For those seeking priceless treasure or others just curious about the oddities, Mount Dora’s Antique Extravaganza never disappoints.  On November 14, 15 and 16, Mount Dora will once again, be home to Central Florida's massive and eclectic shopping experience at Renningers Antique Center.  The sprawling indoor and outdoor venue hosts the event, regarded as the mother lode of vintage and antique shopping,  three times a year among picturesque hills under majestic oaks.
 
Make no mistake.  There is antique shopping and then there is shopping the “Extravo.”  That’s the term seasoned buyers and “pickers” use for Renningers' event that boasts nearly 800 dealers during its three-day run spread on a scenic portion of a 130-acre property on the eastern edge of the city.

RELATED:  Find the holiday events for Mount Dora, Tavares and Eustis.

Dealers from across the U.S. descend on Mount Dora to offer an endless variety of vintage finds and fine antiques at every price.   Eager collectors, decorators and vintage shoppers from across Florida show up in droves to uncover treasures, find the best deals and practice their haggling. 
 
Extravos only happen in November, January  and February.  Loyal shoppers and the curious can roam the hills from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.   Friday admission costs more ($10), but eager shoppers get first dibs on hard-to-find treasures.  Saturday is $6, but Sunday shoppers get the lowest admission price ($4), and often better bargains, however some vendors do pack up early.

RELATED:  View the local entertainment calendar for other events.
 
Parking is always plentiful and free for the Renningers Extravaganzas.  Renninger’s Antique Center is located at 20651 US Hwy 441.  ​

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 for more local info.

JULY 3: 
Freedom on the Waterfront (Mount Dora)
When: 4-10 p.m.
Where: Elizabeth Evans Park & Gilbert Park, Mount Dora.
What to expect: Family activities in Gilbert Park, live music in Evans Park.  Fireworks and drone show scheduled for 9:15 p.m.

JULY 4:  
Independence Day Parade & Street Party (Tavares)
Where:  Main Street, downtown Tavares
Schedule of events:

• 4:45 p.m.: Street party on Main Street begins before the parade
• 5:00 p.m.: Seaplane flyover above Main Street
• 5:00 p.m.:  Small-town parade begins going east on Main Street from the  courthouse past City Hall to St. Clair Abrams Avenue.

Parade route:  This small-town parade route heads east on Main Street from the Courthouse past City Hall to St. Clair-Abrams Avenue.  An evening of fun festivities to follow in Wooton Park.

JULY 4: 
Independence Day Celebration (Tavares)
After the parade along Main Street, more festivities kick off in Wooton Park at 100 E. Ruby Street in downtown Tavares, including food trucks, vendors, live music and more.  
Where:  Wooton Park, downtown
Schedule of events: 

• 6:00 p.m.: Kids’ activities commence along Rockingham Avenue and in Wooton Park
• 6:00 p.m.:  Kids’ dance party with interactive Live DJ in Wooton Park begins
• 6:00 p.m.: Live music featuring the high-energy party band, Groove Salyers in Wooton Park 
• 6:30 p.m.:  Main Street opens to allow traffic to flow normally - will remain until the event's conclusion.
• 9:00 p.m.:  Fireworks          ​

Tips: Free parking is available in the parking garage at 200 N. Sinclair Avenue in downtown Tavares.

JULY 4: 
Eustis Hometown Celebration
Where: Ferran Park in downtown Eustis
Time:  5:00-10:00 p.m.
Schedule of events:

• Food Trucks and Craft Vendors: 5:00–10:00 p.m.
• Eustis Aquatics Center pool will be open from 5:00–7:00 p.m. with free admission.
• Silent Disco: 5:00–8:00 p.m.
• Water Ski Show: 6 p.m.
• Live concert by Deep Blue Something: 8:00 p.m.
• Firework finale over Lake Eustis: 9:30 p.m.​

Looking for a good vantage point for the local fireworks?  Here are the top 10 spots for Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis:

MOUNT DORA:  JULY 3, 9:15
1.  Simpson Cove & Evans Park
2.  Lakeside Inn pool bar
3.  The Yardery

TAVARES:   JULY 4, 9 p.m.
4.  Kalua Hale Beach Club
5.  On a boat on Lake Dora
6.  Wooton Park
7. Citrus Sky Bar

EUSTIS:  JULY 4, 9 p.m.
8.   Ferran Park
9.   Lake Eustis on a boat 
10.  Crazy Gators

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit Mount Dora Buzz's website, its Instagram  and Facebook page.  Download the area's free mobile app for info on the go.  For local food recommendations, follow Mount Dora Foodie's Facebook and its official Instagram account.

The Mount Dora Blueberry Festival returns to downtown Donnelly Park on April 26 and 27 for a weekend celebrating all things blueberry, including ripe local berries, baked goods, crafts, and blueberry plants.

In addition to Amber Brooke Farms and Far Reach Ranch selling their local blueberries, culinary students from Umatilla High School will be offering blueberry baked goods made from berries donated by Amber Brooke Farms. Proceeds will help purchase equipment for the school’s culinary program.

RELATED:  Discover the area's local u-pick blueberry farms

Food and beverage vendors will feature themed offerings such as blueberry pies, blueberry BBQ with blueberry salsa, blueberry mochi, blueberry beer, and blueberry wine. Craft vendors will also be in the park selling a variety of handmade creations.

The event’s popular pie-eating contest will take place at 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will also feature a Blueberry Pie Bake-Off with children and adult divisions. There is no entry fee to compete, but participants must register at the information booth before 1 p.m.

The free, two-day festival takes place in Donnelly Park, located at 530 N. Donnelly Street in downtown Mount Dora, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. A free shuttle will run Saturday and Sunday from 900 Lincoln Avenue in the northeast area of Mount Dora and take passengers downtown.

For more events and news in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here.  Find out what's happening locally with just a tap on your phone by downloading the area's free mobile app.  Free monthly issues of Mount Dora Buzz are available here.

On most days, sleepy Lake Dora is far removed from glamour and nostalgia.  However, once a year her waters transport visitors back to retro-vibe glossy wood boats that hearken back to old Hollywood movie stars.

The downtown Tavares lakefront is gearing up for the 44th annual Sunnyland Antique and Classic Boat Festival, the largest classic wood boat show in the country.   Hundreds of meticulously restored boats are typically displayed in the water and along one third of a mile of Lake Dora shoreline at Wooton Park during the multi-day event open to the public on March 21 through March 23.  Saturday is the only full day for the public to view all of the classic boats, while Friday features only activities for Sunnyland boat club members. 

RELATED:  Discover the Local Entertainment Calendar for Mount Dora, Tavares and Eustis, Florida.

The waterfront 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.

Other features of the festival include its Field of Dreams which offers boats for sale and the Nautical Flea Market, where dozens of vendors peddle everything from old boat parts and lanterns to shiny chrome accessories and wooden oars. 

The event’s public hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday the show is from 9 a.m. to noon.  Tickets are $10 and include admission for both days. Free parking is available at the City of Tavares Parking Garage on Sinclair Avenue. ​

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. ​