Mount Dora’s quiet streets come alive several times a year for major festivals and community events. Known as a festival town these activities include one of Florida’s oldest and largest bicycle weekends, a fabulous nationally recognized art festival, a creative arts and crafts fair, fourth of July fireworks displays that rival the best in the US, jazz and blues mini concerts, the oldest sailboat regatta in the state of Florida, an African American Heritage Festival, several civil war reenactments, monthly antique fairs, lighted boat parades during the Christmas season and charity dog runs. The storied Antique Boat Festival which has its history in Mount Dora has grown so large that in 2008 it will be a held in both Mount Dora and Tavares, the adjoining town on the west end of Lake Dora.

Mount Dora is truly a place where you can live in a peaceful setting while enjoying as much culture as you choose to partake.

Mount Dora has several fine restaurants and their culinary expertise is showcased each year at the Taste of Mount Dora when downtown streets are closed for the day while thousands come to mingle, nibble, and sip fine wines. Cool street parties are monthly events giving you a chance to enjoy the evening over a good meal while listening to local musicians jazz it up.

The Christmas Season is highlighted by lights, millions of lights! Light up Mount Dora and the Lighted Boat Parade bracket the annual Christmas Parade in the midst of this spectacular winter wonderland. During the month of December you can sit in the park at night and read by the light of the Christmas lights while you enjoy a hot tottee and watch the mingling crowds of happy holiday revelers.