If you have children in the Marion County Public Schools, just a reminder: They have early release tomorrow! They will be getting out of school two hours earlier than their usually scheduled release time.

This is also a great time to remind you that it is nearly spring break for them as well. Spring break starts Saturday, March 9th and the kids don’t go back until Tuesday, March 19th.

There are all sorts of activities at the parks, the discovery center, and the libraries that week, so check out some of the area's Facebook pages to find some fun in the sun while they are out of school.

 

The Annual Ocala Strawberry Festival Is This Saturday!

 

Ready for a “Berry” good time? The 10th annual Habitat Ocala Strawberry Festival is coming to the McPherson complex this Saturday, March 2, 2024. The festival begins at 9 am with FREE admission and ends at 5 pm. Proceeds collected from parking ($5 per vehicle) will benefit the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association and Habitat for Humanity of Marion County.

The festival starts with over 230 unique and exciting vendors, a kid’s zone with a petting zoo, strawberry food items that melt in your mouth, a bigger-than-ever car show with cool cars, trucks, and motorcycles, a pie-eating contest, a BMX show. Top-notch entertainment will be with performances from the Petty Experience Band, and Chris Patti, a Great Crooners and Frank Sinatra Tribute Artist.

Many nonprofits will have vendor booths, and Several photo booths will be available. The festival offers fresh Florida-grown strawberries to purchase with many delicious strawberry treats. Come watch the strawberry pie eating contest.

The festival is for all ages, there is food for all tastes and fun for all generations of festival-goers. Habitat for Humanity could not host this event without the over 700 dedicated volunteers who have donated their time, efforts, and knowledge to assist.

All proceeds raised at the annual Strawberry Festival will be used to build a new home which will be called the Strawberry House for low-income families with an affordable mortgage and a safe and secure environment to raise their children.

For more information visit: https://habitatocala.org/strawberry/