Every event hosted by New Vision exists for the purpose of sharing our mission and services with the community. By keeping our events mission-focused, we can inform and involve the community about vision loss, reducing negative perceptions and making the world increasingly more “blind-friendly.”
New Vision holds these events annually:
Dining in the Dark
Experience food, drink and conversation in a new way: in this unique dining experience, you will eat dinner in darkness. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, as part of a training exercise, will serve you wearing night vision goggles. The annual Dining in the Dark fundraiser event for New Vision for Independence will showcase that blindness does not have to be a barrier to independence.
- When: March 6, 2025, 6 p.m.
- Where: Venetian Center, Leesburg
Tickets on sale now!
Sensational Egg Hunt (2025 details coming soon!)
New Vision’s Sensational Egg Hunt is coming up on March 30. Join us for a fun morning of sensory experiences, photos with Bob the Bunny (the Easter Bunny’s blind brother), and an Easter egg hunt with tons of beeping eggs! All kids under 13 are invited, but our sighted participants will be required to wear a blindfold to participate.
- When: Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 10-12 (event held the day before Easter)
- Where: Hickory Point Park, Tavares
Register by March 25, 2024 to be guaranteed an Easter basket! When registering, please let us know if your family would benefit from any special considerations to make your experience more pleasant. We have PECS cards handy for our non-verbal friends.
This event has been made possible by: 100 Women Who Care of Lake County, Eustis Elks Lodge 1578, Clermont Minneola Lions, Wildwood Sumter 44 Lions, Kiwanis of the Golden Triangle, the Lake Sumter Lions, Leesburg Kiwanis Noon, and the Tavares Lions.
White Cane Day Events
Every year we plan a series of events to spread the word about White Cane Awareness Day (October 15). These events, planned in conjunction with our Advocacy Committee, aim to inform our legislators, business community, and the public at large both of the challenges faced by those with vision loss but also of the abilities and contributions of our visually-impaired neighbors.
“The chief handicap of the blind is not blindness, but the attitude of seeing people towards them.” -Helen Keller
Close Your Eyes
In honor of National White Cane Day, walk the walk blindfolded at our annual Close Your Eyes event.
By attending, you’ll:
- Participate in interactive activities around downtown Leesburg (hint: recruit a partner and wear comfy shoes!) and
- Show your support for the full inclusion of blind Americans in our community.
- When: October 16, 2024 | 10-11:30 a.m.
- Where: Leesburg Public Library
Every year since 1964, October 15 has been deemed National White Cane Safety day. In 2011, “Blind Americans Equality Day” was adopted, but no matter the name the goal is the same: ensure and champion the full participation of blind Americans in every facet of our society, every day.
White Cane Walk
Celebrate National White Cane Day— join us for a White Cane Walk. Bring your cane, dog guide, or human guide.
- When: Friday, October 11, 2024 at 10 a.m.
- Where: Lake Sumter Landing, The Villages