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Mount Dora Arts Festival draws the nation's top artists on February 4 & 5

2/1/2023

ABOVE: Mount Dora Arts Festival (Mount Dora Buzz file photos)

Historic downtown Mount Dora will transform its New England-style charm into a sea of vibrant art on February 4 and 5, when hundreds of the United States’ best artists show their works at the 46th annual Mount Dora Arts Festival.

The juried festival, organized by Mount Dora Center for the Arts, has been ranked among the top art festivals in the country and provides art lovers the opportunity to shop for fine arts, artisan jewelry, and pottery created by approximately 300 of the most talented professional artists from all over the United States. The festival awards more than $15,000 in cash prizes presented for the best 2D and 2D categories, as well as Best in Show.

Downtown Mount Dora’s many diverse restaurants will be open to satisfy the culinary cravings of visitors, plus all of the historic district’s unique shops will be open for more fun opportunities to find something special.

The free festival is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Visitors who arrive very early may be able to find free street parking within walking distance. Other patrons may find a space at many nearby private parking lots, or utilize the park-and-ride shuttles located at 900 Lincoln Avenue which are available for a fee. Due to large crowds and narrow streets, pets are strongly discouraged for their own well-being and that of other visitors.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

Life-like dinosaurs returned to Mount Dora

2/1/2023

Dinosaurs have once again made their annual trek to the lobby of W.T. Bland Library in Mount Dora.

For the fourth year, curious kids can experience the museum-grade dinosaur replicas that were crafted to scale by Planet Earth Sculptures, a Mount Dora-based company. These lifelike models reflect the newest scientific theories that many dinosaurs had fur and feathers. The precise features of the reproductions were vetted by academics in the field, as well as museum curators.

One of the forty impressive creatures is the Dilophosaurus, a 23-foot long predator who inhabited North America during the Early Jurassic Epoch, about 193 million years ago.

RELATED: Check out the area's local entertainment calendar

Mount Dora is only a pitstop for the dinosaurs, which are often part of a traveling exhibit at participating museums. Works from Planet Earth Sculpture are on display in the Smithsonian Institute and various natural history museums across the country.

The captivating dinosaur display can be viewed during regular library hours now through the end of March. W.T. Bland Library is located at 1995 North Donnelly. For more information, call (352) 735-7180.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and and Facebook page for more local info.

“Off the Beaten Path” Art Tour celebrates local artists on February 11 & 12

2/1/2023

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Lake County artists will once again open their private working studios to visitors during the annual Off the Beaten Path Florida ArtsTours.

The local self-guided tour of eight participating studios takes place on February 11 and 12 and features 18 artists in 13 studios spread across Mount Dora, Tavares, Eustis, Leesburg and Weirsdale.

Visitors to the studios can watch demonstrations, enjoy light refreshments, and shop for unique, original works of art. Artists’ works to be displayed include paintings, sculptures, textiles, jewelry, ceramics, photography, printmaking, and woodworking.

On each day of the tour, all studios will be open free of charge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Here are the artists and studio addresses:

MOUNT DORA ARTISTS

Jane Slivka
Acrylic painting
110 E. Third Ave., Mount Dora 32757
janeslivkagallery.com

Judie Lee
Mixed media, painting, printmaking, clay, jewelry, and clothing
2314 Overlook Drive, Mount Dora 32757
artbyjudie.com

Sonya Watson
Sterling silver fabrication, semi-precious stones
2314 Overlook Drive, Mount Dora 32757
Sonyawatsonjewelry.com

Ray Olivero
Oil painting & photography
2300 Sheridan Road, Mount Dora 32757
Rayolivero.com

Richard D. Colvin
Oil painting
2300 Sheridan Road, Mount Dora 32757

Paul Morris
Photography and sculpture
1980 Hillside Drive, Mount Dora 32757
morphoto.com

Cathy Caine
Watercolors & pastels
41 N. Donnelly Street., #208, Mount Dora 32757

Barbara Boyce
Jewelry
411 N. Donnelly St., #206, Mount Dora 32757

Jackie Molsick/Wild Ibis Art Studio
Watercolors, pastels, and collage
411 N. Donnelly Street, #208, Mount Dora 32757
jmolsick.com

EUSTIS ARTISTS

Barry Bostwick
Clay, glass, and mixed media
205 N. Grove Street, Eustis 32726
BarryBostwick.com

Jennifer Harper
Relief Printmaking on Paper or Fabric
999 Lake Nettie Drive, Eustis 32726
Harperprintmakingstudio.com

Eric Schooley (Guest)
Wood Sculpture
999 Lake Nettie Drive, Eustis 32726

TAVARES ARtistS

Fred Borthwick
Ceramic stoneware & porcelain
33040 Lakeshore Drive, Tavares 32778
www.lakeshoreclay.com

Deborah Gray Mitchell
Photography
1616 N. New Hampshire Avenue, Tavares 32778
Dgmfoto.com

LEESBURG ARTISTS

Suzanne Zielinski
Soft pastels on sanded paper
2304 Mahoney Avenue, Leesburg 34748

Kelly Anne Cornell
Functional and sculptural ceramics
1100 Lee Street, Leesburg 34748

WEIRSDALE ARTISTS

WEIRSDALE STUDIOS
Steve Lytle
Raku Pottery
14762 SE 140th Avenue Road, Weirsdale 32195

Jenny Murin (Guest)
Stoneware & porcelain pottery
14762 SE 140th Avenue Road, Weirsdale 32195

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram and its Facebook page for more local info.

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Eustis gears up for a month of GeorgeFest events

2/1/2023

ABOVE: GeorgeFest (Mount Dora Buzz file photo)

The City of Eustis is gearing up to celebrate George Washington’s birthday with lots of festive activities scheduled. This year marks the 121st time the city will gather its community, neighboring cities and visitors to honor the country’s first president. GeorgeFest is the longest running celebration of its kind in Florida and the second longest running in the entire U.S. This year’s theme is “We the People.”

Here are some fun events to mark on your calendar:

CHILI COOK-OFF (FEB. 4)
Teams compete to make the best chili in town for a chance to win cash prizes. Tasting starts at 3:00 p.m.

CARNIVAL (FEB. 24-26)
The annual Georgefest Carnival will once again be set in Historic Downtown Eustis. There will be rides for all ages, along with food vendors and carnival games. (Dates and details had not been released by Eustis as of press time.)

FIREWORKS SHOW (FEB. 24)
Eustis ends the first night of Georgefest with a bang! The GeorgeFest Fireworks Show takes place right over Lake Eustis starting at 9 p.m. Spectators gather at Ferran Park to enjoy the best vantage point.

DOG JOG (FEB. 25)
GeorgeFest Parade kicks off with a one-mile Dog Jog, the much-loved tradition that shows off patriotic pooches as they take a morning walk or jog along the parade route beginning on the corner of Bay Street and Stevens at 9:45 a.m.

WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY PARADE (FEB. 25)
The streets of Eustis will be flooded with families eager to view the artistic floats that will glide through Bay Street for the 121st parade. Parade route will run north on Southbound Bay Street in Downtown Eustis from Atwater to the Eustis Community Center on Northshore Drive. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m.

BASS FISHING TOURNAMENT (FEB. 19)
Anglers will get their lines in the water early to compete for cash prizes. The annual tournament is in honor of Private First Class Derek Gibson, a Bronze Star recipient from Eustis killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 2, 2007.

TAYLOR HICKS CONCERT (FEB. 18)
Enjoy a free concert at 7 p.m. at Ferran Park’s bandshell stage on the edge of Lake Eustis.

LITTLE TEXAS CONCERT (FEB. 24)
Enjoy another free concert at 8 p.m. at Ferran Park’s bandshell stage on the edge of Lake Eustis.

Scroll down for the complete 2023 Eustis GeorgeFest schedule.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

Arts & Entertainment

Mount Dora Arts Festival draws the nation's top artists on February 4 & 5

Life-like dinosaurs returned to Mount Dora

“Off the Beaten Path” Art Tour celebrates local artists on February 11 & 12

MOUNT DORA ARTISTS

EUSTIS ARTISTS

TAVARES ARtistS

LEESBURG ARTISTS

WEIRSDALE ARTISTS

Eustis gears up for a month of GeorgeFest events

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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