APRIL BUZZ: News & Events for Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis

Vintage Garden Show celebrates the season
It's time for a little vintage shopping mixed with the vibrance of spring. The Vintage Garden Show returns to Mount Dora the first weekend in April with an abundane of vintage vendors and creative objects for gardens and yards. Learn more

The quest for the cheapest gas prices heats up locally
As oil prices rise, searching for the best price for gas often becomes more important. As some local stations already sell it for over four dollars a gallon for regular gas, others tend to run about 30 cents cheaper per gallon. Locally, Wawa, RaceTrack and Mobile tend to be highest, while Shell, Mobile and Citgo are often lower. To check local prices daily, download the GasBuddy app.

Mount Dora goes blue again this month
Once again downtown Mount Dora will transform into a blueberry paradise as the annual Mount Dora Blueberry Festival returns to Donnelly Park. The two-day event celebrates Florida's seasonal crop with the sale of fresh blueberries and plants, plus blueberry-themed contests and vendors selling diverse blueberry foods and more. Read more

Lake County Plant & Pottery Show returns in early May
Last year was the successful launch of Lake County Plant and Pottery Show in Tavares and it was a big success. Set on a scenic farm, the one-day event not only features diverse work of talented potters, but also unique plants, food and farm activities. The event returns again this year in May. Read more

Temporary road closure planned for Old Eustis Road in Mount Dora
Florida Gas Transmission Company will be completing a pipe replacement project to meet federal requirements. This work will require a full closure to through traffic from April 2nd–17th. Residents in the area will continue to have access to their homes during this time. Drivers should allow extra travel time and use alternate routes like U.S. 441 or 11th Avenue.  

Watch the Mount Dora Buzz website and Facebook page for updates on more stories.
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Scroll down for new business Buzz, featured events, and more.

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A pair of new businesses will be a happiness bomb carb loaders
Two new chains have pulled permits to open new Mount Dora locations. Both will be on U.S. Highway 441 near Mission BBQ. Einstein Bros. Bagels, based out of Colorado, and Crumbl, a decadent cookie bakery chain, have begun the process of building out their spaces, so watch Mount Dora Buzz's Facebook page for opening details once they become available.
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The highest-priced selling homes locally so far in 2026
It's always interesting to learn what houses in the area are going for, especially the highest prices of local homes. We've put together the top 15 houses for the first quarter of 2026, so you can take in the current top-end prices. Read more

Date night gets a new option in Mount Dora
Watch for a new date-night destination in downtown Mount Dora with Salt & Ember opening very soon. The Alexander Street restaurant will feature a raw bar, plus steaks and seafood. Stay tuned to Mount Dora Buzz's Facebook page and website for a full review.

A new dining option opens in downtown Eustis
A new cafe just opened on Magnolia Street in downtown Eustis. Citrus Grove Cafe offers old-school favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast menu includes omelettes, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, biscuits & gravy, and other morning classics. Lunches and dinners offer sandwiches, burgers, chicken tenders, and southern favorites like country-fried steak, and liver and onions. The restaurant is located at 106 E. Magnolia.

Lake County's biggest attractions made some big changes
The Dora Queen, the New Orleans-style paddle-wheel boat docked in downtown Tavares, has been sold, marking a transition for one of the area’s most recognizable attractions. Locally built, owned, and operated, the 80-foot boat's new owners are also local. Read more

So many restaurants, so hard to choose
The local area has so many dining options with such diverse cuisines and experieces. When you're looking for something different and delicous, get some inside scoop with the 'Foodie Finds' on the Mount Dora Buzz Facebook page.

Scroll down for more local Buzz and local events.

A trail head location for the proposed Mount Dora-to-Tavares trail is briefly discussed

The City of Mount Dora is in the very early stages of discussing the feasibility of a potential trailhead and park location for its long-anticipated rails-to-trails project, which continues to inch forward. During a March meeting, Mayor James Homich suggested the city may want to consider a privately owned parcel on the east side of Highland Street, just north of the small bridge.

The more than six-acre property, which abuts the railroad tracks and is currently listed for $3.2 million, includes a historic home that could potentially be incorporated as a feature of a future park, according to the mayor.

Because no formal discussions have taken place, the idea remains preliminary, and officials acknowledge that securing funding for a land acquisition would be a significant hurdle.

Scroll down for this month's featured events, the Best of Mount Dora, or find more local government news here.

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