The biggest annual plant sale and educational expo in Marion County is set to return to the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion this weekend.
On Saturday, March 11 and Sunday, March 12, the 27th annual Master Gardeners’ Spring Festival will be held at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, which is located at 2232 NE Jacksonville Road in Ocala. The event will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday, and it will end on both days at 4 p.m.
In preparation for this weekend’s festival, the Marion County commissioners proclaimed the month of March as Gardening Month during the Marion County Board of County Commissioners regular meeting on Tuesday.
The annual festival is always scheduled on the second weekend in March, and it has hosted over 192,000 guests over the years.
The Master Gardeners’ Spring Festival has drawn over 192,000 visitors over the years (Photo: Marion County Board of County Commissioners)
During the two-day event, the UF/IFAS Marion County Master Gardeners will teach attendees about Florida-friendly plants, how to protect the local water supply through proper fertilization, how to identify good and bad bags to eliminate the overuse of pesticides, and how to properly irrigate lawns and landscapes.
Any children in attendance will get to learn more about the natural features of the local community via activities that will be provided in the Spring Festival Kids Zone.
There is a cost of $3 per person to attend the event. Admission is free for children ages 12 and under.
For more information, visit the UF/IFAS Master Gardener Spring Festival event webpage.