We returned to SeaWorld for the Seven Seas Food Festival. We had bought sampler lanyards and still…read morehad punches left after our first visit this year. My favorite foods this visit were the Tuna Poke Bowl and the Bourbon Caramel Glazed Peach Cobbler. The poke bowl was flavorful and delicious. I had the cobbler later at home. I reheated the cobbler before taking a bite. It was so good. The cobbler was filled with a generous amount of sliced peaches and had a crumble on top. The lines and wait times were minimal. The staff was courteous. I hope to return to next year's SeaWorld Seven Seas Food Festival!

Apparently SeaWorld has been doing this food & drink festival for years now. 2024 marks their 7th…read moreyear doing the SeaWorld Seven Seas Food Festival. But how have I never known about this before? We've been to SeaWorld Orlando and San Diego locations several times over the years, but I never knew. Ha. They're smart to jump on the Epcot Food & Wine Festival bandwagon but making it their own. The SeaWorld Seven Seas Food Festival is LEGIT!!! Walking around the park, there are so many food booths or "markets" to choose from. They range from many different cuisines and drink booths. We hit up the Asian Market first and ordered the Tempura Battered Sushi, Deep Fried Dumplings and Elderflower Mule. Total came out to $41. Hubby scoped out the Food Festival pass where you pay $85 and get 15 samples at any of the food booths. That made way more sense since our 3 items cost $41. So we opted for the lanyard pass. This pass is good for any food or drink item at the food booths. SCORE!!!! So happy we did the lanyard pass, it was worth every penny. The food and drink items alone can range in pricing from $4.99 up to $15.99 each. It was common sense to get the $85 lanyard pass for 15 samples!!! So happy we did that and were able to get a sampling of so many different foods. You can also do a $70 lanyard for 10 samples. You can purchase the lanyards online, at the Seven Seas Festival Welcome Center or at any of the food market locations. All food items are the same portion size, via a la carte or via lanyard. Another bonus is that the lanyard gets you 15 samplers but if you're an annual SeaWorld Pass Holder, you get 3 bonus samples. The festival runs Feb 2nd to May 19th 2024. Lanyards don't have to be used on same day, you can return another day and continue to use the lanyard until all options are used but it has to be used during the same year. All food festival booths are only available on Thursdays-Sundays each week during festival dates. They open 11:00am until park closing time. How to use your lanyard pass, go to any of the food festival market booths, order the food or drink items you want, they will scan the back of the lanyard, punch the amount of items purchased, you get a receipt where you give that to the food pick up area and they give you your items. Done and done. Here's a quick list of everything we ate or drank: * Asian: Tempura Fried Sushi * Asian: Deep Fried Dumplings * Asian: Elderflower Mule * Indian: Chicken Tikki Masala * Indian: Garlic Naan with Chickpea Curry * Mediterranean: Moroccan Grilled Lamb Chops * Mediterranean: Walking Gyros * Irish: St. Patrick's Day Nachos * North Atlantic: Fish & Chips * Polynesian: Smoked Lamb Ribs * Polynesian: Ahi Tuna Poké Nachos * French: Duck Confit We will return and do the lanyard pass again so we can try all the food or drinks we didn't get to try the first time around. Love this concept!

I've been going to this Powwow for a very long time and it is by far one of my favorite ones to…read moreattend. The powwow lasts from Friday to Sunday so we make a weekend of it, me and my Mom. It's held waaaay in the back by the lake on the Central Florida Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds itself is fairly easy to spot on West Colonial Drive as you'll see a row of trees out front and they have a Flea Market. Sometimes they'll have several events going on there. For those who don't know, a Powwow is a Native American gathering that consists of singing, dancing, visiting with old friends and making new ones. The powwow is open to all and can be used as a learning experience to those who aren't familiar with Native American ways. The powwow was great this year. This year there was a Polynesian Revue, with Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Maori dancing. Other entertainment included flute playing, an elder speaking about the legends from his nation, and hoop dancing. I believe that the main attraction was the dancing. There were Native American people from all over the U.S. there to dance. The spectators were also able to join in as well. There were many craft vendors selling their items, from silver jewelry, beadwork, blankets, leather, etc. They didn't have as many food vendors as they used to so the lines were kinda long. Newcomers should definitely try frybread, which is a flat dough that is deep-fried in oil and is usually topped with honey or powdered sugar. It's good. I'll definitely be back next year.

What's not to like about Night of a Million Lights?! This event is held at Give Kids the World…read morewhich is a story book type resort dedicated to providing children with critical illnesses and their families A weeklong vacation experience. As for the event, Night of a Million Lights, it is a holiday event work all the houses are adorned with Christmas lights and music going on all around. For 2021, as you arrive to the property you are directed to parking on the other side of Route 192. From there you will be driven by boss over to the event. It's about a 10 minute bus ride, maybe a little less if less traffic and you don't hit the light, from the parking to the event drop off. Your ticket is scan before you get on the bus so once you come off, can you simply start enjoying the run. This year they have plenty of vendors throughout the property selling food, snacks, merchandise. It's a great event for a great cause, and plenty of opportunities for holiday photos

This was a great experience! I went on opening night (not intentionally, just worked with our…read moreplans) with my mother, aunt and cousin (GNO). We wanted to do something extra Christmas-y while my aunt and cousin were in town visiting and this fit the bill! We didn't fully know what to expect regarding the showcase, but it rocked! Plus, your supporting a good cause. The light displays were elaborate and so cool, I thought the sponsored houses were neat, and the train ride had a fantastic story and information with it. We didn't eat anything there or get souvenirs, but it looks well organized from that perspective with options. We were there from ~8pm-10pm and it was a perfect amount of time. It was low key and relaxed, but so exciting! I'd recommend this as a cute date night for couples or a family outing for young children. If you liked and miss Disney's Osbourne Lights at Hollywood Studios, you're going to love Night of a Million Lights!

Some family friends invited me to go with them this year and I had been meaning to check it out. It…read morewas a fun way to spend a Saturday morning in December looking at crafts from some local vendors and checking out the historical features of the property. Several vendors featured the same or similar items but nonetheless you can find something unique to gift or for yourself. Loved the sugarcane stand and the multiple food options. I heard there was a beer stand in the past but I did not see one this year. It's definitely a cute couple hour thing to do and check out Christmas crafts! The signs going to the Fort were very confusing and stated "road closed, residents only" but is definitely the way to go to park and attend the event. Just an FYI.

My daughter attends University of Central Florida and I have often passed through Christmas, Fl. on…read moremy way to visit her. Although I thought the name was cute I didn't know much about the town. I saw that that there was a Christmas festival at the fort so I jumped on the chance to pay a visit. This Christmas celebration has been a tradition since 1979 and is held the first weekend in December. Cracker refers to the sound the whips made when Florida cowboys were herding cattle in the 1800's. The town and fort is called Christmas because it was the day the US Army arrived in Central Florida in 1837. Since this was my first time here I wasn't sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. Parking and admission are both free. The festival is held on the grounds of the recreated Fort Christmas. The original fort was built in 1837 during the Seminole Indian War. In addition there are 8 pioneer homes, a school house, lunch room, sugar cane mill, and historical farm equipment. As a lover of history I was in heaven touring so many historical buildings and they were all decorated for the holidays with the kind of decorations that would have been common for the time period. A highlight of the festival was all of the pioneer demonstrations. I got to see lace weaving, music performances, broom making, quilting, spinning, black smiths, and wood carvers. You could also visit a recreation of a military camp. After touring the houses it was time for lunch. It was so hard to choose because they were so many booths of delicious food. Some of the regional choices included BBQ, alligator, swamp cabbage, and boiled peanuts. For dessert their was a variety of baked goods. I saw a lot of people carrying around the giant bags of kettle corn. We finally settled on steak and rice. It was huge and only $7! I have never been to a festival in South Florida that had food under $12. I couldn't leave without doing a little shopping. There were so many wonderful craft vendors. I ended up purchasing a necklace with two dog shaped glass pendants representing my dogs and a UCF sign for my daughter. It was a great place to get a jump on your holiday shopping. My first visit to Christmas was amazing. I was surprised at how large the festival was but it had an old Florida feel. The festival also managed to combine three of my loves, history, food, and shopping. I hope to make this festival an annual tradition.

Love it, love it…read more The Asian fest is free event located at Bill Frederick Park Turkey Lake. The event is free to all. Normally the park requires $4 fees to enter but the expo was free and make the park entry is free also. The festival is located near the Turkey Lake because they have the Dragon Boat Race. Many team has show up on the race. Since this is fresh water Race, the boat take off is a bit tougher. Because the buoyancies drop the boat deeper in the water. The event included many cultural dance and show. They showcase multi Asian nation culture with great vibe. I was able to see the Tai Chi and the Taiko. It fun to watch the drumming and special traditional dress. There are some food truck and local restaurant. I wish there are more Asian food instead of regular food truck.

What a comfortable autumn weather for outdoor activities! This was our first time attending…read moreOrlando's Asia culture expo. It was a fun, free event. There were venders promoting their products. We got free flu shot from the Walgreen tent. Instant noodle company gave away free samples. Different Asia country groups set up booths and introduced their unique cultures and some art and craft activities. On the stage, there were 2 nice MC running the show- singing, dancing, drumming , Tai chi, Kung Fu show, etc . The live performances were wonderful and exciting. Food trucks were available there for people to grab a bite or drink. Dragon boat racing was such a interesting sport to speculate. Team members wore their beautiful uniforms and rowed with all their power trying to win the race. The best team came home with a big trophy and big smile on their faces. Thanks for Asia Trend magazine organized this event so we can enjoy the fun activities and learned different cultures.

The Dragon Parade and Lunar Festival is an annual event that is a fun cultural event and it is a…read moreworthwhile event to check out and just gives us one more reason to feel lucky that we live in Orlando, Florida. As I have said, this is an annual event so if you missed this year's, there is always next year. I would definitely recommend checking this out.

A great cultural event in the heart of the Mills50 District. This is an annual event during the…read moreChinese Lunar New Year. The parade goes down Thornton Ave, and you will want to ensure you arrive to the area early as parking gets chaotic fast. There are several businesses that allow parking at their lots during the event, so be sure to check the event guide or the Facebook page for more info and correct businesses, so you don't get towed. The parade starts about 11:15 a.m. and is about 30-40 minutes long. They have several different groups that participate and many of them throw out candy or goodies while they go. There is also a Kung Fu group that stops to do demos every little bit. It's really neat to watch. At the end of the parade, you'll want to head to the 'market' area to see some of the vendors that participate. There are a few food vendors and some merch vendors. There is also a stage with demos and speaking times on the program. You can see a fair number of our state / local reps if you attend! Overall: A A fun annual cultural event that you should absolutely come out and see! Check out the market after. Arrive early for parking.

Went to the 2nd Thursday Art and Wine Crawl with my friends because we were looking for a…read morenon-touristy activity to stretch out our night. This wine and art was absolutely perfect! Plenty of drinks spread out in a walkable area. Tons of great little shops and restaurants. The vendors and food choices were excellent! We picked up so many cute gifts! Historic Orlando is wonderful! Take a detour from the parks and spend your night drinking and eating like a local! Parking was a struggle, and we broke down and paid $10 for a private parking spot nearby. Well worth the money. Highly recommend!

I love this event . It is so much fun be ready to leave happy but make sure you eat first . The…read moreofferings as far as drinks are great all around, you get wine, margaritas, seltzer etc depending on what the venue is offering. Tip: by your ticket in advance otherwise it will be $15 instead of $10.00

This is quite a fancy art show, one of the best around, really. With top artists from all over the…read morecountry, you'll find some truly amazing pieces from both established and up-and-coming creators. The entire park transforms into a massive outdoor gallery, filled with hundreds of works being judged and awarded throughout the weekend. I'll admit, some of the art is a little pricey for me, but if you've got some disposable income and consider yourself a true art connoisseur, it's definitely worth it. Even if you're not buying, it's an incredible way to spend an afternoon, walking the park, chatting with artists, and soaking in all the creativity. It's inspiring and gives you plenty of ideas for what you might want to collect or create in the future.

My daughter lives in Winter Park and during a visit with her we visited the Winter Park Autumn Art…read moreFestival. The festival is held in the beautiful 11 acre Central Park along Park Avenue in the heart of downtown Winter Park. The park has a stately oak canopy, fountains, and sculptures which makes it the perfect backdrop for an art festival. There is also a number of restaurants and shops only steps away. The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce hosts the ANNUAL festival on the second weekend in October each year. It is the only juried fine arts festival made up only of Florida artists. Art displayed and for sale includes paintings, ceramics, metal, prints, textiles, photography, and ceramics to name just a few mediums. This year 186 artists were chosen to display their works. The festival is quite large and you can easily spend a couple of hours checking everything out. I especially loved the nature photography featuring Florida's native flora and fauna. If there is one drawback to the festival it is the lack of parking. I ended up parking in a business lot and they charged me $20. Go early if you have any hope of finding street parking. Once you leave your car plan on spending a few hours enjoying all the delights downtown Winter Park has to offer.