War Zone Airsoft brings a Summer Special to Wayne's World of Paintball with fast-paced play, friendly competition, and seasonal pricing. Walk-on entry is $20, making it easy to spend a day slinging BBs with a welcoming community and action-packed games. Rental options are available for all experience levels. The Entry package is $25 and includes a Mod-M or L AEG, a high cap magazine, a bag of 1000 Valken .20 BBs, a 9.6 lithium battery, and an M1-3 thermal mask. The Advanced package is $45 and includes a Kilo or Tango AEG, two high cap magazines, a bottle of 2200 STRYKER .25 BBs, a 7.4 lipo battery, an M1-7 thermal mask, and a STRYKER chest rig. Add-ons include a 9.6 lithium battery for $10, an M1-3 thermal mask for $10, a high cap magazine for $5, and a STRYKER chest rig for $20. Safety and fair play are the priority. Full seal eye protection rated ANSI z87.1 or higher is required on the field at all times. Keep masks and eye protection on while in play. Call your hits and use a red dead rag, then head to respawn. Blind firing is not allowed. Field structures must not be moved, altered, or jumped over. If there is a concern with another player, speak to a referee rather than arguing. Referees announce firing modes for each round and have the final say. A game clock is posted in the WZA store and a countdown is announced before heading out, and those who miss the briefing will need to wait for the next round. All replicas must pass chrono and receive a tag before play, with random checks during the day. Report suspected hot guns to a referee. Only approved pyrotechnic and smoke devices sold at the field may be used and only in designated areas. Once a device leaves a player’s hand, do not pick it up, kick it, or cover it. In the safe zone, clear your replica, remove the magazine, and switch to safe before taking off protective gear. Age and gear guidelines apply. Players ages 10 to 15 must wear full face masks. Players 16 to 17 must use full seal eye protection and mesh or plastic lower face protection. Players 18 and older must use full seal eye protection, with face protection recommended. A red dead rag is required for everyone. Rentals must use approved BBs or BBs purchased at the field. Chronograph standards are .32 for HPA and .20 for pistols, AEGs, and spring powered replicas. Rate of fire is capped at 25 rounds per second. Before entering the safe zone, remove magazines and fire at least three rounds into a safe direction to clear the barrel. Weapon class limits are enforced. Pistols must be at or below 1.45 joules with .20 BBs. Semi auto pistols have no minimum engagement distance, while full auto pistol use requires a 25 foot minimum. Shotguns must be at or below 1.45 joules with .20 BBs. Semi auto shotguns have no minimum engagement distance, while full auto use requires 50 feet. Rifles must meet 1.5 joules or less with .20 BBs for AEGs and 1.55 joules with .32 BBs for HPA. Semi auto rifle play typically carries a 10 foot minimum unless a head referee states otherwise, and full auto is only allowed in specific games and is rarely used. SMGs must be 1 joule or lower with .20 BBs, use mid caps, have no minimum engagement in semi, and 25 feet in full auto. They must be true SMG platforms or a fully automatic pistol platform such as a Glock 18, with examples including the MP7, MP5, UMP, PP-19 Bizon, MAC-10, Thompson SMG, and ARP-9. LMGs must be below 1.5 joules with .20 BBs. Burst fire requires 25 feet, full auto requires 50 feet, and continuous walking fire is not allowed unless the LMG can also fire semi. Examples include the M249 SAW, MK46, Stoner, Krytac LMG, RPK, CM16 LMG, and RPD. DMRs must be under 2.0 joules with .20 BBs, are semi only, have a 75 foot minimum, and use mid cap or real cap magazines, with platforms such as SR25, M14 series, SVD, and M1 Garand. Sniper rifles must be under 2.25 joules with .20 BBs, be bolt action, are semi only, and have a 100 foot minimum, with platforms like L96, M700, and M24. Grenade rules are straightforward. Only pyrotechnic and smoke grenades sold at the field are permitted and only where specified. Homemade devices are not allowed. Grenades must be tossed underhand, not thrown directly at players, though lobbing into windows is allowed. The effective radius is 15 feet. Hard cover counts only in milsim scenarios. Any detonation in a room eliminates all players inside. The goal is safe, fair, and exciting airsoft with clear expectations for players of all levels.

TEDxOcala 2026 presents Rhythm and Intersections at the Reilly Arts Center, a full day devoted to ambitious thinking, engaging dialogue, and powerful personal stories. The program features a lineup of speakers and opportunities for connection, all focused on innovation, creativity, and the strength of community. Discover how patterns and crossroads shape ideas and open doors to new possibilities.

The Fall Eats & Artisan Expo, presented by S & G Events, highlights community spirit with local talent, great food, music, and family-friendly entertainment. Look for artisans, food options, and activities for children, creating an experience that welcomes all ages. Admission is free. This event is hosted at The Arc Marion County, FL. For everyone’s safety, weapons, alcohol, and drugs are not permitted.

Tryouts for 352 Chosen Dynasty will take place in Ocala, Florida, welcoming girls ages 5 to 18 from the local area and nearby communities. This HBCU-style majorette program focuses on developing dance and pom skills, with opportunities for performances, parades, and competitions. Registration is $25.

Dig into dinner while unraveling a comedic whodunit at an immersive true crime mystery show. The story unfolds in a contemporary setting as the action happens around the room, with actors blended among the audience and clues surfacing throughout the evening. Participants question characters, follow leads, and might even find themselves under suspicion. It is a lively, social, and highly interactive night designed for adult guests. Presented by The Dinner Detective, these dinner theater mysteries have appeared nationwide since 2004, offering intrigue, laughter, and plenty of improvised surprises.

Irish comedian Katie Boyle delivers stand-up drawn from her life in New York, exploring American culture, dating, therapy and the awkward moments that come with them. She was selected as a New Face at the 2023 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal and appeared in the NY Funniest showcase and the New York Comedy Festival in 2022. Her debut album and special, I'll Do It Myself, arrived in 2023 on Pinch Records, with the special surpassing half a million views on YouTube and the album reaching number one on the iTunes Comedy charts. She followed with a Don't Tell Comedy set in November 2023 and a second full-length special, Terapy, released in July 2025 on YouTube and Disruptor Comedy. She performed a full run of her one-woman dark comedy, Roe v. Wade versus Katie, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2025, where The Scotsman named it among the Best of the Fest. Boyle has headlined clubs across the United States and Ireland, sold out four shows in Dublin and Cork in summer 2024, and been featured by The Hollywood Reporter, Irish Independent and The Irish Times, with appearances at Laughing Skull, Women in Comedy and Kansas City Irish Fest, as well as on SiriusXM. Beyond stand-up, she acts in sketches and shorts, has appeared in a commercial, collaborates with brands to create comedic content, produces and emcees a consistently sold out Irish comedy show at the Dead Rabbit, and hosts The Shift podcast, which looks at sex and dating from an Irish perspective.

Browse a large community yard sale at the Ocala Downtown Market, where many sellers gather in one convenient place. Shoppers can explore tools, clothing, furniture, electronics, and other household goods. Parking and entry are free. Vendor opportunities are available, with outdoor spaces starting at $30, indoor spaces at $35, and food truck spots at $75. For vendor inquiries, contact Matt Gray at 352.875.4224.

Ease into the day with a warm drink, friendly conversation, and an audiobook as your companion. Participants meet at Sipping Grounds to pick up a beverage, chat with fellow book lovers, and set the tone together. After that, the group heads out for a relaxed walk while listening to the current audiobook selection. It welcomes those seeking fresh air, engaging stories, and easy connection, offering a calm way to unwind alongside a community of readers.

A hands-on collage workshop led by artist Amanda Acevedo offers a relaxed space to connect with others while experimenting with cutting, clipping, and tearing a mix of materials to assemble an original piece. All supplies are provided, and participants may bring personal materials if desired. Attendance is free, with an optional $5 donation supporting the Marion County Maker Collective and Artify Ocala.

This program offers a reflective, richly layered journey through the American choral tradition, exploring how landscape, community, faith, and longing have shaped a shared musical voice. It brings together works by Aaron Copland, Randall Thompson, Eric Whitacre, Stephen Paulus, and Stephen Foster, portraying the nation as a tapestry of many voices, from simple candor to sweeping breadth, from close-knit feeling to expansive reach. Grounded in folk melody, hymn tradition, and contemporary lyricism, the music invites listeners to hear America as a living sound shaped by those who sing it.