Welcome to March! With the new month comes the beginning of allergy season, and there are lots of things to do to prepare for it if you want to minimize the trouble it can cause you.
Allergies don't affect everyone the same, thank goodness, but your car can be a moving hotspot for irritants. And just as those irritants can trouble your body, a heavy pollen count can also disturb your vehicle.
A vehicle covered in dust, or pollen, or soot, means that tiny particles that form can try to get into the engine and can eventually clog up your fuel system, as well as your air intake. So if this year's pollen count is exceptionally high without enough rain to keep it washed away, consider these critical pieces of advice:
Wash your car and vacuum your engine out. Cleaning out the chassis helps prevent pollen from getting into the vehicle's engine and damaging the fuel system.
Replace the air filters. In the heaviest pollen, they will begin to clog up.
Wipe down the interior. Clean and detail your car just as you would for COVID-19, making a thorough clean-up of the entire interior.
For more ideas on getting the car spring cleaned, check out ChrisFix's guide to super-cleaning your interior!
Here’s our Events for March!
March 1st
World Compliment Day
March 1st - 27th:
Horse Fever Rides Again!
Circle Square Cultural Center
Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 2 PM
This free event is open to the public!
Come out to Circle Square Cultural Center starting March 1st for the Outdoor Photo Op on the Front Lawn. The art project will then be displayed inside Circle Square Cultural Center Lobby starting March 2nd and running until March 27th to see the new herd before they return to their owners. The Horse Fever 20/20 herd of painted horses will be on display from March 1st until March 27th for both OTOW residents and the general public.
March 2nd - March 7th
WECO Winter Spectacular
World Equestrian Center
The World Equestrian Center is pleased to present the Ocala Winter Spectaculars. This is a 12-week winter hunter/jumper horse show circuit, which runs January 6 through March 28.
Two weeks of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Winter Spectacular competition are CSI3* USEF premier rated (pending approval) and the remaining 10 weeks will be sanctioned by the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA), an organization with nearly 40 years of equestrian sport governance.
March 4th:
Farmer’s Market
The Town Square at Circle Square Commons
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Join us for a wonderful selection of fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, hand-made soaps and much more!
March 5th:
Employee Appreciation Day
March 5th:
First Friday Art Walk
Downtown Ocala
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Event festivities include 16 artist displays, 2 buskers playing ambient music throughout downtown, free family art activities provided by local arts organizations and extended shopping hours. Live musical performance will be located at the Downtown Square.
March 6th:
Florida SpringsFest 2021 GOES DIGITAL
Online
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Exhibitors, Vendors, Artists, Musicians, and the Community will all be invited to join in on a big digital celebration of community and culture surrounding springs as well as preservation and education information about Florida springs and natural resources. We can all do our part to conserve and celebrate a beautiful thing that unites us all...WATER. More information to come!
March 7th:
National Cereal Day
March 12th:
Girl Scout’s Day
March 13th and 14th:
Timberline Farm Strawberry Festival 2021
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday 10am – 6pm, Sunday 12pm – 6pm
Admission Includes: Live Music and Entertainment, Live Bee Display, Hayride, Train Ride, Farm Animals, Corn Crib, Blacksmith Shop, Horse Shoes, Hay Slide, Checkers, and Country Store. We also have many vendors: Fresh Strawberries, Fresh Local Honey, Face Painting, Boiled Peanuts, Cotton Candy, Shaved Ice, Jewelry, Candle Art, Pony Rides, Food, Assorted Strawberry Desserts, and more!
March 15th:
The Ides of March
March 19th - 20th:
Southeastern Pro Rodeo
Southeastern Livestock Pavilion
Time: 7:30 PM
Get ready for two jam-packed performances filled with exciting competition in saddle and bareback bronc riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, and the most dangerous eight seconds in any sport, BULL RIDING.
March 20th:
Rainbow Springs Art Festival
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
6th Annual Rainbow Springs Art Festival in the historic Downtown Dunnellon!
Fine art, fine craft, entertainment, music, classic cars, food and fun! CAR AND TRUCK SHOW presented by the Citrus Vettes and Camaros Car Club.
March 26th:
Frida After Dark
Tuscawilla Art Park
Time: 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Viva la Vida! Enjoy the motion picture "Frida" accompanied by a live musical performance, food truck, and a cash bar. Join us at the Tuscawilla Art Park for an After Dark in the Park showing of the motion picture "Frida", a biographical film about the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Enjoy a live musical performance, food truck, cash bar, artisan vendors, movie concessions, and more. This event is open to the public and admission is free. Bring your chairs and blankets as we create a beautiful outdoor theater under the stars, amongst sculptures and backdrop of historic Ocala Union Station.
March 27th
Market of Marion Car Show
Market of Marion
Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Every month on the fourth Saturday, except July, Aug, Nov, Dec. Hosted by the Villages Classic Automobile Club. All vehicle makes and years welcome. Trophies, food, DJ music and value cover racing.
That looks like it for the events this month. If you’re looking for a worthy charity to help out this year, please consider the work St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is doing for Ocala. We hope you’ll offer up whatever support you can! We know they’ll greatly appreciate anything that you can donate.
Got an issue with your vehicle? Schedule an appointment online and let Pals Ocala Auto Repair take care of you. We are located at 2821 SW College Road, Ocala, FL, 34474. Until next time!