This was the 6th year for the Habitat Strawberry Festival and it was again a big hit! In fact it…read morewas so large this year they had to move it to a larger location and still was packed. Rows and rows of vendors selling their wares was over whelming. Interspersed were some amazing food vendors making everything you could imagine. Even though most people weren't watching, the live bands were very good. A car show, pet contest, pie eating contest and expensive kiddie rides rounded out the activities. Strawberries? Flats of strawberries could be preordered and picked up at the festival. That was it. No other strawberries or strawberry related items. Bottled water? Couldn't find it sold anywhere. I'm thinking it may be hanging out with the strawberry items that weren't there. :(

From the owner: Habitat for Humanity of Marion County has been hosting the annual Habitat Ocala Strawberry Festival…read moresince 2014 and we are about to celebrate our 10th year of operation. The festival brings in visitors from all over the state and numerous out-of-state visitors, this is an event for the entire family. At the festival, there are over 230 vendors, a car show, a kid's area, entertainment, live bands, a Habitat Food Court, and lots of strawberries. The event is always on the 1st Saturday of March at the McPherson Government Complex- 601 SE 25th Avenue Ocala. The festival is open from 9 am until 5 pm. Parking is $5 per carload and admission is FREE. All proceeds from the event are used toward the construction of a decent, affordable Habitat home.

I checked out the Florida Manatee Festival for the first time in 2023. The festival helps bring…read moreawareness to the gentle giant, the manatee. As well as help support local and regional businesses. The festival was much larger than I imagined. Blocks and blocks of vendor tents. Even on the side streets. Tons of food, arts and crafts, t-shirts, hats and even alcohol. It was dog friendly and the cost to enter was $5, children under 12 were free. I never realized how much I loved manatees until experiencing them in person. There were several natural springs in Crystal River that attracts the manatees when the Gulf of Mexico water gets cold. The natural springs have a constant water temperature of 72 degrees. I found a manatee t-shirt from an artist who shot the picture on the shirts. Amazing! I also purchased a Crystal River ball cap from one of the local stores as their prices were cheaper than the festival prices. I also enjoyed a delicious gator poboy sandwich. Yummy! I would absolutely recommend the festival! But don't forget to check out the manatees in the springs while you're there.

We've attended the Manatee Festival in Crystal River for probably 15 years, and it's always been…read moresomething we genuinely look forward to. Overall, it's still a fun festival, and the opportunity to view the manatees is always beautiful. The educational aspect is especially important and well done--it helps the public appreciate and respect these animals without harming them. That said, the festival has changed in ways that are disappointing. Charging $10 per person just to enter feels excessive, especially considering the lack of basic accommodations for attendees. The food vendor setup is poorly designed. Some vendors are placed in areas you don't even see until after you've already eaten, which hurts both the vendors and the guests. With such a large festival, having two food sections is fine--but one of them, despite drawing thousands of people, had only one picnic table. There were virtually no places to sit and eat, leaving people standing awkwardly while trying to eat messy festival food. The porta-john situation was also inadequate for the crowd size. There simply weren't enough to accommodate the number of people attending. It feels like the festival has been redesigned in a way that doesn't make much sense logistically, and there's a growing sense of greed without a corresponding improvement in services for patrons. We still enjoy the festival and will always appreciate the manatee experience, but the organizers really need to refocus on crowd flow, seating, restroom availability, and overall attendee comfort--especially if they're going to continue charging admission.

Perfect location for a great weekend arts crafts and seafood festival in November. Admission is a…read more$3 donation per person and parking close by can cost $5. Lots of arts and crafts vendors on both sides of a local street leading up to the main festival location. Entertainment on a main stage, and chairs under a partially shaded area made for lounging and resting in the heat of the day. Various food vendors are set up around the festival grounds, and you never know what might be the next food item. I saw frozen cheesecake for sale and it looks tempting on a hot day. Definitely recommend checking it out early - we arrived at 11:30 and streets were packed near the grounds.

Good food, great music and a vast variety of vendors!! The rain held off and it was a great dayread more

The Cottom Family has provided this community with spectacular Christmas displays for many years…read more I saw the Christmas lights for the first time 28 years ago. The elder Cottoms were Santa and Mrs. Claus and sat at the entrance to their property and visited with the children. Each year the family has added something new. It is a real treat and if you haven't been, put it on your holiday to do list this year.

Cottom Farm's Xmas Village is one of a kind. This Xmas village came under my radar about a year…read moreago. I believe I had seen it on tv for some type of Xmas special. When you come here, there is an area with a little village and small little decorated cottages and once you are ready, you can take the hayride that takes you around the property to see the outside Xmas lights. They take you to Santa and Mrs. Claus house and you are able to tour the down stairs of the houses you are able to see their Master Bedroom and bathroom, their living room, kitchen, and another room. You are able to take pics with Santa and Mrs. Claus. When you are finished you can go in the back and get hot chocolate and Xmas cookies and cupcake. It's a really good deal and a great experience. Once you are finished at the house, you will take the hayride back and see the rest of the outside Xmas lights. It's really beautiful and the outside Xmas lights are around their lake. What a cool experience!!! It's worth the drive! Afterwards, and before hand you will feel like you are all by yourself in the country but make your way to the Lady Lake Chamber of Commerce to continue your Xmas spirit on with their Xmas light display!

Truly spectacular fireworks. I'm so in love with Mount Dora. We have been to several festivals and…read moretheir Xmas lights and are never disappointed. This was exactly the case for their Independence Day fireworks celebrated on July 3rd. Everything is very organized, there are a good number of vendors. They had an American Idol singer who was great and it was a very uplifting Independence Day experience. I love their fireworks here and will definitely be back for any of their festivals.

This is a great place for kids and adults.. the small hayride was fun and going through the corn…read moremaze was a blast, although there were a lot of dead ends, and wondered at times if I was going to find my way out. . Great day trip

This farm was amazing! Me and my daughter did the haunted house tour. We sat on the tree branches…read morethat almost touch the ground. Did the corn maze. I got great bbq from a food truck called smoke rings. It was a great day .

I love that this farm is still thriving amidst all the development going around it…read more There is plenty of parking and lots to do. They offer several types of u-pick fruits, veggies and sunflowers at different times of the year. They have a fun zone area and food trucks. The only thing I don't see on this farm are animals. I love that they allow the 5K races at least once a year. With those races, you usually get blueberry pancakes and a pint container to pick your own blueberries from at least 6 fields. There were 2 available to pick from when we were there. Plump and sweet blueberries are to be had if you know how to pick them. Don't let the bees scare you off. Leave them alone and you will be fine, unless someone in the next aisle pissed them off. They have peaches, sunflowers and strawberries to pick as well. I noticed the map also shows veggies but not sure when or which kind are available but nice to know. I love the observation deck above the gift shop. Amazing views of the farm and surrounding land with plenty of seating to take it all in while you enjoy a cup of coffee from the gift shop. I hope they can hang on to this land once the developments continue closing in on this rare property.

A lot has changed in a year since being at the farm. I am glad they are doing well. They have…read moreexpanded in their agriculture and event space. They even added a walk way pavement around the carnival rides. Sadly the service we received at the birthday party we attended. They didn't provide us any utensils for food. The waters that were offered were warm and the service was slow. Not ideal when wrangling a ; year old birthday party. The event space does provide food at a cost (pizza,chicken tenders, fries, lemonade).

Staff is friendly. I visited with a friend to do some strawberry picking. Such a wonderful…read moreexperience. Very family, friendly, and open to everyone. Definitely a community type of an environment. I would recommend anyone to visit.

I like this place…read more The meats in the freezer are ultra expensive. A little outside my budget. The produce is reasonably priced and I love the layout of the place