The only local news source to livestream the city’s inaugural Fourth of July drone show this summer will also provide live coverage of this year’s tree-lighting ceremony when Light Up Ocala returns to downtown this weekend.
The 40th installment of the city’s premier holiday event returns to downtown on Saturday, November 23, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
During the event, Ocala-News.com will provide live coverage of the tree-lighting ceremony, which is scheduled to take place at around 7 p.m., through our website:
Click here to watch the livestream of Light Up Ocala beginning at 6:45 p.m. on November 23, 2024.
The tree-lighting ceremony will also be livestreamed through the Ocala-News.com Facebook and YouTube pages.
In addition to the ceremony, Light Up Ocala will feature over 100 vendors, multiple local food trucks, and live performances, including a puppet show and an acrobatic variety show.
This year’s theme is “Home for the Holidays” and festivities will kick off with the Junior Sunshine Parade, which will start at the corner of S Magnolia Avenue and E Fort King Street at 3 p.m. The parade will feature performances from local dance studios, Girl Scout Troops, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Pipes and Drums Unit.
Throughout the evening, three entertainment zones in the downtown square, Citizens’ Circle, and a Midtown street party between NE 1st Street and NE 1st Avenue will have live entertainment, including a live DJ, an acrobatic variety show, and jump rope performances.
The city has organized shuttles throughout the day that will operate free of cost for residents who may want to park their vehicles outside of the area. Those shuttles will run continuously from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations:
- Marion Technical Institute (1614 SE Fort King St.) – The shuttle drops off between SE Watula Ave. and SE Third St. and runs every 20 minutes.
- E.D. Croskey Recreation Center (1510 NW Fourth St.) – The shuttle drops off between N. Magnolia Ave. and NE Second St. and runs every 20 minutes.
- Ocala Skate Park (517 NE Ninth St.) – The shuttle drops off between NE Watula Ave. and State Road 40 and runs every 10 minutes.
- Discovery Center (701 NE Sanchez Ave.) – The shuttle drops off between NE Watula Ave. and State Road 40 and runs every 10 minutes.
Last month, city officials voted to renew a contract for lighting services and set up for the event. Every year, Light Up Ocala marks the beginning of the city’s transition into the holiday season.
After the tree-lighting ceremony, downtown Ocala will be covered in lights and holiday decorations throughout December and early January.
Ocala-News.com will begin the livestream for Light Up Ocala as close to 6:45 p.m. as possible through our website, Facebook, and YouTube channels.