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Happy Friday, The Villages. In today’s edition: Restaurant inspection roundup, a tree lighting festival, the Lake County Ladies Chorus holiday show, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Water managers sound alarm: Phase 1 Water Shortage Restrictions are in effect across SWFWMD through July 1, 2026, spanning multiple counties as a 13-inch rainfall deficit drives conservation and targets wasteful lawn watering — see which areas are affected.

Weekly restaurant inspection roundup: State inspectors gave a restaurant in The Villages a perfect score during Nov. 24-30 health inspections in Sumter County, according to the latest reports from Florida regulators — see all inspection results.

Join the live audience: NBC’s Today show filmed in Mount Dora on Friday for its Merriest Main Street series, spotlighting a sneak peek of the Lighted Boat Parade and the city’s festive charm — get time and parking details.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per 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.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Dance to the Savoy Show Band
• Experience the magic of The Nutcracker
• Experience Scotty McCreery live onstage
• Enjoy world champion barbershop holiday harmonies
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

The gift that keeps on giving

In partnership with Tri Line Attic Solutions

If you have an attic you haven’t seen in years, Safe Step Stairs is the ultimate gift – for yourself, your spouse, your kids, your neighbors, and anyone else who’s ever gotten the “can you come help me real quick?” phone call.

As a full set of retractable stairs that opens with little effort and closes just as easily, you’ll no longer need to coordinate schedules just to grab the holiday decor.

It’s convenience and peace of mind wrapped up in one seriously smart (and surprisingly affordable) home upgrade.

The best part? All it takes to cross this gift off your list is a few clicks or a phone call. From there, Florida-based installers handle everything from the free assessment to final installation.

Visit safestepstairs.com or call (217) 433-1394 to get started.

🫶 We got your back

Seasonal happenings around town: Holiday cheer takes over Lake and Sumter this weekend with tree lightings, parades, markets, and art in Clermont, Leesburg, Mount Dora, and more. Think Clermont’s tree lighting and Leesburg’s festival and parade, plus a Sunday toy drive. Looking ahead, Wreaths Across America is Dec. 13, with New Year’s screenings of the Stranger Things finale. Check out the full lineup.

Experience small-town sparkle: Downtown Mount Dora is bringing the cheer: every Tuesday in December, 6 to 8 p.m., the Orlando Dickens Carolers stroll in full Victorian garb while the holiday lights flick on nightly at 6 through Jan. 1. Shop the historic district, try a new restaurant, and hum along to classics like God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Get all the details.

Craft beer, close by: Skip the chains; Wolf Branch Brewing pours a thoughtful tap list in a relaxed Leesburg taproom locals love. Ideal for midweek meetups or a low-key weekend, with friendly camaraderie when the community run club laces up.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🎲 Family Board Game Friday @ Fruitland Park Library | Friday (12/5) at 9:00am – Nothing beats board games on a Friday when you want laughs, low-stakes rivalry, and screen-free time, no Wi-Fi required. They have pulled out a library, so bring family or your usual suspects, and let the trash talk, snacks, and victory dances commence.

🌺 Blue Hawaiian Luau Holiday Party @ Ezell Rec Center | Friday (12/5) at 6:00pm – Trading tinsel for tiki, this holiday luau brings ukulele greetings, Johnny Wild & the Delights, and a Fifi’s-crafted island feast. Leis for everyone, open bar wine and beer while it lasts, Blue Hawaiian punch spiked or not, and BYOB. Dress like you own one.

This weekend

🎁 25th Annual Toys for Kids Show @ Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing | Saturday (12/6) at 8:00am – Break out your holiday spirit and sign up for the 25th annual Toys for Kids Show on Dec 6. It is the hometown tradition where grown-ups show off their “toys,” local kids win big, and a chance to enjoy the holiday spirit in a relaxed, local setting.

🎶 Lake County Ladies Chorus Holiday Show @ Leesburg Library | Saturday (12/6) at 1:00pm – The Lake County Ladies Chorus is filling the room with holiday harmonies, familiar carols, and enough cheer to make your neighbor nice again. Think classic tunes, polished voices, and a comfortable setting with familiar seasonal music.

🎄 Lake Sumter Landing Tree Lighting Festival @ Lake Sumter Landing | Saturday (12/6) at 4:00pm – If you’re looking for an easy way to enjoy some holiday lights and décor. The tree lighting comes with holiday music, a cozy market, local vendors, and seasonal treats. Sip cocoa or mulled wine, then humor Santa with a photo for the grandkids.

🎄 A Timeless Christmas with The Lettermen @ The Orange Blossom Opry | Sunday (12/7) at 2:30pm – Craving a Christmas that actually sounds like Christmas? The Lettermen bring buttery harmonies and the romantic hits you slow-danced to, think The Way You Look Tonight, When I Fall in Love, perfect for escaping crowded stores, awkward gift exchanges, and itchy sweaters.

🎶 Wang Chung @ The Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center | Sunday (12/7) at 7:00pm – Clear some space on the dance floor, because Wang Chung is in town playing the hits that carried us through the mixtape years. Expect ‘Dance Hall Days,’ ‘Let’s Go,’ and ‘Everybody Have Fun Tonight,’ delivered with big hooks, bigger nostalgia, and pleasantly responsible volume.

🎪 Santa’s Circus @ Tracy Performing Arts Center | Sunday (12/7) at 7:00pm – Santa’s trading in his sleigh for spotlights, acrobats, and holiday magic that bends the laws of physics. Expect high-flying stunts, festive laughs, and enough sparkle to power the North Pole. Perfect for anyone who wants their Christmas spirit delivered with a side of circus flair.

Next week

🤝 Women’s Networking @ The Humble Native | Monday (12/8) at 9:00am – Second Monday mornings in Sumter County mean caffeine, camaraderie, and a card swap. Local women running things, come trade ideas, grow referral networks, and cheer each other on, snag the RSVP perk, and bring a friend. Consider it a better use of your inbox time.

🧶 Knitting with Myla @ Fruitland Park Library | Tuesday (12/9) at 1:00pm – Tuesday afternoons call for stitch therapy at the Fruitland Park Library. Sit with Myla to knit, crochet, sew, or embroider, pick up a new trick or finally finish that project, and enjoy good company, minimal small talk. Bring your own materials, all skill levels welcome.

📖 Storybook Studio @ Lady Lake Public Library | Tuesday (12/9) at 3:30pm – Round up the littles and head to Storybook Studio, where a new children’s book kicks off a hands-on art project each week, with glue, glitter, and giggles. Tuesdays at 3:30pm, conveniently wedged between snack time and meltdowns, so you might finish a coffee, warm.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 A Christmas Carol @ The Tracy – 7 pm
• 12/8 Night NLH Turbo @ Oxford Downs – 6:15 pm
• 12/9 Joint Club Holiday Party @ Laurel Manor Rec Center – 6 pm
• 12/10 The Wizards of Winter @ Savannah Center – 3 pm
• 12/10 1887 Band @ Brownwood Paddock Square – 5 pm
• 12/12 Double M Big Band @ Leesburg Library – 1 pm
• 12/12 The Nutcracker @ Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center – 7 pm
• 12/13 TBJ @ Brownwood Paddock Square – 5 pm
• 12/13 Scotty McCreery @ Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center – 7 pm
• 12/14 Kansas @ The Tracy – 7 pm

🏠️ Price is right – The Villages edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Christina Greenslade (FLORIDA PLUS REALTY, LLC)

Private golf course panoramas meet 2025 upgrades, a new roof with lightning rods, fresh exterior paint, and a sleek kitchen remodel. Courtyard entry with power shades, tile and LVP floors, plantation shutters, and a water softener. Split layout with a guest wing and bay-window bedroom. The kitchen brings quartz, subway tile, a farm sink, pull-out drawers, and a curved counter open to living and dining.

Pocket sliders disappear to a climate controlled lanai that converts to screens, plus a second screened lanai. Expanded garage with golf cart bay. Minutes to Brownwood Paddock Square and golf. No Bond, furnishings optional.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →