Appleton Museum of Art / College of Central Florida

2025 Holiday Community Day
2025-12-06 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL, 34470, United States
Join us for the annual Holiday Community Day, held on Free First Saturday and generously sponsored by Dr. Paul and Joyce Urban.

Admission is free all day to enjoy “A Dickens Christmas: The Urban Family’s Holiday Exhibition,” the Community Tree Display and other special exhibitions, and to make seasonal crafts in the Artspace.
From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., enjoy Face Painting by Tonya.
Also from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sensational Selfies is back this year to capture your photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Receive one free printed photo and a texted image.
At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., enjoy short holiday performances in the auditorium by Devotions Dance Company.
All activities are free!
Donut Express, Casita Luna, Brew Hope and Tasty Pot Island food trucks will be on-site throughout the day, along with El Bell’s Flowers, Humane Society of Marion County and Friends of Silver Springs.
The annual Holiday Community Day is sponsored by Dr. Paul and Joyce Urban, with additional support from CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Signing Santa: A Deaf-Friendly Holiday Event
2025-12-07 12:00 - 14:00
Join us for a memorable ASL experience featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus! Sensational Selfies will be on-site to capture your holiday photos; each guest will receive one free printed photo and a texted image. Admission is free.
After your visit with Santa, be sure to enjoy “A Dickens Christmas: The Urban Family’s Holiday Exhibition,” the Community Tree Display and other special exhibitions throughout the museum.
This event is made possible in partnership with Hands Up Communications and Greater Marion County Association of the Deaf.

Free First Saturday
2026-01-03 10:00 - 17:00
Visit the Appleton on January 3 for Free First Saturday! Admission to the museum is free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Explore the permanent collection, special exhibitions, and enjoy family-friendly artmaking activities in the Artspace.
At 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., see a screening of the film “The Trip to Italy.” (2014, NR, 1h 48m) Years after their successful restaurant review tour of Northern Britain, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are commissioned for a new tour in Italy. Equally hilarious and insightful, “The Trip to Italy” effortlessly melds the crackling chemistry between Coogan and Brydon to create a brilliantly comic rumination on the nuances of friendship and the juggling of family and career. Free as part of Free First Saturday.

Tasty Pot Island and Poppy’s Dogs food trucks will be on-site throughout the day.

Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Film Screening: "The Trip to Italy"
2026-01-03 11:00 - 12:50, 2026-01-03 14:00 - 15:50
Join us on the January 3 Free First Saturday for a free screening of “The Trip to Italy.” (2014, NR, 1h 48m)

Years after their successful restaurant review tour of Northern Britain, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are commissioned for a new tour in Italy. Equally hilarious and insightful, “The Trip to Italy” effortlessly melds the crackling chemistry between Coogan and Brydon to create a brilliantly comic rumination on the nuances of friendship and the juggling of family and career.
Free as part of Free First Saturday.
Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

CF International Film Series: "Flow"
2026-01-13 14:00 - 15:30
As part of the CF Ira Holmes International Film Series, see a screening of “Flow.” (PG, Latvia, 2024, 1 h 25 m)
A wondrous journey through realms natural and mystical, this animated film follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. “Flow” is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.
Free for Appleton and film series members; included with admission fee for nonmembers.

CF International Film Series: "Harry Benson: Shoot First"
2026-01-27 14:00 - 15:30
As part of the CF Ira Holmes International Film Series, see a screening of “Harry Benson: Shoot First.” (NR, USA, 2016, 1 h 27 m)
This documentary profiles famed photographer Harry Benson (b. 1929), who has captured iconic portraits of celebrities and notable figures including Winston Churchill, Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, he may be best known for his coverage of the Beatles during their first trip to the U.S. in 1964.
Free for Appleton and film series members; included with admission fee for nonmembers.

Free First Saturday
2026-02-07 10:00 - 17:00
Visit the Appleton on February 7 for Free First Saturday! Admission to the museum is free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Explore the permanent collection, special exhibitions, and enjoy family-friendly artmaking activities in the Artspace.
We will be showing two different documentaries in the auditorium, one at 11 a.m. and one at 2 p.m., both in connection with the special exhibition, “Under the Cover of Knowledge: Betty Ford-Smith’s Pinecone Quilts.”
At 11 a.m., “Quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend” (NR, 56m) explores the extraordinary lives, inspirations and history of these artists, and also follows them on a poignant and sometimes very comical bus journey to see their quilts exhibited at The Milwaukee Art Museum.
At 2 p.m., “The Quilting Women of Gee’s Bend”(NR, 53m) highlights the celebrated quilts made by a community of African American women in rural Alabama.
Films are free to attend; no reservations needed.
The Donut Express and Thank Me Later food trucks will be on-site throughout the day, along with CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Film Screening: “Quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend”
2026-02-07 11:00 - 12:00
Join us on the February 7 Free First Saturday for a screening of “Quiltmaker’s of Gee’s Bend” (2004, NR, 56m).
This documentary explores the extraordinary lives, inspirations, and history of these artists, and also follows them on a poignant and sometimes very comical bus journey to see their quilts exhibited at The Milwaukee Art Museum.
Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.
(Viewing permissions provided by Alabama Public Television.)
Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Film Screening: “The Quilting Women of Gee's Bend"
2026-02-07 14:00 - 15:00
Join us on the February 7 Free First Saturday for a screening of “The Quilting Women of Gee’s Bend” (2025, NR, 53m).
This documentary explores how an isolated community of women in rural Alabama became respected worldwide as the creators of celebrated woven works of art. Established during enslavement, the nuanced quilting practice in Gee’s Bend was passed down from mothers to daughters for generations, surviving everything from reconstruction to Jim Crow to the Civil Rights Movement to the present day.
Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.
(Viewing permissions provided by Alabama Public Television.)
Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

CF International Film Series: "Nowhere Boy"
2026-02-10 14:00 - 15:30
As part of the CF Ira Holmes International Film Series, see a screening of “Nowhere Boy.” (R, UK, 2010, 1h 33 m)
A chronicle of John Lennon’s teenage years, exploring the future rock ‘n’ roll icon’s complex relationships with his family and the early influences that shaped his musical career before he achieved fame.
Free for Appleton and film series members; included with admission fee for nonmembers.

President's Day Event + Film Screening
2026-02-15 12:00 - 17:00
Enjoy free admission on February 15 in honor of President’s Day (February 16).
At 1 p.m. in the auditorium, see a free screening of “The Monuments Men” (PG-13, 2014, 1h 58m).
Throughout the day, enjoy family-friendly art activities in the Artspace.
About the film: Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, “The Monuments Men” is an action drama focusing on an unlikely World War II platoon, tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from German thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German Army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys – seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M1 – possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind’s greatest achievements.

CF International Film Series: "Linda Linda Linda"
2026-02-24 14:00 - 16:00
As part of the CF Ira Holmes International Film Series, see a screening of “Linda Linda Linda.” (R, Japan, 2005, 1h 54m)
For three friends, their dream of playing the final high school concert together is dashed when their lead vocalist quits the band. Desperate, they recruit the first person they see: a Korean exchange student whose comprehension of Japanese is limited at best. It’s a race against time as the group struggles to learn three songs in three days. The soundtrack fuses Japanese bangers with original music composed by James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins.
Free for Appleton and film series members; included with admission fee for nonmembers.

Free First Saturday
2026-03-07 10:00 - 17:00
Visit the Appleton on the March 7 for Free First Saturday! Admission to the museum is free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Explore the permanent collection, special exhibitions, and enjoy family-friendly artmaking activities in the Artspace.
At 2 p.m. in the auditorium, Dr. David Morton will discuss Florida’s springs and their unique role in shaping the American motion picture industry. Featuring iconic films such as “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” “Thunderball,” “Moonraker,” and “Doc Hollywood,” along with popular TV shows including “Sea Hunt” and “Sea Quest,” Florida’s springs have had an outstanding role in creating unique and inventive stories. Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend. Seating is limited to 250 on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Donut Express and McFoodLand food trucks will be on-site throughout the day.

Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Silver Springs on the Silver Screen: A Talk by Dr. David Morton
2026-03-07 14:00 - 15:00
Join us in the auditorium at 2 p.m. on the March 7 Free First Saturday for a talk by Dr. David Morton.
Morton will discuss Florida’s springs and their unique role in shaping the American motion picture industry. Featuring iconic films such as “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” “Thunderball,” “Moonraker,” and “Doc Hollywood,” along with popular TV shows including “Sea Hunt” and “Sea Quest,” Florida’s springs have had an outstanding role in creating unique and inventive stories.
Seating is limited to 250 on a first-come, first-served basis.
Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.
(pictured) Still from “Sea Hunt,” Courtesy of Florida State Library Archives.

CF International Film Series: "Across the Universe"
2026-03-10 14:00 - 16:15
As part of the CF Ira Holmes International Film Series, see a screening of “Across the Universe.” (PG-13, UK/USA, 2007, 2h 13m)
This jukebox musical stars Evan Rachel Wood as a 1960s activist and features 33 Beatles songs with performances by rock icons Joe Cocker and Bono.
Free for Appleton and film series members; included with admission fee for nonmembers.

Opening Celebration: "My Country 'Tis of Thee"
2026-03-12 17:30 - 19:30
All Appleton members are invited to celebrate the opening of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee: Celebrating American Art and Design,” on view March 13-September 13, 2026.
Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and American wines, and be the first to see this exhibition that brings together three centuries of American art and design from the permanent collection.
RSVP required to Colleen Harper, harperc@cf.edu, or 352-291-4455, ext. 1831.

CF International Film Series: "Living is Easy with Eyes Closed"
2026-03-24 14:00 - 15:50
As part of the CF Ira Holmes International Film Series, see a screening of “Living is Easy with Eyes Closed.” (NR, Spain, 2013, 1h 48m)
Set in 1966, a high school teacher in Spain teaches English and uses Beatles songs to help his students. When he learns John Lennon will be in the country making a movie, he and some lovable misfits go on a road trip to meet their hero.
Free for Appleton and film series members; included with admission fee for nonmembers.

Free First Saturday
2026-04-04 10:00 - 17:00
Visit the Appleton on the April 4 for Free First Saturday! Admission to the museum is free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Explore the permanent collection, special exhibitions, and enjoy family-friendly artmaking activities in the Artspace.
At 1 p.m. in the auditorium, exhibiting artist A.E. Kozeliski will discuss the works featured in her solo exhibition, “Portraits in Passing.” Learn about her contemporary Chinese brush painting techniques and enjoy a live demonstration in the auditorium. Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.
The Dancing Empanada food truck will be on-site throughout the day, along with CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Artist Talk & Demonstration with A.E. Kozeliski
2026-04-04 13:00 - 14:00
Join us in the auditorium at 1 p.m. on the April 4 Free First Saturday for a talk and demonstration by A.E. Kozeliski.
Kozeliski will discuss the works featured in her solo exhibition, “Portraits in Passing.” Learn about her contemporary Chinese brush painting techniques and enjoy a live demonstration in the auditorium. Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.
Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.

Director's Circle Event: After Hours with Bouguereau
2026-04-09 17:00 - 18:30
Director’s Circle members are invited to a special talk on artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French, 1825–1905) by Kerry Elkins, Museum Specialist at the Appleton.
Guests will begin in the café with light snacks and a glass of wine from the Loire Valley, a region just outside Bouguereau’s birthplace, La Rochelle, a coastal city in southwestern France.
The talk will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium where we’ll share fascinating Bouguereau research, including insights into his connections with other artists represented in the Appleton collection, as well as notable figures from art history. For example, did you know that Pierre Auguste Cot was a student of Bouguereau, one of a few chosen by the artist to work on faithful reproductions of his paintings?
Director’s Circle members must have a current and valid membership at the time of the event. RSVP is required to Colleen Harper, harperc@cf.edu, or 352-291-4455, ext. 1831.

Free First Saturday
2026-05-02 10:00 - 17:00
Visit the Appleton on May 2 for Free First Saturday! Admission to the museum is free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Explore the permanent collection, special exhibitions, and enjoy family-friendly artmaking activities in the Artspace.
At 11 a.m. in the courtyard, the Fort King Middle School marching band will perform.
At 2 p.m. in the auditorium, see a screening of the 1971 classic, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.
K-Dog Red Hots food truck will be on-site throughout the day, along with CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Fort King Middle School Marching Band
2026-05-02 11:00 - 12:00
Join us at 11 a.m. in the museum’s interior courtyard on the May 2 Free First Saturday for a performance by the talented Fort King Middle School Marching Band.
Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.
Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

P.M. Film Screening: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
2026-05-02 14:00 - 15:40
Join us in the auditorium at 2 p.m. on the May 2 Free First Saturday for a screening of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971, Rated G, 1h 38m).
Join the expedition visiting legendary candy man Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) in a splendiferous movie that wondrously brings to screen the endlessly appetizing delights of Roald Dahl’s classic book.
Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.
Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Free First Saturday
2026-06-06 10:00 - 17:00
Visit the Appleton on June 6 for Free First Saturday! Admission to the museum is free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Explore the permanent collection, special exhibitions, and enjoy family-friendly artmaking activities in the Artspace.
At 2 p.m. in the auditorium, we welcome back Dr. Wayne Wood for a talk on Kenneth Treister, a Florida architect and sculptor whose designs have been described as, “a cross between Frank Lloyd Wright, Antoni Gaudi, Auguste Rodin and the Mayans.” Free to attend. Click here to learn more.
Poppy’s Dogs and Barefoot Baker Sweets and Treats will be on-site throughout the day, along with CAMPUS USA Credit Union and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.

Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Kenneth Treister: The Fusion of Architecture and Art
2026-06-06 14:00 - 15:00
Join Dr. Wayne Wood in the auditorium on the June 6 Free First Saturday for a talk on Kenneth Treister, a Florida architect and sculptor whose designs have been described as, “a cross between Frank Lloyd Wright, Antoni Gaudi, Auguste Rodin and the Mayans.” His avant-garde approach to creating sensuous environments with unconventional shapes and novel use of materials sets him apart from other designers.
Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend. Seating is limited to 250 on a first-come basis.
About the Speaker
Widely regarded as one of the foremost chroniclers of Northeast Florida history, Wayne Wood has been called the “undisputed godfather of preservation in Jacksonville.” An author, historian, and artist, he founded Riverside Avondale Preservation and Riverside Arts Market. He has published 15 books on Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville’s Architectural Heritage.
Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Stars, Stripes and Art: Free Admission July 2026
2026-07-01 10:00 - 2026-07-31 17:00
Museum admission is free throughout the entire month of July in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Explore special exhibitions and permanent collection galleries, visit the Artspace and take this opportunity to introduce family, friends and colleagues to the Appleton. Also in July, enjoy a free, special event featuring a talk by Dr. Keri Watson on Florida’s inspirational landscapes (click here to learn more).

Picturing Paradise: From John James Audubon to the Florida Highwaymen
2026-07-25 13:00 - 14:00
Join Dr. Keri Watson in the auditorium for a free talk: “Picturing Paradise: From John James Audubon to the Florida Highwaymen.”
The Florida landscape has provided aesthetic inspiration to artists for centuries. Titian Ramsay Peale and John James Audubon came in search of native flora and fauna, followed by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Martin Johnson Heade, George Inness, Winslow Homer and Henry Ossawa Tanner, who were lured by its natural beauty and warm climate. This presentation offers a succinct and engaging history of Florida’s landscape painters.
Free to attend; no reservation needed. Seating is limited to 250 on a first-come basis.
About the Speaker
Dr. Keri Watson is an associate professor of art history at the University of Central Florida and co-executive editor for “Panorama: Journal of the Association of Historians of American Art.” She is the author of “This is America: Re-Viewing the Art of the United States” (2023) and editor of the “Routledge Companion to Art and Disability” (2022).

Free First Saturday
2026-08-01 10:00 - 17:00
Visit the Appleton on August 1 for Free First Saturday! Admission to the museum is free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Explore the permanent collection, special exhibitions, and enjoy family-friendly artmaking activities in the Artspace.
At 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the auditorium, see a screening of “1776” (1972, Rated G, 2h 20m). This adaptation of the Broadway Tony-winning musical celebrates the founding fathers’ midwifery of the Declaration of Independence, the document that would give birth to a nation. Free to attend.
Poppy’s Dogs food truck will be on-site throughout the day, along with CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

A.M. Film Screening: 1776
2026-08-01 11:00 - 13:40
Join us in the auditorium at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the August 1 Free First Saturday for a screening of “1776” (1972, Rated G, 2h 20m)
This adaptation of the Broadway Tony-winning musical celebrates the founding fathers’ midwifery of the Declaration of Independence, the document that would give birth to a nation.
Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.
Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.
