A Movie Night, a Spelling Bee, and British Blues Downtown

Labor Day gives Marion County one more day off before the routine kicks back in, and there is plenty downtown to fill it: a Back to the Future singalong, a spelling bee for grown-ups, and a night of British blues. Here's what else is worth your time around Marion County this week.

Back to the Future: Beyond 88 MPH | Reilly Arts Center | Tuesday, Sept 8, 7:00 PM

A screening of the 1985 classic with a behind-the-scenes look at the film's music before it rolls.

For: Families and Adults

2026 Adult Spelling Bee | Reilly Arts Center | Wednesday, Sept 9, 6:30 PM

Grown-ups compete to benefit the Marion County Literacy Council, hosted by Artify Ocala. RSVP required.

For: Adults

Blues in the Box: Will Johns | Reilly Arts Center (Midgett Black Box) | Friday, Sept 11, 7:30 PM

British blues-rock artist Will Johns blends classic and modern sound in an intimate setting.

For: Adults

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Hometown News profiles a Dade City safari park about ninety minutes south, where you can ride a Segway past giraffes and zebras or just drive through and let them come to you. A different way to spend a long weekend.

USA Today looks at a retirement philosophy built around spending your savings on purpose, rather than protecting a number you never touch. The idea is catching on with people who worked hard for their money and want to actually enjoy it.

Key Takeaway: A plan built around memories and experiences, not just a balance, is worth a conversation with your advisor.

The LA Times breaks down new research showing that how well you balance on one foot may say more about your lifespan than you'd expect.

Key Takeaway: A few minutes of balance practice a day is a small habit with a real payoff.

Your water bill doesn't have to spike just because Florida's heat is still hanging on. Bob Vila breaks down easy ways to cut back on watering, from smarter irrigation timing to swapping thirsty turf for native, drought-tolerant plants that do fine in our soil.

$112,000 | A Solid Start Near Town

1BR / 1BA Ocala condo with an easy, low-upkeep layout, good for a first home or a simple move-in.

Listed by Marie Evans.

$342,000 | Space to Spread Out in Summerfield

3BR / 2BA Summerfield home with a comfortable layout and room to grow into.

Listed by Bob Slutsky.

$549,900 | Room to Entertain in Ocala

3BR / 3BA Ocala home with upscale finishes and space built for hosting.

Listed by Mary Johnson.

Marion County has one of the largest concentrations of horse farms in the world, and all that preserved farmland is a big reason Ocala still feels like country. It shapes zoning, keeps neighborhoods spread out, and protects the views you moved here for.

For anyone house hunting here, that protected farmland is part of why Marion County still feels different from its neighbors, and it isn't changing anytime soon.

Baymont by Wyndham Ocala Suites

Got family in town for Labor Day weekend or the shows at Reilly? Baymont by Wyndham Ocala Suites keeps a room ready minutes from I-75.

That is it for this week. Providing the Ocala community with clear, data-driven home insights. Hope your Labor Day is a good one.