Annual Events

Greater Orlando, in the heart of Florida, hosts an abundance of annual events, from arts fairs and food festivals to huge conventions, nationally televised sports events, and more. Below is an overview of major annual events, some with links to more information on venues and related activity. For specific dates on events, check out the EventGuide calendar for Orlando. To go directly to today's events, click Orlando EventGuide.

            

January College Baseball From the crack of the bat to the slide on into home, NCAA baseball packs a wallop of home run frenzy for what’s oft called America’s favorite pastime. Diamond action starts in January, continuing through most of June. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, Stetson Hatters, UCF Golden Knights Annual Capital One Bowl This six decade-old New Year’s Day classic, now at the Florida Citrus Bowlat One Citrus Bowl Plaza (1610 West Church Street), brings on the clash between two powerhouse football conferences. Call (407) 423-2476 for more information. CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl This nationally televised collegiate football game is played between second-ranked teams from the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten Conference. The Florida Citrus Bowlat One Citrus Bowl Plaza (1610 West Church Street), hosts the grid action. Call (407) 423-2476 for more information. Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities This African American festival, drawing more than 100,000 each year, celebrates visual arts, gospel and R&B music, modern dance and Pulitzer-prize winning poetry. Call (321) 281-2085 for more information.
February Bach Festival Greater Orlando’s Bach Festival on the Rollins College campus, and first held in 1935, hails the birth of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Call (407) 646-2182 for more information. Mount Dora Arts Festival Free to the public, Mount Dora magically transforms into one gigantic art museum with more than 300 artists, performers, temporary shops, and games, sponsored by the Mount Dora Center for the Arts. Call (352) 383-0880 for more information. Houston Astros Spring Training Fans can watch the pros in practice at Osceola County Stadium, completing an $18.4 million renovation in 2003 and home to Houston Astros Spring Training. Call (407) 944-2424 for more information. Central Florida Fair Carnival rides, games, food, music, exhibits and more add to the merriment at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. Call (407) 295-3247 for more information. Florida Fun Fest As a Coca-Cola and soda-related item swap meet staged in Altamonte Springs, Florida Fun Fest is sponsored by the Central Florida Chapter of the Coca-Cola Collectors Club. Call (407) 688-7084 for more information. Silver Spurs Rodeo Greater Orlando attracts cowboys from the pro circuit to the Silver Spurs Arena for one of the largest rodeo competitions east of the Mississippi. Call (407) 847-4052 for more information.
March Kissimmee Blue Grass Festival This four-day event in the Silver Spurs Arena features bluegrass and gospel music, arts and crafts, food and more. Call (407) 473-7773 for more information. Kissimmee / Kiwanis Bluegrass Festival Osceola Heritage Park is the scene for this bluegrass celebration going strong for some three decades. Call (321) 697-3333 for more information. St. Patrick’s Day Party Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney hosts a party featuring Irish games, food, music and more. call (407) 824-4321 for more information.. Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival Some 1,600 artists from around the world apply each year for entry into some 275 slots at this prestigious, nearly half century old show in Winter Park's Central Park. Call (407) 672-6390 for more information.
April Central Florida Fair Carnival rides and games, food, exhibits, music, and much more beckon from the Central Florida Fairgrounds. Call (407) 295-3247 for more information. JazzFest Kissimmee Kissimmee’s Lakefront Park features professional and amateur jazz musicians, art exhibits, food and more at this two day festival. Call (407) 846-6257 for more information. Rajuncajun Crawfish Festival At the Isle of Pines South Beach Park, this traditional Louisiana Cajun Crawfish Festival celebrates Cajun heritage with music, dancing, and fabulous food. Call (407) 380-5715 for more information.

May Orlando Carnival Staged around Memorial Day, this nearly two decade old Caribbean-style Mardi Grasfeatures a street parade downtown leading to Thunder Field, opposite the Florida Citrus Bowl, where other events take place. Call (407) 522-6151 for more information. Inside / Outside Cookout Celebrating Norwegian Independence Day at Viking World Orlando 3-501 (the area lodge for Sons of Norway), the annual Inside / Outside Cookout welcomes all, with speakers and opportunity to make acquaintances. 2641 Red Bug Lake Road, Casselberry. Call (407) 696-2880 for more information. Cinco De Mayo Bash Orlando’s Cinco De Mayo takes on libation dimension at Adobe Gila’s, with drink specials from open to close, live music with assorted bands, and no cover charge. Call (407) 903-1478 for more information. Fulton’s Crab House Seafood Alaska Festival From mid-May through mid-June, seafood stars at this Downtown Disney Marketplace restaurant. Call (407) 934-8424 for more information. Orlando International Fringe Festival With roots extending to Scotland, Orlando’s celebration of the theatrical and performing arts takes place over 10 days in the streets, theaters, and converted office spaces of downtown Orlando. Call (407) 648-0077 for more information. International Flower and Garden Festival Flower and garden displays represent themes of Epcot Theme Park's World Showcase. Call (407) 824-4321 for more information. Port Orange Arts & Craft Show The Port Orange Association of the Arts hosts vendors, craftsmen and artists in May and December in the town of Port Orange near Daytona Beach, about an hour's drive northeast of Orlando. Call (386) 756-8700 for more information.
June Gay Days in Orlando From land-based fun at Walt Disney World Resort to Carnival Cruise Line’s Official Gay Days Cruise sailing out of Port Canaveral, Orlando becomes the gay place to be in June. Call (800) 522-2213 for more information. Florida Film Festival Featuring more than 100 films, documentaries and shorts from around the world, the Florida Film Festival unfolds at Enzian Theater, 1300 South Orlando Avenue. Call (407) 629-1088 for more information.
July Lake Eola Picnic in the Park Lake Eola Park’s celebration includes games, entertainment, and more. For more information call (407) 246-2827. Kissimmee Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration Kissimmee puts on a large fireworks display, accompanied by a variety of entertainment. Call (407) 93-EVENT for more information.
August Sounds of Summer Beginning in June and extending through August on selected Thursday evenings at Harry P. Leu Gardens, musicians from the Philharmonic present varied programs including Going for Baroque. Call (407) 896-6700 for more information. College Park Rotary Barbecue Staged at Orlando's Edgewater High School, the Rotary of College Park piles on the fun with a barbecue dinner of pulled pork, chicken, and trimmings before the football kickoff between Edgewater Eagles and Oakridge Pioneers. Call (407) 522-6151 for more information. Summer Music Games World Championships Drum Corps International stages worldchampionships at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Call (630) 495-9866 for more information.
September College Football NCAA Football, created in 1997 to promote college football ideals, makes no bones about the importance of each game. Losing at any time during the season can thwart a team's chances for postseason action or an NCAA Championship. No wonder NCAA Football marketers have adopted a tagline of "NCAA Football: Every Game Counts."Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, UCF Golden Knights New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival Staged on Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna’s Jazz Festival includes performances, fashion show, wine tasting and more. Nearby attractions include shops, art galleries and bird watching in a biologically diverse estuary. Call (800) 541-9621 for more information. Alcon / Heart of Florida United Way Golf Classic Stoneybrook Golf Club East is the scene for this Alcon-hosted golf event benefiting Heart of Florida United Way. Fun includes a lunch buffet and raffle prizes. Call (407) 384-6888 for more information. Osceola Art Festival Artists feature oil paintings, sculptures, photography, and more at Kissimmee's Lakefront Park. Call (407) 931-1646 for more information.

October Boot Hill Saloon Biketoberfest Party East of Orlando across from the Daytona Beach cemetery, this saloon serves as the central region’s Biketoberfest capital, with live music to the crunch of chainsaw ice sculpturing. Call (386) 258-9506 for more information. Calle Orange Calle Orange, spreading out over 16 blocks of downtown Orlando, has kiosks lining streets, bands performing on stages and more. Call (407) 381-5310 for more information. Oktoberfest in Kissimmee Kissimmee’s Osceola Heritage Park stages the family-oriented Oktoberfest with authentic German food, beer and wine, great live entertainment, and cash prizes. Call (321) 697-3333 for more information. Oktoberfest in Celebration On the second weekend in October, Celebration Town Center becomes a German biergarten, where Autumn is celebrated with live music, food and assorted vendors, falling leaves on Market Street, hay rides and more. Call (407) 566-4007 for more information. Crème de la Craft The day-long Crème de la Craft, staged in downtown Celebration, features arts, crafts and live entertainment. Call (407) 566-1234 for more information. Halloween Horror Nights Throughout October, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure feature haunted houses, spooky shows and lots of roaming monsters. Call (877) 284-GORY for more information. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Mickey hosts a Halloween party featuring trick-or-treating around the park, a children's costume parade and more in the Magic Kingdom Park. Call (407) 824-4321 for more information. International Food and Wine Festival From late October through mid-November, cooking demonstrations and food and wine sampling from around the world takes place at Epcot Theme Park. Call (407) 824-4321 for more information. Lake Eola Celebration in the Park Orlando’s Lake Eola Park features singers, bands and musicians from Walt Disney World Resort, with food, games and fireworks. Call (407) 246-2827 for more information. Shamu’s Halloween Spooktacular SeaWorld Adventure Park’s Halloween festivities treat families to a safe, happy celebrations with parades, costumes and Halloween-inspired shows. Call (800) 327-2424 for more information. Viva Osceola Festival Viva Osceola Festival celebrates Latin culture at Lakefront Park in downtown Kissimmee. Call (407) 847-3174 for more information.
November National Basketball Association Toronto, Canada was the site of the National Basketball League's first game on Nov. 1, 1946, with the Huskies hosting the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens. Thirteen original rules were drafted by Dr. James Naismith, creator of basketball. Pro basketball suffered in popularity in the early 1950's, but one rule change -- that of the 24-second clock -- transformed the sport from a dull, stalling game to an exciting, offensive showcase. Icons along the way, from Bob Cousy and Wilt Chamberlain to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, have immortalized what's now the National Basketball Association's game, creating long-standing rivalries from coast to coast. Orlando Magic - To book seats to root for your Orlando Magic, click here. Festival of the Masters Downtown Disney is the site of this acclaimed open air art festival. Call (407) 934-7639 for more information. Festival of the Trees Festival of the Trees features designer Christmas trees, carolers, seminars and more at the Orlando Museum of Art. Call (407) 672-3838 for more information. Fiesta in the Park Outdoor fun and family events, arts and crafts star at more than 600 booths at Lake Eola Park. Call (407) 246-2827 for more information. Now Snowing Nightly From late November to New Year’s Eve, downtown Celebration provides strolling carolers and entertainment along with photo opportunities. On Wednesday evenings, pets can have their photo taken with Santa. Call (407) 566-1234 for more information. Taste of Celebration A Taste of Celebration on Market Street in downtown Celebration provides a sampling of food, festivity and live entertainment. Call (407) 566-1234 for more information.
December Christmas in the Park Celebrants gather at Winter Park’s Charles Hosmer Morse Museum for the annual lighting of century-old Tiffany windows with festivities including a free outdoor holiday concert performed by the Bach Festival Society. Call (407) 645-5311 for more information. Kissimmee Holiday Extravaganza Kissimmee’s holiday event features live entertainment, some 20 tons of snow, fireworks and more, in and around Lakefront Park. For more information call (407) 932-4050 . Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade and Party Throughout most of December, Mickey hosts a special parade and party with fireworks, snow flakes, cookies, hot chocolate and more. Fun starts at closing in the Magic Kingdom. Call (407) 824-4321 for more information. New Year’s Eve Celebrants can ring in the New Year on Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney with top-name bands, fireworks, party favors, etc. Call (407) 824-4321 for more information. Orlando Citrus Parade Citrus fruit themed floats and marching bands from all over the nation converge on downtown Orlando for this quarter-century old spectacular. Call (407) 423-2476 for more information. Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights From late November through the holidays, this light show transplanted from a private residence (after neighbors complained) to Disney MGM Studios, features carolers and some five million lights. Call (407) 824-4321 for more information. OUC Half Marathon and 5K in Orlando Orlando‘s Lake Eola Park serves as the site for this nearly three decade old annual event with complimentary refreshments and live music, sponsored by the Orlando Utilities Commission. Call (407) 423-2476 for more information. Tangerine Bowl College football’s best kick off the bowl season at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Call (407) 423-2476 for more information. Port Orange Arts & Craft Show The Port Orange Association of the Arts hosts vendors, craftsmen and artists in May and December in the town of Port Orange near Daytona Beach, about an hour's drive northeast of Orlando. Call (386) 756-8700 for more information.