Leesburg Chamber of Commerce and 98.9 WMMO presents Pancake Palooza on Saturday, Nov. 16, 8am-4pm at 501 W. Meadow St., Downtown Leesburg. The event dubbed “the ultimate brunch” is free to attend and will feature various food trucks, local restaurants, entertainment, mimosas and Bloody Marys. Pancake Palooza benefits the Leesburg Humane Society. For the overachiever, kick off the day by running the Flapjack 5K at 8am before enjoying some well-earned carbs! 

If you know a Marine, thank them for their service and wish the Marine Corps a Happy Birthday on Sunday, Nov. 10. The United States Marine Corps motto is “Semper Fidelis” which translates to “always faithful” in Latin. Since 2002, the South Lake Detachment #1120 of the Marine Corps League has welcomed all U.S. Marines and Fleet Marines Force designated U.S. Navy Corpsmen and Chaplains, including their family and friends for support, fellowship and fun. The detachment provides a color guard to public events and honor guards for funerals and memorial services for Marine and FMF designated vets. southlakemcl.org. 

November is Aviation History Month and what better way to celebrate than to visit Tavares, America’s Seaplane City? Thousands of seaplanes land there each year and seaplane pilots arrive daily from all over, even overseas. Seaplane pilots are known to be an adventurous group who have the ability to land in out-of-the way spots, as these planes bypass the need for airports, towers, and runways, landing directly on the water.

Celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11 and show appreciation for U.S. military veterans by flying a flag, wearing a red poppy, or spending a moment in silence to reflect on their sacrifice. Most importantly, if you see a veteran, thank him or her for their service—a small gesture with lasting impact.

The Florida Panther (Felis concolor coryi), a large, long-tailed pale brown cat that can grow over six feet, is the most endangered of Florida’s natural symbols. Chosen as the state animal by a statewide vote of students in 1982, it shares its habitat with the white-tailed deer, its main prey. The Florida Panther is an apex predator that’s vital to Florida’s ecosystem and has been protected from hunting since 1958. Listed as endangered federally in 1967 and by the state in 1973, the Florida Panther remains critically at risk.

Americans first began the custom of weekday voting in 1845 when Congress passed a federal law designating the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, after harvest, as Election Day. It seems inconvenient now, but in the 1800s most citizens worked as farmers and lived at least a day’s travel from their polling places, even in Central Florida. Since most people spent Sundays in church, and Wednesday was market day for farmers, Tuesday fit the bill. 

Visit the Prop Shop at Woodlea for . . .: The Prop Shop serves as the airport terminal for the Tavares Seaplane Base, 150 E. Ruby St., Tavares. Visitors can purchase snacks, drinks, T-shirts, souvenirs, and other sundries. Pilots can contact via Unicom 122.975. 

• Aviation Fuel
• Food & Drinks
• Sundries for Purchase
• Pilots Lounge
• T-shirts & Souvenirs
• Restrooms

The Clermont Historical Society presents its 7th Annual Heritage Day Festival from 10am to 4pm on Nov. 23 at the Clermont Historic Village, 490 West Ave., Clermont. Volunteers wearing period costumes will demonstrate butter churning, ice cream making, canning and more. Model T cars will be on display, and children can try rug beating, washboard laundry, hanging clothes on the line, wooden tools and old-fashioned games. Museums will be open for tours, with lunches for sale. For more information, visit clermonthistoricvillage.org or call 352.432.3496. 

You’re invited to kick off the holidays with an old-fashioned Big Band concert titled ‘Home for the Holidays – A Toe-Tapping Trip Down Memory Lane,’ hosted by Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Clermont. The concert will feature the exceptional Sanford Jazz Ensemble, made up of 22 community musicians who donate their time and talent to perform Big Band jazz for Central Florida audiences. The event is scheduled for Nov. 22 from 7pm to 9pm at 720 12th St., Clermont. Admission is free.