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

Voting starts now for the 2025 Best of Mount Dora awards!
Everybody has their favorites and we want to know yours! This year's awards feature lots of new and improved categories to include more businesses.
Mount Dora Buzz's goal is to achieve legit results, so voters are just allowed one vote. Get your ballot here!

Pit Masters & Pourers brings BBQ, bourbon and brews back to Mount Dora
Where beer, bourbon, bacon and barbecue collide, the Pit Masters & Pourers event returns to Elizabeth Evans Park on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, offering a fun afternoon of food, drinks and entertainment along Lake Dora’s waterfront. Read more

Hoops level up in Eustis recently with the completion of improvements to the community basketball courts.
 Upgrades have recently been completed at Carver Park in Eustis. The improvements include leveled and repainted courts, along with the installation of six new adjustable basketball goals which can be raised or lowered from 8 to 10 feet.  The refreshed courts are located at 2241 Bates Avenue.

Iconic landmark returned to its historic beauty
Cruise by the historic Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church on Old Highway 441 to check out its beautiful metamorphosis. Horeb Monte de Dios, the new congregation worshipping at the church, has done an impressive job restoring the beloved African American church at the southern entrance to Mount Dora.

Viva La Frida Festival is back on September 27
Mount Dora's event celebrating Frida Kahlo and Hispanic arts and culture, returns to downtown at the end of the month. Viva La Frida Festival is a one-day event featuring foods from various Latin cuisines, live music, dancing, related vendors, a festive Frida Kahlo costume contest, and more from 11a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mount Dora Book Expo comes to downtown in September
Pickleball won’t be the only fun activity in downtown's Donnelly Park on Saturday, September 20. Bookworms, bibliophiles, and aspiring authors can enjoy the inaugural Mount Dora Book Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Donnelly Building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Donnelly Street. Learn more

Keep your eyes on the Atlantic this month
Watch for hurricane activity in the Atlantic this month. Beyond the standard preparations, make sure to follow these helpful hurricane hacks before a storm churns up in the warm waters. Learn more

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Mount Dora leads Central Lake County in home prices as neighboring markets shift
Home prices across central Lake County show significant variation, with Mount Dora continuing to command the highest values, while nearby communities offer more affordable options or larger properties for buyers seeking space. Read more

New micro market starts in uptown Mount Dora
Uptown is continuing its revitalization with the opening of Starving Artist Market, a weekly event on the corner of Highland Street and Fifth Avenue. The Wednesday food market is in the parking lot of Mount Dora Center for the Arts and benefits the vendors, as well as local art programming. Currently, there are a limited number of vendors, but the art center is seeking additional food categories for the 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. market.
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A cafe with a view opens in downtown Mount Dora
After undergoing a refresh over the past several months, the former space of One Flight Up has found new life with the opening of Stairway2Donnelly at the end of August. The new eatery occupies the same second-floor rooms and balcony as its predecessor.

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Mount Dora City Council to vote on tax rate and budget on September 16
The City of Mount Dora is anticipated to keep the same 6.3 mills tax rate as last year. That is a reduction from theTRIM notice amount of 6.6 mills that property owners recently received. The final decision will be made on September 16th by vote of the city council. As long as property values continue to increase, your property taxes (Ad Valorem tax) will be higher than last year because the value of your home has likely increased.  Property taxes account for approximately 38% of Mount Dora's General Fund revenues.

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