There’s much to do this Mother’s Day weekend, whether you’re a day person or want a touch of nightlife.
Nature-filled activities, markets, cars, live music and more fill the coming May days like a bouquet of memories in the making.
Central Florida Printmakers at LCMA in Tavares
Printmaking, an underappreciated art form, has been around for centuries. The earliest known example of printmaking is a hand-printed woodblock on silk dating back to the Han Dynasty in China, around 206 BC to 220 AD.
Today, artists use various surfaces and methods such as linoleum and woodcut printing, drypoint, etching, stone lithography, monotype, serigraphy, collagraph, solarplate etching, and cyanotype.
See what some local artists are doing with printmaking at a new exhibition by the Central Florida Printmakers hosted by the Lake County Museum of Art, opening with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 9. The exhibition is up through July 26. LCMA is located at 213 W. Ruby St., Tavares. Details at lakeartmuseum.com and centralfloridaprintmakers.com.
Discover Leesburg & Fourth Street Live
Enjoy a chill evening stroll at Discover Leesburg in the city’s historic downtown from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 9, browsing vendors and taking in live music, vendors and exhibitors who wrap around the scenic Towne Square at 510 W. Main St., and the fun spills into local businesses offering drink specials and extended operating hours.
This month’s DL features tail-wagging fun at a Paws & Pours Market. Complimentary pet portraits (with or without you) available from Jessica Taylor Photography plus a free bandana or necktie for the first 10 pups for photos, vendors with treats and accessories, and Purrfect Paws & Claws Veterinary Hospital. Stroll to Fourth Street for an art walk and music at Artist with A Purpose’s Fourth Street Live. Call 352-728-9885 for more information.
Butterfly release at Lil’ Bit of Life Farm
Nothing gets your heart aflutter quite like a butterfly release. Lil’ Bit of Life Farm hosts its Open Farm Celebration & Butterfly Release from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. Tickets are required and cost $15 for everyone 2 and older, free for little ones who are younger.
Fee includes entry to the farm, a guided tour led by 4H members and volunteers, animals up close, your very own winged bug to release during the butterfly release at noon and access to concessions featuring hot dogs, snow cones, cotton candy, chips, drinks and more.
More amusements such as pony rides and barrel trains available for a fee. Lil’ Bit of Life Farm can be found at 2920 Robie Ave., Mount Dora. Details: lilbitoflife.com.
Garden Block Party & Market
In the back of 1012 W. Main St., Leesburg, you’ll discover an elegant little plant shop that now occupies a made-over carriage house. At VerdeVin, you can sip wine while relaxing and browsing beautiful flora. To celebrate her new shop, VerdeVin owner Carla Garcia is hosting a block party with local food vendors and free Mimosas from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.
“Join us for a dreamy girls’ day out full of sunshine, shopping and sweet moments,” the Facebook invite says. The event features, of course, plant and garden retailers, boutique retail, sweets, fresh breads and local desserts and a tea service. Visit the VerdeVin Co. Facebook page for updates or email Verdevinllc@gmail.com.
‘Letting Nature into Your Landscape’ at Trout Lake
How do you create a strong and resilient landscape at your home or business? You do what nature does. Certified arborist and palm expert Eric Scovack from TipTop Tree Service will be talking about how you should care for your trees and palms, mimicking what nature does at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the Trout Lake Nature Center.
Under Scovack’s guidance, dead branches were removed from TLNC’s Grandfather oak (said to have been a seedling when Thomas Jefferson was born) to protect it. Its root plate was lifting on the north side of the tree. So, several large dead branches on the south side were removed, reducing the weight on that side of the tree and stress on the root plate.
The Nature Center is located at 520 E County Road 44, Eustis. The class is free, but parking is $5 a vehicle. Details: 352-357-7536.
Leesburg Main Street Car Show
If your mom appreciates sweet rides, take her to the Leesburg Main Street Car Show from 3 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, hosted by Street Dreams Cruising. DJ Sam entertains spectators with vintage tunes at the event held every second Saturday of the month. Car owners compete for trophies and prizes, and 50/50 drawings add to the fun. 500 W. Main St, Leesburg. Details: 843-297-1524.
Latin Night at Magnolia Breeze in Eustis
Head to downtown Eustis’ Magnolia Breeze for the launch of their new menu and first Latin night with DJ Rueben. Features: $30 beer draft towers or $45 margarita towers. Upcoming hookah nights and cigars will also be featured. The fun happens from 6:30 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at 110 N. Bay St., Eustis. Details: 352- 357-0162.
Downtown Clermont Farmers Market
Take Mom for a stroll at scenic downtown Clermont, where 30-plus local vendors set up with their produce, gourmet goodies, handcrafted giftable items and more from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 11. Food trucks will be on hand as well as live music. Navigate to 691 W. Montrose Street, Clermont. clermontdowntown.com.
Rock out to glam bands of today and yesteryear
The rafters will be challenged at the Mount Dora Music Hall when “Rise of the Decades” features Tampa rockers Midnight Vice, beloved glam metal band L.A Guns, Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis. Hear tunes like “Never Enough,” “Over the Edge,” “Ballad of Jayne” and many more. Terry Ilous, lead singer of XYZ (and formerly of Great White) contributes XYZ’s hits and deep cuts from the vault. 5 p.m., Sunday, May 11, 520 N. Baker St. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com.
A look ahead
Fringe theater fest returns to Orlando
Organizers of this year’s shows at the 34th Annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival say the 2025 performances break the mold of what we normally expect at Fringe: much than offbeat and minimalist plays. Unconventional, multifaceted performances, a staggering variety of genres and themes, will entertain Central Florida theater lovers May 13-26.
Keith Brown, renowned magician, speaker, and entertainer extraordinaire, returns to Orlando with his award-winning show, “100% Wizard.” “Giselle’s Florence Foster Jenkins Schubertiade Review” has been described as a “high-octane theatrical ride, ready to smash expectations, tickle your soul.” In “Naughty Bits: A Modest Proposal for Banning Shakespeare,” HudsonWerks Theater tours the Bard’s bawdiest bits in a clever, zany satire.
Of course, there’s much more. Check out the schedule at orlandofringe.ssboxoffice.com/events. Read the full event program at issuu.com.
Virginia Samuels Cares Day
A local nonprofit raises funds at a fun free community event for people starting over and in honor of Stroke and Mental Health Awareness Month. Named after a local humanitarian, Virginia Samuels Cares Day will feature vendors, entertainment, giveaways and more from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at the Leesburg Towne Square. General admission is free, but you can purchase tickets for food and other items at eventbrite.com.
Sweet Corn Festival at Amber Brooke Farms
Amber Brooke Farms is going to wrap up its spring fest season soon, but not before going out with one last blast, the Sweet Corn Festival, May 17-25. Enjoy U-Pick blueberries, sunflowers, zinnias and, and, of course, corn; corn-shucking and eating contests; sweet treets, photo opps and family-fun amusements. It all happens Saturday and Sunday, May 17-25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 36111 N. County Road 44A, Eustis. Details: amberbrookefarms.com.
Mount Dora Corn Festival shucks things up
Enjoy a time-honored farm fest in historic Mount Dora on Saturday, May 24, noon to 7 p.m., at Elizabeth Evans Park. The family-friendly celebration will showcase Zellwood sweet corn and feature a full day of festive activities, entertainment and mouthwatering eats—all set along the scenic Lake Dora waterfront. Admission is $12-$20. Details at ci.mount-dora.fl.us/1485/Corn-Festival
