Caribbean Jerk Festival in Clermont
The Caribbean American Association of Lake County will host its annual Caribbean Jerk Festival, featuring a jerk cooking competition, live music, kids zone, food vendors and a parade from noon to 9 p.m. June 1 at Waterfront Park, 100 3rd St., Clermont.
Admission is free and open to the public, but VIP preferred seating is available for $50 per person. Proceeds will benefit the nonprofit’s scholarship program and its Lake Steel Orchestra.
Details: caalc-fl.org.
Join an evening hike at PEAR Park
Lake County’s Parks and Trails Division will host an evening hike at 5 p.m. June 2 at PEAR Park, starting at its gateway, 26701 U.S. Highway 27, Leesburg. Staff will lead participants on an exploration of nature at the park.
Hikers should bring water and dress appropriately for weather conditions.
Details: Justin Pouliotat352-516-7011orjustin.pouliot@lakecountyfl.gov.
Vacation Bible schools in Lake County
— Bay Street Baptist Church, 37181 State Road 19, Umatilla, will host its annual Vacation Bible School from 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 2-7 for children who have completed pre-K 4 through fifth grades. This year’s theme is Breaker Rock Beach. The program is free and open to the public.
Details: 352-217-4131 or janneh37@gmail.com.
— Faith Lutheran Church and School will have Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to noon June 3-7 for pre-K 3 through fourth graders. This year’s theme is SCUBA: Diving into Friendship with God. The program is free and open to the public. The church is located at 2727 S. Grove St., Eustis.
Details and registration: vbspro.events/p/faitheustis.
— First Baptist Church of Mount Dora will have its annual Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to noon June 3-7 for students who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade on its campus, 1000 E. First Ave.
This year’s theme is “The Great Jungle Journey.” The program is free and open to the public, but space is limited.
Details and registration: 352-385-2222.
— South Lake Christian Church, 19455 Villa City Road, Groveland, will host its yearly Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to noon June 3-7 for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This year’s theme is On the Case. The program is free and open to the public.
Details and registration: 352-988-3123 or Janna@slcc.church.
— Woodland Lutheran Church will have Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to noon June 3-7 for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This year’s theme is SCUBA: Diving into Friendship with God. The church is located at 15333 County Road 455, Montverde, and the program is free and open to the public.
Details and registration: go to woodlandschurch.com, and click on the VBS link under “Announcements.”
Get free assistance with family history research
The Pastfinders of South Lake County Genealogical Society is offering free family history research assistance for area residents from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 3 and 19 in the genealogy room on the second floor of the Cooper Memorial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont.
The library provides Ancestry, Florida Memories, and Heritage Quest on its computers. Additionally, there are over 2,000 available.
Details: PastfindersSLC.org.
Summer reading kickoff party
The Eustis Memorial Library, 120 N. Center St., will kick-off its Summer Reading Challenge for kids with a party from 2 to 3 p.m. June 3, featuring games, activities and a craft. The library is also hosting its annual Adult Summer Reading Challenge from June 3-July 26 and will be handing out reading passports for older readers to fill out and be eligible for prizes.
Details: 352-357-0896 or 352-357-5686.
Publix volunteer days at Habitat
Publix Super Markets Charities recently awarded Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter a $150,000 grant for the construction of a home in The Cottages at Heritage Grove, 1410 County Drive, Tavares, and employees from around the area will volunteer at the build from 8 a.m. to noon June 4, 6, 18 and 20.
Since 2015, Publix Super Markets Charities has been partnering with Habitat Lake-Sumter to transform affordable housing in the community. Their gift of $150,000 is an increased investment in affordable housing in Lake County and their largest award to Habitat Lake-Sumter to-date.
Details: Lacie at 352-483-0434.
Learn to grow mushrooms
The Umatilla Public Library, 412 Hatfield Drive, will host a class on how to grow mushrooms at home beginning at 2 p.m. June 4. Free grow kits will be provided for participants, but space is limited and registration is required.
Details: Amy Stultzat352-669-3284or emailastultz@umatillafl.org.
Healthy for Life cooking class
The Lake County Extension Office is offering a series of three Healthy for Life cooking classes at 6 p.m. June 4, 11 and 25 at the Eustis Women’s Club, 227 N. Center St. Each session includes a hands-on cooking class, focusing on heart healthy habits to include in everyday meals. The cost is $30 for all three sessions.
Details: Lori Johnson at 352-343-4101 or email lorijohnson@ufl.edu.
Taylor Swift event for kids
The Friends of the Mount Dora Library is sponsoring a Taylor Swift Par-TAY from 2 to 4 p.m. June 7 for kids ages 9-up at the W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St.
The event will include an array of activities including Swiftie button making, friendship bracelets, Swift-themed treats and a photo booth. Attendees receive a Swift-themed library card sleeve if enrolled with a Mount Dora library card (available during the event). Registration is required and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Details: 352-735-7180 ext. 5, or library@cityofmountdora.com.
Mount Dora cadet selected for worldwide honor
Cadet Peyton Scott, Mount Dora Air Force JROTC, has been selected as the Air Force/Space Force JROTC Cadet of the Year. It is the first time in the program’s 29-year history that a Mount Dora cadet has been selected for the worldwide honor.
Scott will be formally recognized by Lake County Schools Superintendent Diane Kornegay and the Lake County School Board at an upcoming meeting.
Selection criteria for the honor emphasized cadet leadership and involvement within the unit, school and community, as well as academic performance and citizenship character traits such as dependability, followership, communication skills, motivation, and problem-solving skills.
During this academic year, Cadet Scott amassed 284 JROTC community service hours, a single-year cadet record for his unit. He also motivated 18 other cadets to exceed the 100-hour service hour threshold this year, another record for the program.
Additionally, as the corps commander, he guided the cadet corps to garner over 8,000 hours of service this year, another record for the program.
Scott, who expects to graduate in 2025, competed against 850 other units from around the world and was chosen ahead of more than 30,000 other cadets to earn the distinction of Cadet of the Year.
Join a history hike at Bourlay Park
The Lake County Water Authority will host a History Hike from 9 a.m. to noon June 1 at Bourlay Historic Nature Park, 950 N. Canal St., Leesburg. Staff will lead participants on a moderate hike through the park, with details about its habitat and the historical significance of the site.
Located on Lake Griffin, the 88-acre park was once a lakeside hub in the heyday of river steamboats, and the namesake of Leesburg, Evander Lee once lived on the property.
The land was donated to the Lake County Water Authority in 1999 by longtime resident Buddy Bourlay.
Details: Tracy Hausermanat352-298-0365or tracy.hauserman@lakecountyfl.gov.
Lady Lake hosts Bounce Town Bash
The Town of Lady Lake will have a Bounce Town Bash for kids, featuring more than 30 inflatables, both wet and dry, including a dedicated section for younger children, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1 at the Rolling Acres Sports Complex, 260 Rolling Acres Road.
The event will also feature a DJ, food trucks and ice-cream vendors. Attendees must bring their own towels.
Tickets are $6 per child and can be purchased at Town Hall on Fennel Boulevard or at the Lady Lake Public Library on Guava Street.
Details: Events Coordinator Amy Alicea at events@ladylake.orgor 352-205-2826.
Ages 50-over men’s softball league seeks players
The Lakes League Men’s Softball League for ages 50 and over plays at 9 a.m. on Thursdays at Pear Park, 26701 U.S. Highway 27 in Leesburg.
Interested players should email tsperanza7@gmail.com.
Summer book club kickoff at Mount Dora church
First Presbyterian Church in Mount Dora will launch an informal summer book club to discuss the Celebration of Discipline, authored by teacher and former pastor Richard J. Foster, at 7 p.m. Tuesdays beginning June 4 at the church, 222 W. Sixth Ave.
The last meeting will take place Aug. 27.
To submit events
To submit a community event for online publication, email information at least two weeks before the event to lake@orlandosentinel.com.
