Lake County

Mount Dora Arts Festival draws thousands, organizers focus on pandemic safety

MOUNT DORA, Fla. — One of Central Florida’s most popular street festivals is underway this weekend.

The Mount Dora Arts Festival draws thousands of people and vendors from around the country, but there are some big changes this year due to the pandemic.

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Festival organizers are enforcing social distancing measures and reducing the number of vendors.

The festival usually features 300 different artists from all over the country. This year, there are less than half as many.

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Some artists who were out on Saturday said this is their first major art show in almost a year.

Many artists said they had been relying on online sales to make it through last year.

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Other local festivals have recently been pushed back to the fall and some have already canceled.

The festival will run Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.