A variety of diverse Orlando events and festivals take place throughout the year, many of which are celebrated at major theme parks such as Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando® and SeaWorld® Orlando. For example, Disney World annual events include Walt Disney World Marathon in January, Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival in April, Star Wars Weekends in May-June, Night of Joy in September, Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival in October-November, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in October, Holidays Around the World in November-December and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in November-December.
Additional Orlando events and festivals take place at Universal Orlando® and SeaWorld® Orlando. Universal Orlando® features two amazing theme parks, Universal Studios Florida® and Islands of Adventure® that host such annual events as Mardi Gras at Universal Studios in February-April, Rock the Universe in September, Halloween Horror Nights in October, Grinchmas and Macy’s Holiday Parade in December-January. SeaWorld Orlando offers Viva La Musica in April and May and Shamu’s Halloween Spooktacular in October.
Other popular Orlando events and festivals include the Capitol One Florida Citrus Bowl in January, ArtsFest in February, Silver Spurs Rodeo in February, Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, Central Florida Fair in March, Central Florida Home & Garden Show in April, Florida Film Festival in April, Orlando International Fringe Festival in May, Orlando Home Show in September and Citrus Bowl Parade in December.
In addition to the abundance of Orlando events and festivals scheduled throughout the year, a number of unique annual events take place within a short drive of the Orlando area that are definitely worth a day trip. These annual events and festivals include the Blue Spring Manatee Festival in Orange City (January), Central Florida Scottish Highland Games in Winter Springs (January), Zora Neale Hurston Festival in Eatonville (January), Mount Dora Art Festival (February), Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway (February), Bike Week in Daytona Beach (March), A Taste of Oviedo (April), Easter Surfing Festival in Cocoa Beach (April), Red Hot & Boom! in Altamonte Springs (July), Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach (October) and Space Coast Art Festival in Cocoa Beach in November.
Orlando Calendar Events
- JANUARY – Blue Spring Manatee Festival, Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl, Central Florida Scottish Highland Games, Otronicon, Outback Bowl, Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza, Walt Disney World Marathon, Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts & Humanities,
- FEBRUARY – Antiques Show & Sale, ArtsFest, Atlanta Braves Spring Training, Houston Astros Spring Training, Mardi Gras at Universal Studios, Mount Dora Art Festival, Osceola County Fair & Livestock Show, Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza, Silver Spurs Rodeo, Speedweeks, Winter Park Bach Festival
- MARCH – Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bike Week, Central Florida Fair, Mount Dora Antique Fair, Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
- APRIL – A Taste of Oviedo, Central Florida Home & Garden Show, Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival, Florida Film Festival, Easter Surfing Festival, Spring Fiesta in the Park
- MAY – Florida Music Festival, Orlando International Fringe Festival, Star Wars Weekends, Symphony in the Park Concert
- JUNE – Gay Days, Sounds Like Summer Concert Series
- JULY – Celebration of Freedom, City of Kissimmee July 4th Celebration, Fireworks at the Fountain, Fouth of July at CityWalk, Fourth of July Block Party, Coke Zero 400, Red Hot & Boom!, Walt Disney World® Resort Fourth of July Celebrations, Winter Park’s Old-Fashioned July 4th Celebration
- AUGUST – Anime Festival Orlando
- SEPTEMBER – Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival, Howl-O-Scream, Night of Joy, Orlando Home Show, Rock the Universe
- OCTOBER – Biketoberfest, Halloween Horror Nights, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Shamu’s Halloween Spooktacular, Silver Spurs Rodeo, Winter Park Autumn Art Festival
- NOVEMBER – Festival of the Masters, Grinchmas at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Holidays Around the World, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Orlando Magic NBA Basketball, Osceola Art Festival, Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza, Space Coast Art Festival
- DECEMBER – Citrus Bowl Parade, Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida®
Good sources for more information on upcoming Orlando festivals and events include the Friday entertainment section of the Orlando Sentinel and the Orlando Weekly, an arts and entertainment publication that comes out each Wednesday.
