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

October is a festive month packed with fun events in Mount Dora, Tavares and Eustis. Whether you're looking to celebrate the fall season or partake in some Halloween fun, there is no shortage of area events. Get the lowdown on events on Mount Dora Buzz's 2023 Fall Events guide here.

The season kicks off with Fall in the Field at Renningers the first weekend in October. Read more. Hands down, the biggest event of the month is the annual Mount Dora Crafts Fair which attracts thousands of visitors to downtown. The sprawling event will take over the streets on October 28 and 29. Read more

There's no shortage of family fun in October. Long & Scott Farm has re-opened Central Florida's favorite corn maze that's full of adult and kids activities. Read more. Meanwhile, Tavares is bringing back its popular Rocktober Fest and Monster Seaplane Fly-in to Wooton Park. Read more. So grab the kids for some fun on the farm and the Tavares lakefront this month.

Get ready for some entertaining excitement when the Down the Hill Soapbox Derby returns to downtown Mount Dora on October 14. Kids and adults will race their creative homemade carts down the hill at the southern end of Donnelly Street.

Trick or Treat Mount Dora will haunt downtown on Halloween night for its tenth year. More than 45 merchants will be handing out treats to adorable young revelers in costume. The annual event provides a fun and safe place for kids to celebrate Halloween.

In search of the perfect pumpkin? The local area has plenty of seasonal pumpkin patches to find the perfect orange gourd for your jack-o-lantern and fall decor. For the list of some of the area's best pumpkin patches, click here.

Scroll down for buzz on local eateries and stores, plus local Government Buzz. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram for more local content.

A new alternative to emergency healthcare opened in the area last month. HCA Florida Mount Dora Emergency now provides 24-hour medical care for children and adults. The free-standing emergency department, technically in Eustis, is located at 16831 U.S. Highway 441. It does not have an operating room, so emergency surgeries are not performed there.

Just in time for football season, chicken wing lovers now have 24 flavors of wings to choose from at the new "Wing it On!" franchise in Mount Dora. Read more

Culver's, the fast-food chain based in Wisconsin that's known for its juicy ButterBurgers and dozens of flavors of frozen custard, is prepping for its opening early this month. The new local franchise is owned by an enthusiastic local resident. Read more about the opening here. Watch Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram for updates on more local restaurants and stores.

Sadly, after just a few short months, Ole Spanish Tapas Restaurant in downtown Tavares closed its doors. Mount Dora Buzz will keep you posted if a new restaurant fills the space and when a new tapas place opens in the area.

Scroll down for this month's featured events, hot local government topics, stellar local businesses, new development buzz, and local resources.

Local Dining Guide

In a recent legal filing, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) claimed the City of Mount Dora owes $9,750 in penalties and settlement money. The City's non-compliance could also result in $1000-a-day additional penalties, according to the FDEP. At issue is the ongoing foul odor allegedly emanating from a Mount Dora wastewater treatment plant that has negatively impacted residents in Sullivan Ranch and other areas. The City is seeking a 30-day extension to provide the new City Attorneys time to be brought up to speed on the matter and submit a response.

Due to the resignation of Mount Dora City Attorney Sherry Sutphen, Mount Dora City Council selected Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer & Hand, P.A., to provide the municipality's legal services with Andrew J. Hand and Patrick Brackins serving as the City Attorneys.

In the coming weeks, Mount Dora businesses can volunteer to participate in the Safe Place Program, a national police initiative that has been implemented across the country, including in several Florida cities. The program addresses the nation's under-reported hate crimes, advances police training on hate crimes and bias, and visually identifies safe havens for victims to feel comfortable reporting such incidents. Volunteer businesses are identified by the trademarked Safe Place window decal which will be available from the City upon request.

Be sure to check Mount Dora Buzz's government page regularly to find out what's happening at Mount Dora City Hall. Scroll down for the 'Buzz' about new development.

As a historic Central Florida town, Mount Dora has an interesting past. To read a timeline of its history and related articles, click here.

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