APRIL EDITION: News & events for Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis

Plant & Pottery Festival at Far Reach
A fun new event will take place in rural Tavares on April 13. Lake County Plant & Pottery Festival will feature original handmade pottery, plant vendors, pottery demonstrations, u-pick blueberries, hayrides, plus a DJ and food trucks at Far Reach Ranch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The former cattle ranch is located at 1255 S. Dora Boulevard. Find more events on the local entertainment calendar here.

Art Center has new second home in Mount Dora
After an impressive transformation, Mount Dora Center for the Arts will soon open its new building in uptown, in addition to its long-time downtown location. The new building provides the ability to expand art programs for all ages in the community, however the change hasn't come without drama. Read more

Spring has sprung along rural Lake County roads
Get your nature on! Hop in the car for a leisurely drive on Lake County's scenic backroads to take in the local wildflower season. For a few local roads that often have vibrant displays of various wildflowers during the short season, click here.

Blueberry u-pick season is in full swing
Spring is the perfect time to head outdoors to pick one of Central Florida's sweetest crops. Blueberry season has officially kicked off and there are plenty of local farms that provide fun u-pick opportunities for fresh berries. Get the guide to Lake County's u-pick blueberry farms here.

Spruce up your garden at the Vintage Garden Show
Warmer weather is here and with it comes the return of the Vintage Garden Show at Renningers Antique Center. The outdoor event offers everything you need to transform your garden, including vintage garden decor, plants, pots, baskets and and vintage patio furniture. Read more

Mount Dora Blueberry Festival brings berries and more to downtown
To celebrate the season, this year's Mount Dora Blueberry Festival will offer a weekend full of blueberry-related vendors and activities on April 26 and 27 in downtown's Donnelly Park. In addition to fresh blueberries, there will blueberry plants, pies, and pancakes, as well as general merchandise vendors.

Mount Dora to celebrate Earth Day early
Globally Earth Day is April 22, but don't miss Mount Dora's early celebration on April 12 in Donnelly Park. The family-friendly event will feature various eco-friendly vendors, exhibits and demonstrations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Get the schedule of events here.

Scroll down for more local Buzz, featured events and most recent Best of Mount Dora winners.sa continued success in their other stores.

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Iconic Downtown Mount Dora Café Closes
After almost 20 years and countless memories, One Flight Up Café permanently closed in downtown Mount Dora on March 31 after its landlord, CFL Properties, opted not to renew its lease. We wish Roger, Judy, and Andrea the very best in their next chapters. Another food service business is expected to open in the space, but nothing has been finalized. Stay tuned.

Local Jewelry Designer to Expand Into Larger Space
Watch for Jewelry by TFC in downtown Mount Dora to expand and move into the 4th Avenue space that The Wow Factory will vacate at the end of April. The local jewelry designer, currently located inside Papilio, will continue to grow her original line and offer a wider selection of complementary items.

Tavares Dog House opts to close its doors
After four years in downtown Tavares, Tavares Dog House made the decision to close its doors on April 1. The lively sports bar on the ground floor of the Citrus Hotel has been popular with residents and visitors to the city's Entertainment District. Stay tuned to Mount Dora Buzz on Facebook for what opens in the space next.

Locally-owned coffeehouse preps to open in heart of Eustis
One Thirteen Coffeehouse, a cozy new spot nestled between the historic State Theatre and Wolf Branch Brewery in downtown Eustis, is scheduled to open on April 3. Check out Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram for the sneak peek.

Popular lunch spot relocates to Mount Dora
After years in a corner location in Tavares, Deli Llama has relocated to a space inside Mount Dora Marketplace. Known for their delicious sandwiches, salads and crafted beverages, the new spot is destined to be a new favorite lunch spot downtown.

Reality Show revamps Mount Dora bar
One of Mount Dora's watering holes briefly closed last month while the reality show, Bar Rescue, transformed the bar and worked out some of its kinks. Big Dog Saloon, located on SR 19A, has since reopened to the relief of its regulars.

If you know of a new local restaurant or retail shop prepping to open in Mount Dora, Tavares or Eustis, please email us the details here.

Scroll down for more local Buzz, events and most recent Best of Mount Dora winners.

Local Dining Guide

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Wheels are moving forward on Tav-Dora Bike Trail

In their effort to advocate for a federal grant to help bring the multi-use Wekiva Trail to fruition, officials from Lake County, the Trust for Public Land, the City of Mount Dora, and the City of Tavares teamed up to host State and Federal delegates. The proposed transformational trail would connect the two cities, and promote outdoor recreation throughout the area.

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

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New Area Development in the Pipeline​

The approval process for new developments depends on the type of project proposed. Check out the current list of local commercial and residential development projects here. As projects advance through the multi-step approval process, watch Mount Dora Buzz's website for more in-depth articles on some of the newsworthy developments.

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