Friday, December 31
to top | New Years Eve - Disney World
celebrates the arrival of the New Year on national TV! Here are a few choice events
for the evening.
• CityWalk - Loaded with great venues for New Year's
Eve entertainment, CityWalk offers clubs, movies, great dining, live music, national
headliners and a special evening topper of a Champagne toast! / Universal CityWalk
• Disney-MGM Studios - Look for a 3 pm Stars and Motor Cars Parade and an
evening of Special New Years Fireworks at 11:45 pm
• Epcot - Illuminations
special presentation at 11:45 pm
• Magic Kingdom - Special evening Mickey's
Very Merry Christmas Light Parade and a blast of Midnight Fireworks!
•
Pleasure Island New Year's Eve - It's an all night street party and dance to celebrate
the new year! / Downtown Disney / Call 407-824-4321 for information
•
Atlantic Dance Hall New Year's Eve - Dance and dine in the New Year! / Disney's
BoardWalk
Choose your New Year's Eve venue and Reserve your room now! |
| Saturday, January 1, 2005 | New Years
Day - Celebrations continue throughout the area |
| Saturday,
January 1, 2005 | Capital One Bowl - A New Year's Football
Classic event takes place in the Florida Citrus Bowl - 1 pm / One Citrus Bowl
Plaza / 1610 West Church Street / Orlando / Call 407-849-2020 for box office information
|
| January 7 & 8 | Disney's
Health & Fitness Expo & Family Fun Run 5K and Kids' Races - Tie-in family
events with the Walt Disney World® Marathon / Disney's Wide World of Sports
Complex |
| January 9 | 2005
Walt Disney World® Marathon & Walt Disney World® Half Marathon
- Celebrating the sixth running of the WDW Half Marathon beginning at 6 am. The
route takes runners on a path through the Disney theme parks ending at Epcot®!
/ Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex / Contact the Disney's Wide World
of Sports® Complex for the required advanced registration |
| Mid
January to Mid February | Space Mountain in the Magic
Kingdom closed for yearly maintenance. |
| Monday,
January 17 | Martin Luther King Day - The year's first
great three day weekend to plan a warm getaway in Orlando. / Reserve your room
now! |
February
5 - 20
to top | Speedweeks at Daytona
International Speedway - The annual running of the open-wheel Rolex 24
Hours endurance race is followed during the second week by daily racing leading
up to the prestigious Daytona 500. / Daytona Beach International Speedway / Daytona
Beach / Call 386-253-RACE (7223) for information, the schedules dates are as follows:
• Feb. 5 - 6 - Rolex 24 at Daytona - A round the clock endurance sports
car race
• February 12 - Budweiser Shootout - A Saturday night event
to open the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
• February 13 - DAYTONA 500
Qualifying - Watch the time race for the two top pole positions\• February
17 - Gatorade 125's - It's the pole position race to determine the placement of
rest of the Daytona 500 field
• February 18 - Florida Dodge Dealers
250 - NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to Daytona\• February 19 - Hershey's
300 - The NASCAR Busch Series opener
• February 20 - DAYTONA 500 - It's
NASCAR's most prestigious race of the year! |
| Mid
February 2005 | 6th Annual Bob Marley Reggae Fest - It's
a two day celebration of the late Jamaican legend Bob Marley and his fabulous
music during the anniversary of his birth month! Look for live music with the
best of Reggae, the best of Caribbean food and art. / Universal Studios® CityWalk |
| February 8 | Fat Tuesday -
Celebrations include Mardi Gras at Universal features Saturday parades in the
weeks before the big day as well as a few weeks after Mardi Gras - so get ready
to yell "throw me something, mister" as beads and tokens fly. The celebrations
are accompanied by New Orleans-style specialties on the menu in park and CityWalksm
restaurants along with a jazz concert series! |
| February
through March | Houston Astros Spring Training - The
Astros Spring Training games are played in Orlando throughout the month of March.
/ Osceola County Stadium |
| Monday, February
14 | St. Valentine's Day - Celebrate with a romantic
three or four day weekend in Orlando, a great place for couples. There's romantic
dining, lots of fun at the parks, sightseeing, fantastic shopping and perfect
conditions on area golf courses. / Reserve your room now! |
| Mid
February | 115th Silver Spurs Rodeo - Bringing in entries
from around the world, this rodeo features all the calf roping and bull riding
one expects from a world class event! / Silver Spurs Arena / Kissimmee / Call
407-677-6336 for information. |
| February 18
- 21 | Presidents' Day Sales ongoing at Belz Factory
Outlets, Kissimmee Manufacturer Outlet Mall, Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores,
Inc. and Orlando Premium Outlets®. |
| Monday,
February 21 | Presidents' Day - Another great three day
weekend, or make it a special Valentine getaway. / Reserve your room now! |
Throughout March l Atlanta
Braves Spring Training
to top | The Braves
Spring Training games are played in Orlando with college teams and other
professional league baseball teams like the NY Mets, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers
and LA Dodgers throughout the month of March. / Disney's Wide World of Sports
Baseball Stadium |
| Throughout March |
Houston Astros Spring Training - The Astros Spring Training games
are played in Orlando throughout the month of March. / Osceola County Stadium |
| Throughout the early Spring | Orlando
Magic Basketball - The areas own NBA team, The Orlando Magic will play
home games at the T.D. Waterhouse Centre / Call 407-89-MAGIC for tickets and scheduling |
| March 4 - 13 | Bike Week at Daytona
- Motorcycle shows and exhibits throughout the area as well as racing events are
at the Daytona International Speedway. The events include musical concerts and
festivities along Beach Street and Main Street. / Daytona Beach / Call 800-7854-1234
for information. Races at the Speedway includes:
• March 11 - Daytona
Supercross by Honda - A tri-oval motorcycle race, under the lights\• March
12 - Daytona 200 by Arai - A full day of motorcycle action during this high-speed
race with new road course layout |
| March -
May | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is open year round. / Call
888-800-5447 for information |
| Throughout the
Season l First Friday Concert Series | The Mall at Millenia
presents a free concert series on the first Friday of each month at the main entrance
located next to Brio Tuscan Grille. / 5 - 8 pm / The Mall at Millenia / Orlando
/ Call 407-363-3555 for information |
| March
| Florida Film Festival - Showcasing independent films,
the festival is considered one of the most respected regional events of its kind
and includes screenings, seminars and parties. / Enzian Theater in Maitland /
Call 407-644-6579 for information and tickets |
| March
| Easter Promotions ongoing at Belz Factory Outlets,
Kissimmee Manufacturer Outlet Mall, Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, Inc. and
Orlando Premium Outlets®. |
| Thursday,
March 17 | St. Patrick's Day - Green Celebrations throughout
the parks, Downtown Disney and at local restaurants, the best known is the amazing
Irish pub with a Cajun twist - Pat O'Briens! It's as if Hurricane Ivan with assist
from Charley grabbed the famed Pat O'Briens from New Orleans and planted the place,
board by board and bar by bar onto Citywalk! No wonder the signature drink is
the Hurricane! / Live music - Dueling Pianos Bar! |
| Monday,
March 21 | Vernal Equinox - First Day of Spring |
| Weekends in Late March | 5th Annual
Bud & BBQ Fest - It's two weekends of barbeque live country music concerts
and ice-cold Anheuser-Busch products at this old fashioned good-time party. /
Sea World Orlando / Call for information |
| March
25 | Good Friday / Purim |
| March
27 | Easter Sunday - Honor the day with a visit to the
Holy Land Experience or take part in the Easter Parade and Easter Week festivities
inside the Magic Kingdom - Lake Buena Vista - Call 407-824-4321 for information |
Early April
to
top | 7th Annual Osceola County Cracker Day & Ranch Rodeo
- Local ranchers gather for a friendly competition of roping, riding and even
a wild cow milking contest! A great family event. / Kissimmee Sports Arena / Osceola
County / Call 321-228-1660 for information |
| April
15 through June 5 | 12th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden
Festival - Demonstrations and displays by top horticulturalists will
share the stage with exotic flowers, 100 Disney's signature character topiaries
and more than 30 million blooms from some 1,200 species from around the world.
A musical concert series will highlight the evening hours and a "Food Among the
Flowers brunch will be held on Saturdays and Sundays during the Festival. (Brunch
reservations are a must! ) / Epcot® |
| April
21 - 24 | 2005 MAAC Golf Championship - Metro Atlantic
Athletic Conference collegiate golf championship. / Walt Disney World® Resort |
| Friday, April 22 | Earth Day
- The official world-wide celebration event of Earth Day, check out the special
activities at Future World in Epcot®, Animal Kingdom and SeaWorld® Adventure
Park during the week leading up to and weekend after Earth Day. |
| April 22 - 23 | Universal's Grad Bash 2005!
- Two special nights are set aside for graduating high school seniors
at Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park! / Call 800-YOUTH-15 for information |
| April 24 | Passover Begins |
| Late April | 13th Annual Jazzfest Kissimmee
- A regional showcase for regional professional jazz artists, local jazz bands
and high school talent. / Kissimmee Lakefront Park / 11 am - 7 pm / Free / Call
407-846-0699 for information |
| April 30 & May
1 | 2005 Walt Disney World® Inline Marathon & Half Marathon
- Events include Inline Marathon Expo, Disney's All-Star Kids' Classic and the
Inline Marathons on routes through the parks. / 6:30 am May 1 - Marathon Start
at Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex / Contact the Disney's Wide World
of Sports® Complex for advanced registration |
Weekends
in May 2005
to top | Star Wars™
Weekends - Join us in a galaxy far, far away during this celebration
of the "Star Wars\'aa saga, heroes and villains from the series will be on hand
for pictures and personal appearances! / Disney-MGM Studios |
| May
5 - 7 | Cinco de Mayo - The Mexican national holiday
is celebrated throughout the region as an Hispanic holiday event. |
| May 8 | Mother's Day - Look for
extra special events for Mom at Epcot®. |
| May
19 - 29 | Orlando International Fringe Festival - A ten
day celebration of talent in the theatrical and performing arts from outside the
main genres. This festival began in Orlando in 1992 was based on a similar event
in Edinburgh, Scotland when in 1947 slighted performers not chosen to perform
in the city arts festival created one of their own. The Orlando International
Fringe Festival has been voted both the "Best Outdoor Event" and "Best
Cultural Festival by local citizens! / Located in seven venues in and around Downtown
Orlando. |
| Monday, May 30 | Memorial
Day - Celebrations and memorials are held throughout the parks and at
municipal events! / Reserve your room now! |
Through
early June
to top | 12th Annual Epcot
International Flower & Garden Festival - Demonstrations and displays
by top horticulturalists will share the stage with exotic flowers, 100 Disney's
signature character topiaries and more than 30 million blooms from some 1,200
species from around the world. A musical concert series will highlight the evening
hours and a "Food Among the Flowers brunch will be held on Saturdays and Sundays
during the Festival. (Brunch reservations are a must! ) / Epcot® |
| Throughout the Season | First Friday
Concert Series - The Mall at Millenia presents a free concert series
on the first Friday of each month at the main entrance located next to Brio Tuscan
Grille. / 5 - 8 pm / The Mall at Millenia / Orlando / Call 407-363-3555 for information |
| Weekends in June 2005 | Star Wars™
Weekends - Join us in a galaxy far, far away during this celebration
of the "Star Wars\'aa saga, heroes and villains from the series will be on hand
for pictures and perhaps a personal chat! / Disney-MGM Studios |
| Throughout the season | Sensational Summer
Safaris - Family expeditions are offered during the summer months in
the Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park |
| June
| Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is open year round. |
| Tuesday, June 21 | Summer Solstice
- First Day of Summer |
Saturday,
July 2
to top | 47th Annual NASCAR Pepsi
400 - NASCAR returns to the Speedway to run under the lights during the
Independence Day weekend. / Daytona Beach International Speedway/ Daytona Beach
/ Call 904-254-2700 for information |
| Monday,
July 4 | Independence Day - Huge celebrations throughout
the theme parks as well as in local and municipal establishments! Here are just
a few of the numerous events. / Reserve your room now!
• Disney-MGM
Studios - Look for a 3 pm Stars and Motor Cars Parade and an evening of Special
4th of July Fireworks at 9pm and Fantasmic! at 10:30pm
• Fire Up
Your 4th of July - Universal Studios hosts one of the largest parties and
fireworks displays in Orlando
• Kissimmee Old Fashioned 4th of July
- Live entertainment & fireworks display / Kissimmee Lakefront Park / Call 407-933-8368
for information
• St. Cloud 4th of July Celebration - Huge fireworks
display and community party / St. Cloud Lakefront Park / Call 407-892-3671
for information |
Early
August
to top | 16th Annual Christmas
in August Craft Fair - Central Florida Fairgrounds / 4603 W. Colonial
Drive / Orlando\ |
September
2 - 5
to top | Labor Day Weekend |
| Throughout the Season | Busch Gardens
Tampa Bay is open year round.\ |
| Throughout
the Season | First Friday Concert Series - The Mall at
Millenia presents a free concert series on the first Friday of each month at the
main entrance located next to Brio Tuscan Grille. / 5 - 8 pm / The Mall at Millenia
/ Orlando / Call 407-363-3555 for information |
| Wednesday,
September 21 | Autumnal Equinox - Autumn Begins |
Monday, October 10
to top | Columbus Day - Time to getaway
for a relaxing three day weekend in Orlando. Great time of year for golf, shopping
and and a day in one of the local parks. |
| Select
Evenings Throughout October | Halloween Horror Nights XVII
- A Nightmare of epic proportions, this popular event has grown over the years
into a Mega Halloween Horror! Both Universal parks are out to give visitors a
masterfully scary experience. / Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure / Advance
ticket purchases are required! |
| Select Evenings
Throughout October | Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
- Join the party in your own costume, this event is definitely family oriented.
/ Magic Kingdom ® |
| Mid October |
116th Silver Spurs PRCA Rodeo & Extreme Bulls! - The largest
professional rodeo in the southeast, this three day event ends with a Sunday finale
to determine the rodeo champions. / Silver Spurs Arena / Osceola Heritage Park
/ Kissimmee / call 407-67-RODEO for information |
| Late
October | Shamu's Halloween Spooktacular - A pirate-themed
Halloween adventure haunts the last two weekends of October, a great Halloween
treat for the kids! / SeaWorld |
| Monday, October
31 | Halloween - Celebrate the event with a trip through
the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom or a visit to the Twilight Zone Tower of
Terror at MGM. Alfred Hitchcock and Men in Blacktm Alien Attack can put you in
the mood at Universal Studios or escape into various venues at Islands of Adventure
including Dueling Dragons, Jurassic Park \'a9 or Marvel Super Hero Island! Both
the Magic Kingdom and the Universal Parks have special Halloween events on-going! |
Throughout the Season
to top | Orlando Magic Basketball
- The areas own NBA team, The Orlando Magic will play home games at the T.D. Waterhouse
Centre / Call 407-89-MAGIC for tickets and scheduling |
| Tuesday,
November 1 | Election Day |
| Beginning
in Early November | Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Holiday
Show - One of the most popular entries to Orlando's entertainment scene,
the Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show hosts a Holiday Spectacular in
honor of the season. / Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show / 8251 Vineland
Avenue / Call 407-238-4455 for information |
| Friday,
November 11 | Veteran's Day |
| Mid
November | Festival of the Masters - It's a weekend of
award winning artists and artisans displaying their works in Downtown Disney®
West Side. Children can get into the act by doing chalk drawings and other activities
set up just for them. Cirque du Soleil® performers will be doing artistic
feats of acrobatics in limited venues. / Downtown Disney® |
| Mid
November | The Annual Orlando Beer Festival & "A Taste of
CityWalk" - The largest beer fest in Florida with over 125 beer
brands on hand from over 70 brew houses as well as lots of great food and live
music! / CityWalk / Universal |
| Beginning Mid
November | Holidays Around The World - The World Showcase
comes alive with each country sharing the folklore and traditions of the winter
holiday season. Epcot® Candlelight Processional accompanies a narrative retelling
of the Christmas Story, celebrated along with 50-piece orchestra and mass choir.
/ Epcot® |
| Thursday, November 24 |
Thanksgiving Day |
| November
25 through 27 | After Thanksgiving Sales ongoing at Belz
Factory Outlets, Kissimmee Manufacturer Outlet Mall, Lake Buena Vista Factory
Stores, Inc. and Orlando Premium Outlets®. |
| Through
December 30 | Holidays Around The World - The World Showcase
comes alive with each country sharing the folklore and traditions of the winter
holiday season. Epcot® Candlelight Processional accompanies a narrative retelling
of the Christmas Story, celebrated along with 50-piece orchestra and mass choir.
/ Epcot® |
Throughout
the Winter
to top | Orlando Magic Basketball
- The areas own NBA team, The Orlando Magic will play home games at the T.D. Waterhouse
Centre / Call 407-89-MAGIC for tickets and scheduling |
| Throughout
the Season | First Friday Concert Series - The Mall at
Millenia presents a free concert series on the first Friday of each month at the
main entrance located next to Brio Tuscan Grille. / 5 - 8 pm / The Mall at Millenia
/ Orlando / Call 407-363-3555 for information |
| Throughout
December | Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Holiday Show
- One of the most popular entries to Orlando's entertainment scene, the Dolly
Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show hosts a Holiday Spectacular in honor of
the season. / Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show / 8251 Vineland Avenue
/ Call 407-238-4455 for information |
| Throughout
the Season | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is open year round./
Call for information |
| Through December 24
| Festival of the Seasons - A special shopping event
with everything on one's wish list available for purchase for the perfect Christmas
gift! / Downtown Disney |
| Early December |
Annual St. Cloud Art Festival - Over 150 artists and craftsmen
will display their wares, plus there is live entertainment and great food! / New
York Avenue in Downtown St. Cloud / Call 407-892-6916 for information |
| Mid December through the first week in January |
Macy's Holiday Parade™ - See the very same helium balloons
and floats from the Macy's Thanksgivings Day Parade along the streets of Universal
Studios. Marching bands and Santa Claus will also be here! / Universal Studios
Florida® |
| Wednesday, December 21 |
Winter Solstice / First Day Winter |
| Mid
December | Tangerine Bowl - A major kick-off of the college
football bowl season played in the Florida Citrus Bowl - 7:30 pm / One Citrus
Bowl Plaza / 1610 West Church Street / Orlando / Call 407-849-2020 for
box office information |
| Saturday, December
24 | Christmas Eve |
| Sunday,
December 25 | Christmas Day |
| Monday,
December 26 | First Day of Kawanzaa |
| Monday,
December 26 | First Day of Hanukkah |
| Late
December | 2005 Orlando Citrus Parade - Featuring floats
decked out in citrus fruit, this parade also has entries from the main theme parks,
plus marching bands from the Capital One Bowl participants, a few celebrities
and lots more plus it is nationally televised! / Downtown Orlando |
| Saturday, December 31 | New Years Eve
- Disney World celebrates the arrival of the New Year on national TV! Here are
a few choice events for the evening.
• CityWalk - Loaded with
great venues for New Year's Eve entertainment, CityWalk offers clubs, movies,
great dining, live music, national headliners and a special evening topper of
a Champagne toast! / Universal CityWalk
• Disney-MGM Studios
- Look for a 3 pm Stars and Motor Cars Parade and an evening of Special New Years
Fireworks at 11:45 pm
• Epcot - Illuminations special presentation
at 11:45 pm
• Magic Kingdom - Special evening Mickey's Very Merry
Christmas Light Parade and a blast of Midnight Fireworks!
• Pleasure
Island New Year's Eve - It's an all night street party and dance to celebrate
the new year! / Downtown Disney / Call 407-824-4321 for information
• Atlantic Dance Hall New Year's Eve - Dance and dine in the New
Year! / Disney's BoardWalk\Choose your New Year's Eve venue and Reserve your room
now! |
| Sunday, January 1, 2006 | New
Years Day - Celebrations continue throughout the area |
| Sunday, January 1, 2006 | Capital One Bowl
- A New Year's Football Classic event takes place in the Florida Citrus
Bowl - 1 pm / One Citrus Bowl Plaza / 1610 West Church Street / Orlando / Call
407-849-2020 for box office information |
| Early
January | 2006 Walt Disney World® Marathon - Celebrating
the seventh running of the WDW Half Marathon beginning at 6 am. The route takes
runners on a path through the Disney theme parks ending at Epcot®! / Disney's
Wide World of Sports® Complex |
| Early
January | 2006 Walt Disney World® Half Marathon -
Celebrating the sixth running of the WDW Half Marathon / Disney's Wide World of
Sports Complex |
| Mid January to Mid February
| Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom closed for yearly
maintenance. |
| Monday, January 16 |
Martin Luther King Day - The year's first great three day weekend
to plan a warm getaway in Orlando. / Reserve your room now! |
| Tuesday,
February 14 | St. Valentine's Day - Celebrate with a
romantic four day extended weekend in Orlando, a great place for couples. There's
romantic dining, lots of fun at the parks, sightseeing, fantastic shopping and
perfect conditions on area golf courses. / Reserve your room now! |
| February 4 - 19 | Speedweeks at Daytona
International Speedway - The annual running of the open-wheel Rolex 24
Hours endurance race is followed during the second week by daily racing leading
up to the prestigious Daytona 500. / Daytona Beach International Speedway / Daytona
Beach / Call 386-253-RACE (7223) for additional 2006 Speedweeks schedule. Firm
dates are as follows:
• Feb. 4 - 5 - Rolex 24 at Daytona - A round the
clock endurance sports car race
• February 19 - DAYTONA 500 - It's NASCAR's
most prestigious race of the year!
|
| Mid
February 2006 | 7th Annual Bob Marley Reggae Fest - It's
a two day celebration of the late Jamaican legend Bob Marley and his fabulous
music during the anniversary of his birth month! Look for live music with the
best of Reggae, the best of Caribbean food and art. / Universal Studios® CityWalk |
| Monday, February 20 | Presidents' Day
- Another great three day weekend, or make it a Valentine getaway. / Reserve your
room now! |
| Tuesday, February 28 |
Fat Tuesday - Celebrations include Mardi Gras at Universal features
Saturday parades in the weeks before the big day as well as a few weeks after
Mardi Gras - so get ready to yell "throw me something, mister" as beads
and tokens fly. The celebrations are accompanied by New Orleans style specialties
on the menu in park and CityWalksm restaurants along with a jazz concert series!
|
