23 Christmas bucket list activities to do in Orlando this holiday season

'Tis the season to enjoy a slight chill in the Florida breeze and to get in all the festive feels while you…

By Chloe Greenberg

Celebration’s Now Snowing Festival
Between Highway 192 and I-4 near Walt Disney World
Dates open: Nov. 26 through Dec. 31
Cost: Parking and admission are free
Celebration's "Now Snowing" offers a synthetic ice rink, plus community performances by local young talent and special concert events throughout the holiday season.
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Where to find snow, ice skating, Santa, Christmas trees and more holiday activities in Orlando

The holidays are fast approaching, which means it's time to start cramming in all the festive fun you can between now and…

By Chloe Greenberg

Holiday happenings at Dezerland Park
5250 International Drive, Orlando
Dates open: Select dates Dec. 2-17 
Cost: 15 minutes of skating for $7.95, 30 minutes for $13.95 per person 
Dezerland Park is now home to a synthetic “ice” skating rink at the iconic I-Drive destination. The whole family can skate together at their own pace in a comfortable environment for everyone. All season long, visitors can also explore the Holiday Village and enjoy hot cocoa, warm spiced apple cider and other holiday treats from Dezerland’s Food Hall.
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Photos: ICE offers chills and thrills in ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ at Gaylord Palms

Florida’s coolest holiday attraction returns the week before Thanksgiving, and it brings back one of the most beloved Christmas movies of all…

By Chelsea Zukowski

Photos: ICE offers chills and thrills in ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ at Gaylord Palms
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Everyone and every car we saw at Florida Classic Weekend's Riding Big Car Show

One of the highlights of Florida Classic Weekend in Orlando every year has to be the Riding Big Car Show and party,…

By Matt Keller Lehman

The Riding Big Car Show, part of Florida Classic Weekend
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The best ways to see Christmas lights in Orlando this holiday season

We're probably not going to see any snow in Central Florida this season, which means we have to get our holiday feels…

By Chloe Greenberg

Give Kids the World Village 
    210 S. Bass Road, Kissimmee
    Hosted at the 89-acre village, Give Kids The World holiday events offer guests the chance to enjoy escorted access to select venues on the Avenue of Angels, view a dazzling tree trail, explore holiday vignettes and take festive photos.
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The best outfits we saw at EDC Orlando 2023

Electric Daisy Carnival hit Orlando for its 12th year this weekend, and along with three days of live music and head-banging hordes,…

By Matthew Lehman

The best outfits we saw at EDC Orlando 2023
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All the wild photos from EDC Orlando 2023

For yet another year, Electric Daisy Carnvial Orlando brought out the weird, wild and wonderful in everyone. The electronic dance music festival…

By Matthew Lehman

All the wild photos from EDC Orlando 2023
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‘Common Threads’ at Casselberry Sculpture House unites three artists whose lives and work are intertwined

Common Threads is a wonderfully heavy experience. The conceptual themes of the art exhibit on view at the Casselberry Sculpture House move…

By Kyle Eagle

Brittney Fucheck, "Ceremony for a Cat" (detail)
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The 20 things every Orlando resident is a certified expert on for some reason

It doesn't take long living in Orlando to learn the essential tidbits and skills needed to thrive in the City Beautiful. There…

By Orlando Weekly Staff

Homegrown dairy
The official headquarters of the 1925-born dairy company T.G. Lee lives right here in Orlando's Milk District, and any true Orlandoan will jump at the chance to talk about the calcium-fortified pride this brings locals. The real ones go even further to talk about how Thomas Gilbert Lee himself is also buried in town, and probably haunts all the overpriced eateries now taking over his beloved Milk District.
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Every amazing costume we saw at the Thornton Park District Halloween Block Party

A scary good time was had by all on Saturday night at Thornton Park's Halloween Block Party. For a 10th year running,…

By Matt Keller Lehman

Thornton Park's Halloween Block Party was a wild one this year
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Orlando's Spooky Empire convention was full of chilling and creative cosplay

Spooky Empire, one of the area's largest horror conventions, returned to the Hyatt Regency Orlando last weekend for its 20th anniversary event.…

By Jamie Arena

Creative cosplay was everywhere at Spooky Empire
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This Orlando Airbnb is a love letter to Disney's Haunted Mansion, and it's open now

Just in time for Halloween, a "Ghoulish Sanctuary" is now available for a vacation stay in Orlando. The Airbnb is themed after…

By Chloe Greenberg

This Orlando Airbnb is a love letter to Disney's Haunted Mansion, and it's open now
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Orlando: First look at ICE! featuring ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ at Gaylord Palms Resort

Florida’s coldest holiday attraction is already under construction at Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee. The resort hotel’s beloved ICE experience returns on…

By Chelsea Zukowski

First look at ICE! featuring ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ at Gaylord Palms Resort
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All the beautiful faces we saw at Orlando's 2023 Pride Parade

As always, Orlando showed up and showed out to the annual Come Out With Pride Parade. This year's event saw hundreds of…

By Matt Keller Lehman, Mauricio Murillo

All the beautiful faces we saw at Orlando's 2023 Pride Parade
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Ghouls' night out: Orlando's alternative drag events highlight wild new faces and aesthetics

It is 11:30 p.m. on a Saturday night at Austin's Coffee. What would usually be a more chilled-out late-night vibe is, tonight,…

By Matthew Moyer

Ghouls' night out: Orlando's alternative drag events highlight wild new faces and aesthetics
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Every spooky and reptilian thing we saw at Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event

Gatorland brought back their annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins Halloween shindig for another year with an all-ages array of creepies, crawlies and cryptids…

By Matt Keller Lehman

Gators, Ghosts and Goblins has returned to Gatorland
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Everything we saw when Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers Tuesday in Orlando

The Tampa Bay Lightning took the Florida Panthers 2-0 in a preseason game Tuesday at Orlando's Amway Center, marking the Bolts' fourth…

By J.D. Casto

Everything we saw when Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers Tuesday in Orlando
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New spoken-word series Oral Project seeks to attract long-form storytellers to Orlando

Spoken word fans in Central Florida have an assortment of events to select from: various poetry-related open mic nights around town, regular…

By Seth Kubersky

Loose Lips host Tod Caviness (with Maxine Earhart behind the bar)
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SeaWorld's Howl-O-Scream brings haunted sea creatures, deadly dishes and more

SeaWorld Orlando's Howl-O-Scream is back in action, bringing sea-themed haunts now through Oct. 31. Howl-O-Scream 2023 features five haunted houses, seven scare…

By Orlando Weekly Staff

New Slideshow
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Orlando area pumpkin patches, corn mazes and autumn festivals to visit

While fall feels can be hard to come by here in the Sunshine State, there's still plenty of ways to get in…

By Orlando Weekly Staff

A Lot of Pumpkins at Santa's Christmas Tree Forest
35317 Huff Road, Eustis
Weekends and select week days, Sept. 23-Oct. 30
Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest, located in Eustis, isn’t all about Christmas. Every fall, the lot puts on a spooky face for Halloween, offering a family-friendly pumpkin patch, horse riding, petting zoo, food and beverages and more autumnal festivities.
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All the undead performers and haunted sights at Halloween Horror Nights 2023

Arguably Orlando's biggest haunted event, Halloween Horror Nights is now in full swing for its 32nd year. The event runs for more…

By Orlando Weekly Staff, Seth Kubersky

All the undead performers and haunted sights at Halloween Horror Nights 2023
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The Ringling Bros. and Barnum + Bailey circus returns to Orlando in 2024 — minus animals

Attending the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus was a cherished yearly ritual throughout my childhood, and I faithfully covered its…

By Seth Kubersky

Feld Entertainment previews the new Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus premieres in Louisiana in September ahead of a January 2024 Amway Center engagement.
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23 scenic hiking trails to explore in the Orlando area

As Central Florida looks forward to some hopefully cooler weather this autumn, it's time to start planning all the outdoor activities you…

By Orlando Weekly Staff

Split Oak Forest
12175 Clapp Simms Duda Road, Orlando
You might have guessed from the name, but this forest was named for a centuries-old oak tree that split down the middle. Hikers can spot the tree while traveling along nearly eight miles of dusty prairie terrain. This network of trails and unpaved roads also veers into land that was once used for cattle operations. Now, it’s mostly home to gopher tortoises and birds.
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Essential fall bucket list things to do in Orlando

We may still be getting regular heat advisories and unrelenting Florida heat (and rain) but that doesn't mean it's not time to…

By Orlando Weekly Staff

Brick-or-Treat at Legoland
Select weekends Sept. 16-Oct. 29
Brick-or-Treat at Legoland features trick-or-treating around the park, plus a new fireworks show, spooky Lego characters and limited-time Halloween food offerings. The party also includes a V.I.M. (Very Important Monster) Dance Party with Lord Vampyre and more live entertainment, featuring the new Lego Plant Monster and the Jammin’ Jacks singing jack-o'-lantern trio.
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The secrets and hidden gems you didn't know about Universal, according to Redditors

We all know the classic Disney World "secrets" by now. Underground tunnels (yawn), a secret suite in Cinderella's Castle (boring), hidden Mickeys…

By Orlando Weekly Staff

The secrets and hidden gems you didn't know about Universal, according to Redditors
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18 cheap, kid-friendly activities to do this summer in Orlando

We're almost midway through the summer, which might mean you're running out of ideas to keep the kiddos busy without breaking the…

By Orlando Weekly Staff

Ichetucknee Springs
12087 SW U.S. Highway 27, Fort White
Just a drive away is one of Florida’s most versatile natural springs. For just $6 per vehicle, Ichetucknee Springs offers a picturesque watering hole, a sprawling natural lazy river (with tubes for rent) and several nature trails. Spend a quintessential summer day on the water with enough action and views to keep the youngsters stimulated.
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All the 4th of July fireworks and celebrations in the Orlando area in 2023

Whether or not you're in the patriotic mood this year, Fourth of July is still a great opportunity to kick back with…

By Orlando Weekly Staff

Fireworks at the Fountain

Where: Lake Eola Park, 512 E. Washington St., Orlando 
When: 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 4 
Downtown Orlando’s annual July 4th celebration offers live entertainment, family friendly fun, and a variety of vendors with food and beverages for purchase alongside Lake Eola.
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The worst decisions to make in Orlando's theme parks

Between Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Epcot, SeaWorld and the rest of Orlando's theme park gems, it's not hard to fall victim…

By Orlando Weekly Staff

Ride The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride at Universal
You’ll wait in a massive line for this “gentle journey,” which is about as much thrill as walking the same distance.
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The best decisions to make in Orlando's theme parks

Orlando (and the rest of the world) is full of opinions about its theme parks and attractions. Between Walt Disney World, Universal…

By Orlando Weekly Staff

Ride Islands of Adventure's Velocicoaster
Get a little whiplash — you only live once!
22 slides

The best springs and beaches within driving distance of Orlando

Orlando may be landlocked in the Sunshine State, but that definitely doesn't mean Orlandoans shouldn't get some much-deserved time in the sun.…

By Bellanee Plaza, Sarah Castillo

Silver Glen Springs
1 hour, 45 minutes from Orlando
Silver Springs is not only a picturesque spot to visit and relax with the family; it's also an important archaeological site. This first-magnitude spring leaks 65 million gallons of water per day. If you end up snorkeling, try to find the two vents where the water flows from.
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