Veterans Day 2026 in Ocala
Ceremonies, concerts and veteran events in Ocala and Marion County, plus what is open and closed on Nov. 11
Veterans Day honors everyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces, and in Marion County the observance centers on the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park on East Fort King Street. This guide lists the Veterans Day week events confirmed by their organizers, the holiday schedules posted by the City of Ocala, Marion County and federal agencies, and the year-round places where veterans are honored or admitted free.
Veterans Day Ceremonies and Concerts on Nov. 11
Two public observances are scheduled in Ocala on Veterans Day itself. Each was confirmed on the organizer's or venue's own page on Oct. 18, 2026, and re-checked on Oct. 27, 2026.
Veterans Day Program at Veterans Memorial Park
Marion County Public Schools presents a Veterans Day Program on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E. Fort King St. in Ocala. It is the 20th year the school district has presented the county's official ceremony, with students from 19 schools, a 21-gun salute by the Ocala Police Department Honor Guard, a vintage airplane flyover and a giant flag hung between fire department ladder trucks. The district invites the public and asks attendees to arrive early for parking and bring lawn chairs, since bleacher seating is limited.
Event details · What to expect at the student-led ceremonyVeterans Day Memorial Concert at the Reilly
Redeemer Christian School presents a Veterans Day Memorial Concert on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St. in Ocala. The Redeemer Christian Wind Ensemble plays patriotic favorites, and Dr. Pete Nadeau shares stories of the past between pieces. Tickets are sold through the Reilly; its event page does not list a price.
Event detailsIs there a Veterans Day parade?
As of Oct. 18, 2026, no Veterans Day parade was listed for 2026 on the City of Ocala event calendar, the Marion County calendar or the Friends of the Marion County Veterans Park calendar. Ocala's big downtown parade of the season is the Ocala Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026. This page will be updated if a Veterans Day parade is announced.
More Veteran Events During Veterans Day Week
The day before Veterans Day is the busiest for veteran programs in Ocala, with a job fair, a business symposium and a concert by veteran musicians.
Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair, Tuesday, Nov. 10
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion holds Marion County's 14th annual Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marion County Public Library Headquarters, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd. in Ocala. The fair is free and open to any job seeker, with veterans and their families given priority access during the first hour. CareerSource asks job seekers to register online.
Event details · Ocala job fair guideVeterans in Business Symposium, Tuesday, Nov. 10
The City of Ocala hosts a Veterans in Business Symposium from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave. in Ocala. According to the city, veterans of all eras can learn how to pursue procurement opportunities, connect with veteran organizations, local businesses and government agencies, and find local resources for veteran entrepreneurs. Registration and questions go to smallbiz@ocalafl.gov or 352-629-8523, according to the city's event listing. More resources are in our veteran-owned businesses in Ocala guide.
Event detailsJam Corps Showcase, Tuesday, Nov. 10
Arts in Health Ocala Metro (AIHOM) and the Marion Theatre present the inaugural Jam Corps Showcase at 6 p.m. at the Marion Theatre, 50 S. Magnolia Ave. in downtown Ocala. Veteran musicians from Jam Corps, a program that brings veterans together for weekly jam sessions at the local VFW, perform. The Reilly Arts Center lists the tickets as free with an RSVP.
Event detailsOcala Polo Veterans Cup, Saturday, Nov. 14
The Ocala Polo Club lists its Nov. 14 match as the Veterans Cup, part of its Fall 2026 season at the Florida Horse Park, 11008 S. Highway 475 in Ocala. Tailgate spaces are reserved in advance on the club's website, and general admission tickets can be bought at the gate.
Event detailsMore Events on the Calendar
- CF Patriots Jazz Band Concert, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m., at the College of Central Florida's Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 SW College Road; free.
- CF Patriot Singers Concert, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., at the Dassance Fine Arts Center; free.
- Pearl Harbor Day observance, Monday, Dec. 7, at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E. Fort King St., marking the 85th anniversary of the 1941 attack; the Friends of the Marion County Veterans Park have not yet posted a start time.
What Is Open and Closed on Veterans Day 2026 in Ocala
Veterans Day is a federal holiday, but schedules differ by agency. Each item below comes from the agency's own 2026 holiday schedule.
City of Ocala garbage pickup
City residential sanitation is closed on Nov. 11. Wednesday and Thursday routes run one day later: Wednesday collection moves to Thursday, Nov. 12, and Thursday collection moves to Friday, Nov. 13. The 24-hour sanitation information hotline is 352-351-6698. Source: the city's 2026 residential sanitation holiday schedule.
City of Ocala offices
The City of Ocala lists Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, among its observed holidays on the city holiday schedule.
Marion County Solid Waste
The Solid Waste administration office is closed on Nov. 11. The Baseline Transfer Station and Baseline Recycling Center are open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the county's 2026 holiday hours list only those two facilities as open that day.
Clerk of Court
The Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller lists Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, on its 2026 holiday schedule, so Clerk's offices are closed that day.
Post office and federal offices
The U.S. Postal Service lists Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, as a postal holiday, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management lists it as a federal holiday. Expect post offices and federal offices to be closed and no regular mail delivery.
Public schools are in session
Marion County Public Schools' board-approved 2026-2027 instructional calendar does not list Veterans Day as a no-school day, so Nov. 11 is a regular school day. Thanksgiving break runs Nov. 23-27.
The Marion County Public Library System had not posted Veterans Day hours as of Oct. 18, 2026; check library.marionfl.org before visiting. Banks and private businesses set their own holiday hours.
Next up: City of Ocala offices close Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, and trash routes shift for Thanksgiving. See Thanksgiving 2026 closures in Ocala and Marion County.
Free meals on Veterans Day
As of Oct. 31, 2026, Chili's, Golden Corral and Bob Evans list a free Veterans Day meal for veterans and military members on Nov. 11 on their own 2026 pages, all dine-in only. Terms, Ocala addresses and the chains that had not yet announced 2026 offers are in the Veterans Day free meals and deals guide.
Places to Honor Veterans in Ocala, Any Day
Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park
The free memorial park at 2601 E. Fort King St. honors service members with more than 5,000 memorial bricks, benches and plaques. Marion County Veterans Services lists park hours as sunrise to sunset, with the park office and the Veterans Exhibit and Education Center open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Inductees of the Marion County Veterans Hall of Fame are displayed at the park.
Veterans Memorial Park guideAppleton Museum of Art
The Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., lists free admission for U.S. veterans with ID. The museum's posted hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., so it is scheduled to be open on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Florida State Parks discounts
Florida State Parks gives current and retired service members a 25% discount on annual entrance passes, and veterans with service-related injuries receive a free lifetime military pass, as do surviving spouses and parents of service members who fell in combat. The passes cover Marion County's Silver Springs State Park and Rainbow Springs State Park. This is a year-round benefit, not a Veterans Day promotion.
Veteran-owned businesses
Veterans Day is a natural day to shop with local veteran-owned businesses. Restaurant chains set their Veterans Day meal offers each year; see the free meals guide for the 2026 offers posted so far.
Veteran-owned businesses in OcalaVeterans Day in Ocala: Frequently Asked Questions
When is Veterans Day 2026?
Veterans Day 2026 is Wednesday, November 11, 2026. It is a federal holiday, and the City of Ocala lists it as an observed holiday on its 2026 holiday schedule.
Is there a Veterans Day ceremony in Ocala in 2026?
Yes. The Friends of the Marion County Veterans Park list a Veterans Day Program presented by Marion County Public Schools on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E. Fort King St. That evening at 6:30 p.m., Redeemer Christian School presents a Veterans Day Memorial Concert at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St.
Is there a Veterans Day parade in Ocala in 2026?
As of Oct. 18, 2026, no Veterans Day parade was listed for 2026 on the City of Ocala event calendar, the Marion County calendar or the Friends of the Marion County Veterans Park calendar. This guide will be updated if one is announced.
Is garbage picked up on Veterans Day in Ocala?
City of Ocala residential sanitation is closed on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. Wednesday and Thursday routes run one day later, so Wednesday collection moves to Thursday and Thursday collection moves to Friday. The city sanitation hotline is 352-351-6698.
Are Marion County recycling centers open on Veterans Day 2026?
Marion County Solid Waste's 2026 holiday hours list the Solid Waste administration office as closed on Nov. 11, with the Baseline Transfer Station and Baseline Recycling Center open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Is the post office open on Veterans Day 2026?
No regular service is expected. The U.S. Postal Service lists Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, as a postal holiday, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management lists it as a federal holiday, so federal offices are closed.
Is there school on Veterans Day 2026 in Marion County?
Marion County Public Schools' board-approved 2026-2027 instructional calendar does not list Veterans Day as a no-school day, so Nov. 11, 2026, is a regular school day. The district's next scheduled break is Thanksgiving week, Nov. 23-27.
Are there free meals for veterans on Veterans Day 2026 in Ocala?
As of Oct. 31, 2026, Chili's, Golden Corral and Bob Evans list a free Veterans Day meal on Nov. 11 on their own 2026 pages, and all three have Ocala restaurants. The offers are dine-in only, and terms and participation vary by chain and location, so call the restaurant first. See the Veterans Day free meals guide for terms and addresses.
Where can veterans get free admission in Ocala?
The Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., lists free admission for U.S. veterans with ID year-round, and the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park is free to visit. Florida State Parks gives current and retired service members a 25% discount on annual entrance passes and a free lifetime military pass to veterans with service-related injuries.
Sources checked Oct. 18, 2026: Friends of the Marion County Veterans Park events calendar; Reilly Arts Center event pages; CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion; City of Ocala event calendar, holiday schedule and residential sanitation holiday schedule; Marion County Solid Waste holiday hours and Veterans Services; Marion County Clerk of Court; U.S. Postal Service; U.S. Office of Personnel Management; Marion County Public Schools; Appleton Museum of Art; Florida State Parks; Ocala Polo Club. See our editorial guidelines.
Día de los Veteranos 2026 en Ocala
El Día de los Veteranos 2026 es el miércoles 11 de noviembre. Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Marion presentan un programa a las 11 a.m. en el Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park, 2601 E. Fort King St., en Ocala, y Redeemer Christian School ofrece un concierto conmemorativo a las 6:30 p.m. en el Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St. Las oficinas de la Ciudad de Ocala, las oficinas federales y el correo cierran ese día, y las rutas de recolección de basura de la ciudad de miércoles y jueves se atrasan un día. Las escuelas públicas del condado tienen clases normales. El Appleton Museum of Art ofrece entrada gratis a los veteranos de EE. UU. con identificación.
Plan Ahead — Other Ocala Holidays
Bookmark these year-round Ocala holiday and seasonal guides for parades, fireworks, kid-friendly events, and family traditions in Marion County.