Hot air balloon rides among holiday activities to enjoy

 

Eustis

Nov 30-Dec 2: Lake County Balloon Glow 

Take a hot air balloon ride this weekend at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 2101 County Road 452, Eustis. Tethered hot air balloon rides and wide variety of food trucks, small shopping villages, activities for the kids will be there including a free visit with Santa.

Nov. 30:  Christmas Walk
This magical downtown Mount Dora event brings the streets of downtown alive with live holiday entertainment, photos with Santa and a 40-foot lighted musical Christmas tree at Sunset Park.    6-9pm.  Downtown stores and restaurants are open late.

Nov. 30 – Dec. 1:  Victorian Steampunk Christmas and Holiday

Imagine Charles Dickens comes to Renningers Antique Center in Mount Dora. In addition to antique, vintage and steampunk finds, there will also be carolers, live music and entertainment by Phantasmagoria, DJ Vlad and others on Saturday.  Opens at 9 am each day. Free.

Dec. 1: Christkindle Market

Set 8-9am at Yalaha Bakery.

Clermont

Dec. 1: Holiday Christmas Parade

Set in downtown Clermont at 10 am. Crafts and food from 10 am-3 pm.

Dec. 1: A Service of Lessons & Carols at Clermont Performing Arts Center

Free Performances  at 5 pm and 8 pm at South Highway 27, Clermont.

Dec. 16: Santa’s Twilight 5K in downtown Clermont

To take place at 685 West Montrose St., from 7-9 pm. Event info 352-394-1320.

Fruitland Park

Dec. 7: Hometown Christmas

This free event on the front lawn of Fruitland Park City Hall from 5:30- 9 pm. Activities for the kids include bounce houses, live DJ, food trucks, vendors and Mr. and M Mrs. Santa Claus who will arrive by fire truck. Location: 506 W. Berckman St.

Lady Lake

Dec. 1: The 14th Annual Christmas Parade

Set along Old Dixie Highway at 10 am, the parade will  Marching bands, clowns, candy, fire trucks and antique cars, horses, floats, twirlers, youth leagues, and Santa!

Leesburg

Dec. 1: Annual Main Street Christmas Parade

Set 6-9pm along Main Street, this popular parade will feature marching bands and showcase the theme “Holiday Traditions” on floats, parade entries, and golf carts. Leesburg has numerous other holiday events scheduled for December, which may be viewed at:

www.eventbrite.com/d/fl–leesburg/holiday/

Mount Dora

Dec. 1: Annual Christmas Parade

Mount Dora Lions support Lake Cares in this parade starting at 10 am with lineup at 9am.

Dec. 1 and 2: The Nutcracker Ballet

Hosted at Mount Dora Community Building, 520 N. Baker St., the ballet is slated at 7 pm. Tickets at www.MountDoraLive.com

Dec. 1: Ice Skating

Set at Ferran Park at noon.

Dec. 1: 41st annual WCFA Christmas Tour of Homes

The tour at Country Club of Mount Dora is slated 11 am-4 pm.

Dec. 1: Wine Tasting

A wine tasting event at Maggie’s Attic from 6-8 pm

Dec. 1: Karaoke

Karaoke set at Las Palmas Cuban Restaurant from 7-10 pm

Dec. 1:  Light Boat Parade

A light boat parade on Lake Dora is set at 7pm

Dec. 7: Christmas in a Cruiser

Christmas in a Cruiser Toy Drive with Mount Dora Police will take place from 11 am-7 pm. Looking for unwrapped toy donations for ages 1-18 to stuff into a police cruiser.

Dec. 8: Children’s Christmas in the Park

Complete with snow, and set to take place 5-9pm. Kids can enjoy snow and sledding on the slope of Donnelly Park in Mount Dora as well as fun in a bounce house.  Free event.

Dec. 10: Jolly Holiday Concert

With eight-piece Show Band at the Community Building. Concert is set at 7pm Tickets can be obtained at www.SunEvents.com.

Dec. 13: Lake Concert Band

Under direction of John Landers, this free concert is set 7-9pm at the Community Building. The concert will feature fanfare and Carols for Christmas plus Celtic Christmas. Tickets at www.SunEvents.com.

Dec. 15: Northeast Community Christmas Party

Set 9am to noon at Martin Luther King Center, 803 Florida Ave., Mount Dora. Celebrate and have fun at the annual Northeast Community Christmas Party hosted by Mount Dora Police Department.  Santa will be there and there will be an obstacle course game, bounce house, music, and food. The event is free.

Dec. 24: Rhonda Vincent Live in Concert

Set at 7 pm in the Mount Dora Community Building, 520 N. Baker St. Tickets at www.SunEvents.com

Tavares

Dec. 1 : Annual Christmas Celebration

Set on Main Street, downtown Tavares, beginning at 5 pm. Featuring music by the Mistletones, and the LC Swing Band. Santa will arrive by Seaplane and be at the kids’ village. Movies, ice skating, face painting, s’mores and more. Call 352-742-6319 for information.

Dec. 1: Santa Shuffle

5 K race in downtown Tavares starting at 8am.

The Villages

Nov 30: The Villages Tree Lighting Festival

To take place at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square from 4-9 pm.

Dec. 2: Menorah Lighting

Slated 3-4pm at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square.

Sumter County

Bushnell

Dec. 8: Santa in the Park

Hosted at the downtown park in front of Bushnell City Hall from 4-8 pm with Santa arriving at 5 pm. Free games, hot cocoa, cookies and a community Christmas concert will be featured.

Wildwood

Dec 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 20, 22, 29, 30 Christmas Tour at the Baker House

This event will be hosted at 6106 County Road 44A, Wildwood. Tickets $10 per person, available at door. Check for various tour times. For more information, contact Erika Corley with City of Wildwood Parks and Recreation at 352-461-0134 or via email at ecorley@wildwood-fl.gov.

Central Florida Book and Author Expo

Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10 am to 3 pm

Eisenhower Recreation Center, 3560 Buena Vista Blvd. The Villages.

Over 90 authors, illustrators and book designers will exhibit their creations. Book sales on premise, many at special prices, along with displays of book covers of currently published works. Food and refreshments available catered by Toojay’s Deli. Free and Open to the Public.

“Over 15 genres of stories are represented with hundreds of books for sale,” said Dan Kincaid, publicity chair says. “Anything from mystery to romance, children’s books to young adult, historical fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, metaphysical and more is there for you.”

Sponsored by Writers League of The Villages and The Villages Recreation and Parks Department.

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The Friends of the Cooper Memorial Library will host several Holiday Happenings:

Two holiday music programs generously sponsored by the Friends of the Cooper Memorial Library on Thursday, Dec. 6. Joshua Englert on the classical guitar, and Thursday, Dec. 13, Amanda Emenecker performing on the cello. Both free programs will be from 4-6pm and open to the public

The Nutcracker on Monday, Dec. 10 at 1:45pm in Room 108 of Cooper Memorial Library (first-floor community room).

Stressless Holiday Cooking with Chef Warren Caterson on Wednesday, Dec. 19, from 10-11:30am in Room 108 (first- floor community room) of the Cooper Memorial Library in Clermont.

Chanukah Family Fun at the Cooper Memorial Library on Wednesday, Dec, 5 from 3-4-30pm in Room 108 (first-floor community room) with Rabbi Steve. For more information, contact Dennis Smolarek at 352-536-2275 or email at dsmolarek@mylakelibrary.org.

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Winter Wonderland in Clearwater

Now through Jan.6

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater.

Enjoy Winter’s Wonderland, splashily great holiday celebration at Clearwater’s Marine Aquarium. See “Winter” and “Hope,” the two dolphins who starred in the movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2 along with other rescued marine life.

Guests will witness the rescue mission and the rehabilitation and release first hand when visiting the working marine hospital.

Take a boat tour to see wild dolphins and other wild life along with the beautiful holiday lights throughout Clearwater Bay.