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EUSTIS CANCELS EVENTS TO HELP PREVENT SPREAD OF COVID-19

3/13/2020

The City of Eustis is taking precautionary measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by cancelling or postponing the following City-sponsored events:
5th Annual Eustis Busker Festival cancelled (originally scheduled for Saturday, March 28th)
Eustis Classic Car Show in Downtown Eustis cancelled (originally scheduled for March 28th)
- 7th Annual Amazing Race for Charity rescheduled for May 30th

The Eustis Memorial Library will remain open, however, the following programs are cancelled:

Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration (originally scheduled for March 16th)
Toddler & Preschool Story Times (originally scheduled for March 17th)
Crochet Circle & Reading Paws (originally scheduled for March 18th)
Mr. Rodgers Birthday Celebration (originally scheduled for March 19th)
Toddler & Preschool Story Times (originally scheduled for March 24th)
Adult Coloring & Reading Paws (originally scheduled for March 25th)
Toddler & Preschool Story Times, Boost Your Mood & Fitness (originally scheduled for March 31st)

Future City events and/or programs are tentative. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends social distancing to help reduce person-to-person transmission. In addition, with Governor Ron DeSantis recommends that all mass gatherings be postponed. For more information, please visit the CDC’s website at cdc.gov or the Florida Department of Health at http://www.floridahealth.gov/

“I would encourage our residents not to panic. We are keeping in close contact with the Governor’s Office and Lake County Health Department. At this time, there are no known cases of coronavirus in Lake County,” said Mayor Michael Holland. “We want our residents and visitors to feel safe. Therefore, we want to take every precaution with these activities.

City of Eustis Commission meetings will continue as scheduled and the public is encouraged to watch the meetings online at https://eustis.civicweb.net/portal/

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MOUNT DORA CANCELS MASS GATHERING EVENTS IN MARCH

3/12/2020

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In accordance with the social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for social distancing to help slow the community spread of the coronavirus, the City of Mount Dora has temporarily suspended events in the city. This affects downtown areas, all city parks, alleyways, the W.T. Bland Public Library and other city facilities.

The following March events in Mount Dora have been postponed or cancelled:

March 13: Mount Dora’s 110 Celebration. Postponed.
March 13: Art in the Alley. Cancelled
March 13: Reception for "Womanmade" exhibit, Cancelled.
March 14: Taste of Mount Dora. Postponed.
March 15, 22, 29: Mount Dora Village Market. Suspended.
March 21-22: Mount Dora Spring Craft Festival (Spring Show). Cancelled.
March 21-22: Vintage RV & Antique Show at Renningers. Suspended.

In addition to the events listed above, all programming at the W.T. Bland Public Library for March has been cancelled, including the AARP Tax Aide program, which will be rescheduled for a later date. The library will be open for book circulation.

Watch for the rescheduled dates of events on the area’s entertainment calendar and on the Mount Dora Buzz Facebook page.

The cancellations were also in accordance with Governor Ron DeSantis' recommendation today to postpone all mass gatherings in Florida. In addition to events in Florida,
the closing of Broadway in New York City, Disneyland in Anaheim and the cancellation of sporting events like March Madness, NBA, NHL and MLB games were also announced today.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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DRIVE-IN THEATER COMPLEX IN EUSTIS SET FOR VOTE TODAY

3/12/2020

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ABOVE: Rending of Lighthouse 5 Drive-in Movie Theatre (supplied by Spencer Folmar)

An ambitious film enthusiast has a unique vision for Eustis. As a kid, Spencer Folmar fell in love with the cinema going to single-screen and drive-in movie theaters. Now the Eustis native and CEO of Veritas Theatres, wants to provide Central Florida audiences and families with a nostalgic and innovative drive-in movie theater complex to serve the needs of the growing population.

Folmar’s proposed 5-Screen Drive-In movie theater that has a lighthouse in the center would be called Lighthouse 5. The current plan is to have two to three screens showing the latest Hollywood releases and the remaining screens showing arthouse and nostalgic films.

“We hope to break ground at the end of 2020 if the vote goes through tonight. And likely the first phase will take at least 2-3 years to execute and get open,” Folmar told Mount Dora Buzz. The Eustis City Commission is scheduled to vote this evening on the project.

Folmar searched the area for a theater to purchase to add to his small Veritas Theatres chain which has locations in Pennsylvania and Texas, but later decided to pursue his unique drive-in concept in Eustis. The family-friendly project would have three phases. The first would be the drive-in theater, followed by a campground in phase two and a mix of restaurants and shops in phase three.

After a year-long search Folmar and his team set their sights on the city-owned, 72 acres of land on CR 44 next to Cobb’s Tractor and diagonally from Trout Lake. The project would be privately funded and require the city to sell the commercially zoned property to Folmar.

“I was born at Waterman Hospital in Eustis, Florida and this project is especially important to me, and the land I am looking to purchase is more than ideal,” wrote Folmar who was raised in central Pennsylvania.

Folmar also stated he is looking to work with Trout Lake to expand their tourism offerings and an additional nature reserve.

“We are working with our neighbors and the City to provide an entertainment tourism destination with this unique concept,” wrote Folmar, presently a Los Angeles resident.

Folmar, who is also the producer and director at Hard Faith Films believes Eustis is the right city for his investment. His company, SpenceTF LLC, has offered to pay the full assessed value to purchase the 72-acres that the City has owned for over four decades.

Veritas Theatres opened its first location in Grove City, Pennsylvania outside of Pittsburgh in April, 2019. It’s currently operating two theaters and has two more undergoing renovations.

A special public meeting will be held today at Eustis City hall at 5pm today for the City Commision to vote on the project. The community is invited to attend and provide their input. Eustis City Hall is located at 10 N. Grove Street in Eustis.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

Local Dining Guide

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MOUNT DORA CELEBRATES 110TH ANNIVERSARY ON MARCH 13

3/10/2020

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ABOVE: Mount Dora's historic Donnelly House (Mount Dora Buzz file photo)

After spending just a few minutes wandering historic downtown Mount Dora, it’s clear the quaint Central Florida town has over a century of rich history.

This year the City celebrates its 110th anniversary on March 13 with downtown activities starting at 6 p.m. Performers Tom and Lisa Donnelly, will be in costume as J.P. and Annie Donnelly at the landmark Donnelly House as they reenact vignettes about life in 1910 Mount Dora. Visitors can stroll across the street to Donnelly park to listen to a jazz band perform music from the period.

The celebration falls alongside Art in the Alley with artisans selling their creations on Royellou Alley from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tucked inside the alley is the Mount Dora History Museum which will be offering free tours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Just around the corner on 5th Avenue is Mount Dora Center for the Arts which is hosting a free opening reception for the “Womanmade” art exhibit which features the creative works of female Florida artists.

To further celebrate the City’s anniversary, the W.T. Bland Public Library, in association with the Mount Dora Historical Society, will have a mix of historical and modern day photos on display in the lobby gallery throughout the month of March.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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STREET PERFORMERS TO DESCEND ON DOWNTOWN EUSTIS ON MARCH 28

3/1/2020

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MARCH 13 UPDATE: EVENT CANCELLED
It's rare when an event combines tons of talent and a bit of creative enterprise.

Those are the ingredients required when dozens of live performance acts from across the U.S. converge for the 5th annual Eustis Buskers Festival on March 28.

Busking, entertaining in a public place for donations, can add charm to intimate settings, like downtown Eustis. The city's free festival will provide buskers a bigger stage, while giving residents and visitors a day full of live entertainment. The acts range from musicians, dancers, comedians, jugglers, mimes, living statues, artists and acrobats who compete for a $3,000 grand prize, and a $1,500 People’s Choice Award.

The family-friendly performances will take place at downtown Eustis “busk stops” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Grand Finale, featuring top performers from each division, will take place downtown at 6:30 p.m.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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NOSTALGIC GLAMOUR RETURNS TO LAKE DORA ON MARCH 20-22

3/1/2020

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MARCH 16 UPDATE: EVENT CANCELLED.
At first glance, Lake Dora seems far removed from glitz and glamour. However, once a year she flashes her more refined and alluring attributes when visitors are transported to the glamorous Sinatra era.

The downtown Tavares lakefront is gearing up for the 39th Annual Sunnyland Antique and Classic Boat Festival, the largest classic wood boat show in the country. 250 to 300 meticulously restored boats will be displayed in the water and along one third of a mile of Lake Dora shoreline at Wooton Park on March 20-22.

Now in its thirteenth year in Tavares, the festival is the ideal place for dreamers and boaters to spend their day. In previous years, the Antique and Classic Boat Festival boasted eye candy that ranged from perfectly varnished Gar Wood race boats of the 1930s to intriguing concept boats like the Evinrude Lark, as well as vessels of fantastical design like the 1956 Lone Star Meteor and the 1955 Chris-Craft Cobra. The prestigious event, which draws between eight and ten thousand visitors, was previously held along downtown Mount Dora’s waterfront, and before that in Sanford.

Another feature of the festival is the Nautical Flea Market where more than eighty vendors peddle everything from old boat parts and lanterns to shiny chrome accessories and wooden oars. Due to the large number of stunning vintage boats for sale in the designated “Field of Dreams,” nautical dreamers are advised to bring just a little extra pocket change.

To complement the antique boats, there will also be a Festival of Speed car show at the park that will show off over 60 classic and antique cars. Fun amphibious cars will also be on display.

Saturday’s entertainment includes a live bluegrass band, children’s activities, and seaplane rides available for a fee.

The event’s hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday the show is 9 a.m. to noon. Admission is $10 for the weekend. Free parking is available at the City of Tavares Parking garage. For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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Arts & Entertainment

EUSTIS CANCELS EVENTS TO HELP PREVENT SPREAD OF COVID-19

MOUNT DORA CANCELS MASS GATHERING EVENTS IN MARCH

DRIVE-IN THEATER COMPLEX IN EUSTIS SET FOR VOTE TODAY

MOUNT DORA CELEBRATES 110TH ANNIVERSARY ON MARCH 13

STREET PERFORMERS TO DESCEND ON DOWNTOWN EUSTIS ON MARCH 28

NOSTALGIC GLAMOUR RETURNS TO LAKE DORA ON MARCH 20-22

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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