Early Fall Celebration at the Ocala Downtown Market and Beyond

OCALA, FL (352today.com) – As the fall season approaches and Ocala prepares for festive activities, the Ocala Downtown Market kicks off the fun with an early celebration. Harvest Hoedown was a chance for vendors to start showing off their seasonal items.

The hoedown was hosted on Sept. 7 from 12 – 4 p.m. at 403 SE Osceola Ave, featuring a variety of vendors local to Ocala and Dunnellon with some travelling from outside of Marion County from places like Gainesville and Tampa. Stalls lined the pavilion with crochet animals, 3D printed dragons, candles, cups, hot sauces and more. Seasonal items were found at various booths with fall-themed pillows, pumpkin spice scented candles and decorated stands to fit the theme of the market.

A young man sits behind a table with multiple crochet animals and sunflower coasters. In the background is a white truck, orange and yellow traffic barricade, a potter with a small tree and a parking lot. — Noah Bingham arranged a booth of handmade crochet animals and sunflower coasters on Sept. 7 at the Ocala Downtown Market.
Courtesy: Amber Battillo/352today

A man and woman sit behind a table with a black tablecloth. On top of the table is handmade paintings and crochet animals. — Noah Bingham arranged a booth of handmade crochet animals and sunflower coasters on Sept. 7 at the Ocala Downtown Market.
Courtesy: Amber Battillo/352today

Outside of the covered pavilions were food trucks selling lemonade, popcorn, lotus teas and more with seating scattered for guests to take a break from shopping and buy cool drinks to beat the heat. The vendors also had themed drinks with pumpkin being a featured flavor at stations like the Sipping Grounds, who is a repeat vendor at the Ocala Downtown Market. Although many of the vendors were repeat attendees, there were a few newcomers giving both vendors and locals fresh faces and new experiences.

Kettle corn bags sit in buckets on the edge of a counter at a food truck parked on the curb of a sidewalk. In the background, two people are ordering from a lemonade stand while others walk out toward a street. — Food trucks line up at the Ocala Downtown Market, selling fall-themed items for the Harvest Hoedown on Sept. 7. Courtesy: Amber Battillo/352today

In addition to vendors and food trucks, the market also featured live singing, a booth where kids could roll around in human hamster balls and a section for kids to play minigolf. Many of the vendors are pop-up shops, however, many expressed their plans to attend upcoming markets at the Ocala Downtown Market. The event was free to attend for all ages and perfect for locals to grab unique fall-themed items and get a sense of the incoming season.

Fall colored quilts, bags and decor are set on shelves with one large quilt being strung up. — A booth at the Harvest Hoedown sold fall-themed quilts and bags and decorated to fit the harvest theme of the event on Sept. 7 at the Ocala Downtown Market.
Courtesy: Amber Battillo/352today

Three pumpkin candles, scented to pumpkin spice are lined up on a wooden shelf with other scents surrounding them. — A booth at the Harvest Hoedown sold fall-themed quilts and bags and decorated to fit the harvest theme of the event on Sept. 7 at the Ocala Downtown Market.
Courtesy: Amber Battillo/352today

Harvest Hoedown isn’t the only early celebration happening this fall. Downtown Ocala has been stringing a colorful array of orange and yellow leaves on light posts and decorated the Downtown Gazebo, giving the local area a sense of the coming season.

A white gazebo with a green roof and circular medallion at the top reading, "City of Ocala. Marion County, Florida" sits in the foreground with brick-buildings and shops in the background. The gazebo has fall-colored leaves surrounding it's railing and fall-colored flowers on either side of its entrance with little scarecrows on top of them. — The Ocala Downtown Square begins decorating for fall with leaves and miniature scarecrows.
Courtesy: Amber Battillo/352today

In the foreground is a black light pole with autumn-colored leaves hanging from it and a sign that reads the rules and for Downtown Square Ocala. In the background is a large, open space with a view of a variety of shops and restaurants. — The Ocala Downtown Square begins decorating for fall with leaves and miniature scarecrows.
Courtesy: Amber Battillo/352today

Supermarkets have begun to sell fall trinkets and Halloween goods. Retailers have been selling fall-themed blankets, pillows, monster-themed toys, costumes and more. They’re not stopping there with various Halloween items in store, such as decorations, costumes, candy buckets, inflatables, candy and more, preparing kids for trick-or-treating and adults for all things Halloween.

On the left is a skeleton in a black, white and orange clown outfit with a miniature guitar. On the right is a pumpkin in an orange, red, black and white clown outfit holding an accordion. In the center are red and blue shopping baskets with various candy and toy items on shelf in the background Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop. — Grandpa Joe’s and other retailers have begun setting up fun decor for the holiday season ahead.
Courtesy: Amber Battillo/352today

Display of horror-themed costumes featuring Terrifier's Art the Clown at Spirit Halloween. — Grandpa Joe’s and other retailers have begun setting up fun decor for the holiday season ahead.
Courtesy: Amber Battillo/352today

Residents are also starting to get into the spirit of fall and Halloween. Some have begun setting up décor such as pumpkins, scarecrows and fall-colored items in. Shops like Grandpa Joe’s, Spirit Halloween, Home Depot and more have begun to see some shoppers getting early fall decorations, Halloween buckets, fall-scented candles, costumes and Halloween candy. Residents have also begun attending fall events with the HOPS Walking Ghost Tour in the Historic District of Ocala being sold out, the Harvest Hoedown having a large turnout and locals beginning to advertise their Halloween and fall-themed events.

Early fall doesn’t end there in Ocala with more events to come in early and mid-September. There are plenty of upcoming events, pumpkin spice and fall-themed items for sale for locals to get active in the fun