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Christmas In Ocala
If you’ve traveled through downtown Ocala in recent weeks, you have no doubt noticed the festive atmosphere. The trees and buildings areadorned with thousands of twinkling lights, and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. // B Y K A R I N F A B R Y- C U S H E N B E R Y
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cala’s annual holiday kick-off event, Light Up Ocala, may have been canceled this year, but that doesn’t mean we are short on holiday cheer. Ashley Dobbs, marketing and communications manager for the City of Ocala, invites everyone to check out what downtown Ocala has to offer this holiday season. A few favorites are back, plus some new offerings as well. “We have a variety of events going on,” she says. “This year, instead of one or two larger events, we are hosting smaller, more spread out events. We take everyone’s health very seriously but also want families to be able to celebrate the season and experience some holiday joy. If we’re able to provide that, albeit a bit modified this year, then that’s important. It’s been a different year for sure, so we are excited to be able to offer our community a bit of holiday spirit and cheer that’s maybe been missing throughout the year.” On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights,
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you can enjoy the lights downtown while listening to live holiday music. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, Santa will be on the square to greet kids and their families. “This year’s Santa on the Square will be done using a reservation system,” says Ashley. “Kids will get five minutes to interact with Santa and photos will be taken. Once the meet and greet is finished, the kids can pick up a prepackaged bag of holiday treats
to enjoy.” The reservation system was implemented to maintain social distancing and avoid overcrowding. Santa will be wearing a mask, and participants will be asked to wear a mask as well. To make your reservation, contact LaToya at lartis@ocalafl.org. Santa Paws, benefiting the Humane Society of Marion County, will also return this year. New this year are the photo ops, an addition Ashley is especially excited about. “Throughout downtown we are offering life-sized photo ops where people can stop and take some great holiday shots with family and friends,” she says. Look out for the giant candy canes and gingerbread men, a Whoville, a tropicalthemed holiday scene that includes lighted palm trees and Christmas flamingos, Santa’s sleigh and more. Another new addition this year is holiday
