Mount Dora has a packed October weekend ahead.

The Mount Dora Ice Cream Stroll & Pup Walk returns Sunday afternoon, the 52nd Annual Cycle Mount Dora Bicycle Festival brings cyclists back to Lake County’s hills, the Mount Dora Soap Box Derby races into Elizabeth Evans Park, and Mount Dora Magic Bash fills downtown with three days of performances and surprises.

Add Women of Rock at the Mount Dora Music Hall, Art in the Alley, Plaid in the Park and live music throughout town, and there’s plenty to build a weekend around.

Here’s what’s happening October 9–11.

Mount Dora Ice Cream Stroll & Pup Walk

Sunday, Oct. 11 | 2–4 PM | Downtown Mount Dora

We’ve been counting down to this one.

The Mount Dora Ice Cream Stroll & Pup Walk – Fall ’26 returns Sunday for a self-guided afternoon of sweet treats and downtown stops.

Check in at the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, pick up your stroll materials and make your way through downtown at your own pace. This year’s route includes 29 stops and 27 sweet samples, with participating businesses serving up ice cream and other treats along the way.

Waffles & Cream and Scoops on 5th are supplying flavors throughout the route, Mystic Ice Cream is joining from its downtown shop, and pups can get in on the fun with treats at participating stops too.

The spring stroll drew more than 550 people and sold out, so advance tickets are strongly encouraged.

Also Big This Weekend

52nd Annual Cycle Mount Dora Bicycle Festival

Saturday & Sunday | Gilbert Park

Mount Dora’s hills are calling.

The 52nd Annual Cycle Mount Dora Bicycle Festival returns with rides through Mount Dora and Lake County for cyclists of different experience levels, from shorter recreational routes to longer rides built around the area’s famous elevation.

Gilbert Park serves as home base for the weekend, with riders heading out Saturday and Sunday morning.

Even if you aren’t riding, expect Bike Fest to be a big part of the atmosphere around town all weekend.

Mount Dora Soap Box Derby

Saturday, Oct. 10 | Elizabeth Evans Park

Saturday brings another kind of racing to downtown Mount Dora.

The Mount Dora Soap Box Derby returns to Elizabeth Evans Park with gravity-powered cars, young racers and one of the area’s most distinctive community traditions.

Between the bicycles and soap box cars, Saturday may unofficially be Mount Dora’s weekend on wheels.

Mount Dora Magic Bash

Friday–Sunday | Downtown Mount Dora

Keep your eyes open while you’re downtown this weekend.

Mount Dora Magic Bash returns with three days of street magic, family programming, restaurant performances and ticketed parlor shows.

Friday features Giovanni, Saturday brings comedy magician Erick Olson, and daytime programming includes strolling magicians, a Kids Magic Show and Houdini’s Greatest Escape, a special presentation marking the 100th anniversary of Harry Houdini’s death.

Some Magic Bash events are free, while select evening performances require tickets.

Women of Rock at the Mount Dora Music Hall

Saturday, Oct. 10 | 7 PM

The Women of Rock Las Vegas Show comes to the Mount Dora Music Hall Saturday night with a full live band celebrating music from some of rock’s most recognizable women, including Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Heart, Chrissie Hynde and Linda Ronstadt.

Friday, October 9

Art in the Alley

6–9 PM | Royellou Lane | Free

Art in the Alley returns Friday evening as local and emerging artists fill Royellou Lane with original work to browse and purchase.

Friday at Mount Dora Bistro

Start the weekend with Apéro in Paris from 3:30–5 PM, featuring canapés, live saxophone from Lucas and an open bar with cocktails, Bistro wines and Kronenbourg 1664.

Later in the evening, the Bistro’s Friday programming continues with The Comedy Hour, bringing stand-up into its Evening in Paris lineup.

Live Music Friday

Whiskey Kitchen — Barry Thorpe

Eden Abbey Brewing Community — Chris Sauter | 7–10 PM

Tremain’s Tavern at Lakeside Inn — Live piano

Copacabana Cuban Café and Back Porch Pizza Bar are also regular downtown stops for live music, making Friday night an easy one to keep going after dinner.

Saturday, October 10

Bike Fest, the Soap Box Derby and Magic Bash make Saturday the busiest day of the weekend, but there’s more happening around town.

Plaid in the Park

Saturday | Sunset Park

Plaid returns to Sunset Park for an afternoon of Scottish music and community gathering downtown.

Saturday Night at Mount Dora Bistro

The Bistro moves into Club Privé Saturday evening with dinner, cocktails, music and dancing.

Live Music Saturday

Whiskey Kitchen — Nicole Equerme | Early show

Whiskey Kitchen — Sal & Izy | Later show

Eden Abbey Brewing Community — Defenders of Daisies | 7–10 PM

Tremain’s Tavern at Lakeside Inn — Live piano

And if you’re planning your evening around a bigger show, Women of Rock starts at the Mount Dora Music Hall at 7 PM.

Sunday, October 11

Mount Dora Village Market

Morning–2 PM | Sunset Park

Start Sunday downtown at the Mount Dora Village Market, where local vendors fill Sunset Park with produce, artisan foods, flowers, crafts and other locally made goods.

Then make your way toward the Visitor Center, because the Ice Cream Stroll starts at 2 PM.

Mount Dora Ice Cream Stroll & Pup Walk

2–4 PM | Starts at the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center

Today’s the day.

Grab your stroll materials at the Visitor Center and start sampling your way through downtown.

If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, don’t wait until you’re standing at check-in.

Lake Irish Music Session

1:30–3:30 PM | Simpson Farmhouse

Traditional Irish music fills the Simpson Farmhouse at W.T. Bland Public Library Sunday afternoon, with musicians welcome to participate and everyone else welcome to listen.

Live Music Sunday

Whiskey Kitchen — Autumn Gold | Early show

Eden Abbey Brewing Community — John Ford | 5–7:30 PM

Pisces Rising — Nicole Equerme | 6–9 PM

That makes for a pretty easy Sunday itinerary: market, ice cream, dinner and live music.

More Around Town

There’s even more live music happening throughout Mount Dora over the weekend, including regular performances at Copacabana Cuban Café, Back Porch Pizza Bar, Funky Monkey, The Frog & Monkey, Serendipity Brews, The Nest at Papilio and Uncorked Wine Bar.

For additional fall activities around the area, Mount Dora Buzz also has listings for corn mazes, pumpkin patches, haunted attractions and seasonal events throughout North Lake County.

Whether you’re coming for the ice cream, bicycles, soap box cars, magic or live music, this is one of those weekends when Mount Dora gives you plenty of reasons to stay out a little longer.