The city of Orlando continues to be a premier destination for world-class theatre at the state-of-the-art Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The highly anticipated 2026–2027 AdventHealth Broadway in Orlando season has been unveiled, featuring a blockbuster 10-show lineup that includes the return of global phenomena and several excitingRead More →
The organization formerly known as the Orlando Repertory Theatre (Orlando REP) has officially entered its second century of storytelling under a new name: Orlando Family Stage. As Florida’s premier professional theatre dedicated to young audiences and families, the 2025–2026 season marks a historic Centennial Celebration of 100 years of theatricalRead More →
Christmas Lights can be found all around Orlando in the city’s communities and neighborhoods. Some of the best displays can be found in some of the city’s oldest neighborhoods of Delaney Park, Conway, and Belle Isle (See scenic drive in map below). There are not as many planned communities orRead More →
ICE! at the Gaylord Palms is an annual walk-through attraction during the Christmas holidays at the Gaylord Palms Resort that is made completely of ice. Imagine taking a simple ice sculpture that you might see at a wedding or special event and then building out that sculpture out into severalRead More →
The city of Maitland will be showing family-friendly movies monthly this fall beginning with Peter Rabbit in October. Screen on the Green Screen on the Green is held outside at the Maitland Middle School soccer field located in the Dommerich neighborhood of Maitland. On Saturday, October 6th, Peter Rabbit willRead More →
Celebrating their 30th year, the Orlando Shakespeare Theater officially kicks off their 2018 and 2019 season with their annual Season Opening Gala on Sunday, September 16th, 2018 at 5 pm at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park. In addition to performing such works as the Tony AwardRead More →
After the Halloween Parties in October, New Years Eve is the best time to check out Downtown Orlando. The city already comes alive each weekend as it is, but throw together the event of New Years Eve, and college students and alumni of the four schools playing in Orlando’s twoRead More →
With the great weather and holiday season beginning in November and continuing through the months of December and January, the city of Orlando comes alive with great Christmas and holiday events in Downtown Orlando and Lake Eola each year. This is Orlando Local Guide’s recommendations on the best way to celebrate the ChristmasRead More →
A trip to Bass Pro Shops gets you a free 4″ x 6″ photo with Santa and a holiday craft. Bass Pro Santa Claus Free photos with Santa Claus are available 7 days a week at different times throughout the months of November and December. Check out the schedule belowRead More →
During Mickey’s Christmas Party special event in the months of November and December at the Magic Kingdom, a special Christmas parade is held twice a night during the event called Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade that combines a mix of Disney and classic Christmas characters on floats with snowRead More →
The Candlelight Processional Christmas Concert at Epcot in Disney World is the best Christmas event to be experienced in any of the theme parks in Orlando and also has the most history of any other event, beginning with Walt Disney himself, organizing the first event for Disneyland in California inRead More →
The Florida Citrus Parade will be held on New Years Eve in Downtown Orlando on Wednesday, December 30th, 2015 at 11 AM. The parade is televised nationally and celebrates Orlando’s two bowl games, the Russell Athletic Bowl and the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl (formerly the Capital One Bowl). Florida Citrus Parade The paradeRead More →
One of the best ways to celebrate the Christmas and the New Years holiday is to see the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center. On the day after Christmas, Friday, December 26th, 2015, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat will be playing in Orlando at the Amway Center. Here are the home games forRead More →
One of the better free events to do around Orlando between Christmas Day and New Years Eve is the Russell Athletic Bowl Parade of Bands in Winter Park along Park Avenue. Winter Park Parade of Bands The Russell Athletic Bowl is the first of Orlando’s two bowl games to beRead More →
First Presbyterian Church of Orlando will be celebrating Christmas with five Christmas Eve services on Thursday, December 24th, 2015, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. 3:00pm | Lessons & Carols Worship with Candle lighting – in the Sanctuary, led by Student Ministry 4:30pm | Family Worship with Candle lighting in theRead More →
The city of Winter Park introduced an outdoor ice skating rink in 2009 entitled “Winter in the Park” during the Christmas Season and has now made it an annual event. The ice skating rink will open on Friday, November 20th, 2015, through Sunday, January 10th, 2016 in the West Meadow sectionRead More →
Baylor will face off against North Carolina in the Russell Athletic Bowl at the Citrus Bowl on December 29th, 2015 at 5:30 pm. Russell Athletic Bowl 2015 The Russell Athletic Bowl is the second of Orlando’s three bowl games that traditionally features a team from the ACC playing a team from the Big 12. For the 2015Read More →
For residents of east Orlando, there are two options when it comes to a midway carnival Christmas celebration. The first carnival is Light Up UCF at the University of Central Florida. A short drive down Alafaya Trail brings you to Waterford Lake’s Santa’s Winter Wonderland Village. Waterford Lakes Christmas CarnivalRead More →
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet from Russia, adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” that is celebrated across the United States during the Christmas season. The story takes place on Christmas Eve and includes interactions between children, nutcrackers, and mice. The Orlando Ballet performs theirRead More →
Light Up UCF is the University of Cental Florida’s annual holiday event that features a free Christmas light show, outdoor ice skating, an ice slide, free outdoor movies, carolers, carnival rides, and Santa Claus. Other nights may feature a concert, a UCF basketball game, or one of the final homeRead More →
Disney World puts out a lot of holiday decorations during the month of December each year. From the Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian to the Christmas Trees that line the theme parks, there is definitely a lot of sights and sounds for the holidays. Gingerbread Tree Each year, Disney’sRead More →
Baldwin Park is hosting it’s annual evening Christmas parade on Saturday, December 12th, 2015 at 6 PM. Line the streets of the community’s downtown for the parade and stay for Santa’s arrival with musical performances. Baldwin Park Winter Spark Parade Thousands of spectators line the street in Downtown Baldwin ParkRead More →
The Russian Ballet of Orlando will be returning to Lake Eola in 2015 to present their free performance of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, at the Lake Eola Disney Amphitheater in Downtown Orlando. Russian Ballet Nutcracker The two hour performance will begin at 7:30 PM on Saturday, December 19th, 2015. This is theRead More →
There are many wonderful events that you can attend in Orlando to celebrate Christmas, from the candlelight processional at Disney’s Epcot and the Osborne Display at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to the Winter Park Christmas Parade and Light Up UCF. However, the best event that tops them all is The SingingRead More →