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MURALS TO START POPPING UP IN DOWNTOWN MOUNT DORA

8/30/2020

ABOVE: Front of new mural by Simie Alex at Baker Street & 5th Avenue parking lot.

In February, the City of Mount Dora put the call out for creativity, and artists answered. Treating blank eyesores as expansive canvases in a community of creative souls, the City sought artists to paint murals on four large outdoor trash compactor enclosures that dot its downtown parking lots and alleys.

Now, one of the enclosures has been transformed with a beautiful mural of a blue-faced woman blowing the seeds off a dandelion. The other panel of the enclosure is a mural of the seeds drifting away. The colorful mural is located in the small parking lot on Baker Street and 5th Avenue.

One-hundred-nineteen eager individual artists and creative teams sent in submissions which were then sent to the members of Mount Dora’s Public Arts Commission to narrow their choices. Unfortunately, COVID-19 slowed down the selection process due to a delay in meetings.

Each selected artist or team of artists will receive a $1,400 commission after the mural is complete. No design theme was required, so the artists’ submissions were evaluated based on their artistic merit, creativity, professionalism and expectation of project completion.

Artists residing inside and outside Mount Dora were encouraged to apply, especially those with previous mural experience or public art installations. Applicants were required to submit work samples, a resume, references, and design proposals.

The other three mural locations are the compactor enclosures located at 4th Avenue and Alexander Street, 3rd Avenue and Donnelly Street, and 4th Avenue and Dora Drawdy Way.

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.

ABOVE: Back of new mural by Simie Alex at Baker Street & 5th Avenue parking lot.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here. For local things to do, click here and for the area's free mobile app, click here.

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LADY OF THE LAKES RENAISSANCE FAIR CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS

8/28/2020

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The annual Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire, the most profitable fundraiser for the Education Foundation of Lake County, has been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus.

The event, which draws thousands of visitors to Lake County, was originally scheduled for the first two weekends in November.

During the five days of the Renaissance Faire, attendees are taken back to the time of Shakespeare and enjoy period music, live performances, activities, food, and vendors. They also meet characters from the 17th century who engage with them and even lead participants in an interactive game to solve a mystery.

“After careful consideration and consultation with many parties involved with the event, we came to the heartbreaking conclusion that we cannot move forward with the Ren Faire and ensure the health and safety of our attendees, volunteers, vendors and cast,” said Carman Cullen, Executive Director of the Education Foundation of Lake County. “This is the latest and biggest fundraiser that we have canceled this year. It will have a serious impact on our ability to fund programs that support the success of Lake County teachers and students.”

Interactive virtual activities surrounding the canceled 2020 Lady of the Lakes Faire will be planned for later this fall. The 2021 event has been scheduled for November 5, 6, 7,13 and 14.

“Additionally, we will announce a new special event for the 2021 Renaissance Faire that will be an exciting addition to the fun and interactive activities the event is known for,” said Cullen.

“The Bubonic Plague closed the Globe Theater in 1593, 1603 and 1608. Now this coronavirus has closed our wonderful faire,” said Lord Edward, proprietor of Lord Edward’s Pub and provider of bawdy entertainment at the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire. “My sole comfort is knowing that next year’s event will be even better. I hope others join me in designating the shillings they would have spent at the Faire to supporting the programs that help our children and teachers.”

The Education Foundation of Lake County accepts donations on its website at LakeRenFaire.com by mail sent to 2045 Pruitt Street, Leesburg, FL 34748, or by calling 352-326-1265.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here. For local things to do, click here and for the area's free mobile app, click here.

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MOUNT DORA CANCELS ANNUAL OCTOBER CRAFT FAIR

8/10/2020

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It was a sign of the times, and only a matter of time. The planning, money and safety required to organize and host one of the largest craft fairs in the country was too big of a hill to climb during the current pandemic.

Mount Dora’s 36th Annual Craft Fair, scheduled for the last weekend in October, was officially cancelled today. The sprawling event typically takes six to nine months to plan and draws over 100,000 visitors to the quaint Central Florida town over two days. The result is one of the most lucrative weekends of they year for the city’s downtown merchants.

“With the issues of COVID-19, it has become apparent that several more events will be cancelled. VisitMountDora and the City have agreed that we will cancel the Mount Dora Craft Festival this year.” said Mayor Cathy Hoechst in a recorded phone message to residents.

Nearly 400 crafters come from across the U.S. to line Mount Dora’s downtown streets with their white tents filled with handmade items and art. This year, organizers only received about half the number of vendor applications it normally attracts. Due to COVID-19, much of the national craft show circuit, which is what many exhibitors follow for income, has been disrupted, and many out-of-state exhibitors aren’t travelling. Approximately half of the event's crafters come from out-of-state.

RELATED: Vote in this year's Best of Mount Dora awards

“We’ve had several saying they don’t want to come to Florida, period,” said Brian Young, one of the event’s main organizers. Presently, Florida has among the highest confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the country, although cases have been slowly trending downward.

Making things even more financially difficult was the lack of interest from the craft fair’s sponsors this year. All but one had pulled out.

“We are not planning any city-sponsored events in September in order to keep the COVID numbers declining,” said Hoechst. Lake County currently has a novel coronavirus test positivity rate of 7.9%.

Mount Dora, known for its many downtown festivals, is still having smaller events being discussed by various organizers that include a car show, music in the park , Art in the Alley, a night market, Scarecrow Stroll, and Holiday Greeting Card Lane.

VisitMountDora, the organizer of the Mount Dora Craft Fair, is still planning its annual Spring Craft Show in March and will begin accepting applications for exhibitors in November.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here.   For local things to do, click here and for the area's free mobile app, click here.

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Arts & Entertainment

MURALS TO START POPPING UP IN DOWNTOWN MOUNT DORA

LADY OF THE LAKES RENAISSANCE FAIR CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS

MOUNT DORA CANCELS ANNUAL OCTOBER CRAFT FAIR

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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