Mount Dora launches its first-ever Restaurant Week Saturday, the World Equestrian Center runs an $85,000 Grand Prix with free admission, and the town squares have live music all three nights. Restaurant Week opens Saturday across 26-plus kitchens in four towns, the Modelo Especial Grand Prix jumps Saturday night at WEC for free, Broken Arrow plays Neil Young at the Reilly, and the 250 for 250 Variety Show does a 1940s revue for Habitat on Friday. Plan around the heat rather than the rain -- Friday's heat index hits about 105 -- and know that Sunday is the storm day. Here's the weekend.
Friday
250 for 250 Variety Show -- Marion Theatre, Ocala, 7 PM
A 1940s-style variety show benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, built around the country's 250th. One night only, and the kind of thing that's more fun with a row of people than alone.
Summer Kids Film Series -- Marion Theatre, Ocala, from 10 AM
Finding Nemo at 10 and 12:30, How To Train Your Dragon at 11 and 1:30. Five dollars for everyone, and it runs again Saturday. On a 95-degree day, a dark theatre is the correct answer.
Live music on the town squares -- 6 to 10 PM, free
Penta at Spanish Springs, Bandemic at Lake Sumter Landing, CLUB CTRL with DJ Lu-S at Brownwood, Beauty & The Beats at Eastport, and The Voodoo Gypsies at Sawgrass. Summer hours run to 10, so there's no rush.
Saturday
Mount Dora Area Restaurant Week -- Mount Dora, Tavares, Eustis, Howey-in-the-Hills
The first one ever, and it starts Saturday and runs through August 2. More than 26 restaurants across four towns, no pass or ticket needed, with lunch specials capped at $30 and dinner at $50 alongside the regular menus. The Chamber built it after Mount Dora landed third in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice for best small town food scene. Nine days is plenty of runway to make a standing dinner plan out of it.
$85,000 Modelo Especial Grand Prix -- World Equestrian Center, 7:30 PM
Show jumping at this level, at night, under the lights in the Grand Arena -- and admission and parking are both free. It's one of the most impressive free evenings in the region, and there's a $50,000 Grand Prix Sunday too, also free.
Broken Arrow: A Tribute to Neil Young -- Reilly Arts Center, 7:30 PM
A full night of Neil Young in the Reilly's room, which is a good room for exactly this. Tickets run $35 to $62.
Downtown Cruise-In & Classic Car Show -- Downtown Eustis, 2 to 5 PM
About 150 cars fill Ferran Park on the fourth Saturday of the month, free to walk through. Early enough that you can still make dinner somewhere for Restaurant Week afterward.
Live music on the town squares -- 6 to 10 PM, free
Zee-R Band at Spanish Springs, Uncle Bob's Rock Shop at Lake Sumter Landing, Swing Theory at Brownwood, and The Fire Rhythms Band at Eastport.
Sunday
Mount Dora Village Market -- Sunset Park, 9 AM to 2 PM
The weekly market in Sunset Park, free and easy. Go early -- storms are likely to move in as the morning goes on.
Live music on the town squares -- 6 to 10 PM, free
Bourbon Street Brass at Spanish Springs, Sheila & The Sound at Lake Sumter Landing, Dance Express at Brownwood, Clark Barrios Band at Sawgrass, and Boozy Bingo at Eastport.
The Full Lineup
Find everything happening this weekend at the Villa Cala events page.
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