Phantom Takeover at Lake Dora is the weekend's centerpiece -- Saturday morning, 200 veteran paratroopers jumping into Lake Dora from a D-Day C-47, with a 92-year-old among the jumpers. Friday night, Queen Divas brings Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston to the Old Mill Playhouse, and Small Town Saturday Night closes Inverness Town Square with free live music from The American Stones. Weather-wise, Friday is the cleanest of the three -- sunny, high of 89, essentially zero chance of rain. Saturday tops out at 91 with a 17% chance of afternoon storms, so get to Wooton Park early. Sunday carries a 31% shot at showers, though mornings should be fine.
Friday
Crystal River Spring Invitational Antique Tackle Show -- Downtown Crystal River, $5 adults / kids 12 & under free, 10:00 AM ET
Two-day show running Friday 10 AM--4 PM and Saturday 9 AM--4 PM at 9301 West Fort Island Trail. The floor has vintage lures, rare reels, rods, and fishing memorabilia going back decades -- the kind of stuff you don't stumble across at a regular flea market. Bring your old tackle for a free appraisal, or consign it for Saturday evening's auction.
V4V presents: Queen Divas Tribute to Aretha Franklin & Whitney Houston -- Old Mill Playhouse, 12:00 AM ET
Queen Divas pays tribute to Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston in a single powerhouse show at the Old Mill Playhouse in The Villages. Two catalogs, two iconic voices, one stage -- if you're going to see one tribute act this month, this is a reasonable argument for it being this one. A 10% discount is available through the venue.
Friday Foodie Fest -- Lake Lillian, 5:00 PM ET
Belleview's monthly food truck event runs 5--9 PM on the third Friday, and this is it. Food trucks, craft vendors, local business booths, live music, face painting, and train rides -- free family-friendly activities throughout. Food is purchased separately at the trucks. Bring a lawn chair if you want to settle in.
Open Pickleball -- Clermont Arts & Recreation Center Gymnasium, $5 per session, 11:30 AM & 6:00 PM ET
Two sessions Friday -- midday at 11:30 AM and evening at 6:00 PM -- both $5. Photo ID required at the door, under-14s need adult supervision, and court shoes only (no black soles, no open toes). Straightforward drop-in play with no frills.
Student Hiring Fair -- South Sumter High School, $10.00, 12:00 AM ET
Sumter County Schools is hosting this fair specifically for graduating seniors from South Sumter, The Villages High School, and Wildwood Middle High School. Juniors are also welcome for summer or part-time opportunities. Local business partners will be in the building ready to hire -- if you've got a kid wrapping up school this month, this is worth putting on their radar.
Small Town Slam Wrestling -- 300 N Apopka Ave, 12:00 AM ET
Pro wrestling in the Depot District in Inverness -- big personalities, big hits, the whole production. The event description says it's free, and the Inverness community calendar backs that up. Good chaotic fun if you want something a little different Friday night.
Google Basics -- W T Bland Public Library, 10:30 AM ET
Hands-on workshop at the Mount Dora library covering Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, and the core Google tools. PCs are provided -- you don't need to bring anything. Registration is required, so call or check in with the library before showing up.
Saturday
Phantom Airborne Brigade -- Wooton Park, $25.00, 9:00 AM ET
This is the one. Saturday morning at Wooton Park in Tavares, the Phantom Airborne Brigade conducts a historic water jump demonstration into Lake Dora from the C-47 "Tico Belle" -- the same aircraft that flew three combat drops over Normandy on D-Day. About 200 veteran paratroopers are making multiple jumps, including a 92-year-old, active-duty service members, and two paraplegic paratroopers. The event runs 8 AM--2 PM; get there early because the shoreline will fill up. This is genuinely rare.
Uncorked -- Downtown Crystal River, 12:00 AM ET
Sip-and-stroll wine event through downtown Crystal River, featuring pours from the Wine Shop and Copp Winery. Downtown Crystal River is walkable and genuinely pleasant for this kind of thing -- good combination of fresh air and a glass in hand.
Toddler Start Smart -- The City of Brooksville Parks & Recreation, 2:00 PM ET
Seven-week program for ages 2--5 built around movement and basic sport skills -- throwing, catching, kicking, hitting -- through play. This is a drop-in session within the ongoing program; families come and go, though 30--45 minutes is the recommended minimum. Parent or caregiver participation is part of the design.
Sunday
Moulin Rouge -- Reilly Arts Center, 2:00 PM, 4:30 PM & 7:30 PM ET
Three showtimes Sunday at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala -- 2:00 PM, 4:30 PM, and 7:30 PM. The 7:30 PM show is the one to pick if you want the evening-out feel. Check the Reilly's box office for seating and availability across showtimes.
Writers Group -- W T Bland Public Library, Free, 1:30 PM & 5:00 PM ET
Monthly writers group at the Mount Dora library, two sessions: 1:30 PM and 5:00 PM. Regular meetings are drop-in, no registration needed -- just show up ready to share and give feedback. If you're new, ask library staff for the group leader's contact info first. The format is workshop-style critique, not a lecture.
The Full Lineup
Find all 81+ events this weekend at villacalalineup.com/events/.
Got a tip or event we should know about? Email [email protected]
