It's a great idea and it's a great place to go. Lots of stuff going on and their is music and lots…read moreof vendors with different stuff and things you can get. It's great for adults and young adults, but if you have little ones I would no bring them. Lots of people drinking and loud music and their is really noting for the little ones. Tip: not good for little kids.

Great event held the second Thursday of every month in downtown Sanford…read more Every month is a different theme with lots of samples and a meal included for 7 bucks. Can get very packed so get there early

Good food, family friendly atmosphere. Lots of beer... lol…read moreSuper nice crowd. Great deserts... Parking is a little high for this kind of event but the cometary lot is a low income cometary and the money helps them so whatever... They run out of the good stuff so get there early...

Zombietoberfest was a nice evening out in the cool weather that Saturday brought us. There was a…read morebounce house and a big open field for the kids to run around and play, Ghostbusters was playing on a big screen in an open grassy area, there was a zombie walk, people doing zombie makeup-which was fun, vendors, and food trucks. It was all nice but I personally would have liked to see more vendors and more activities. I was surprised to find there was plenty of free parking in area businesses and along the streets; it made that part of the fest all the better. We purchased a few cupcakes from Bluebird and unfortunately they were rather dry; you could tell they had been sitting out quite a while. I've heard rave reviews about Bluebird so I won't fault them entirely since they did have to bake ahead of time and store them at their outside booth. I love this time of year and Zombietoberfest was an enjoyable time out, doing something different. If you are big into Halloween and/or zombies, I would definitely recommend a visit next year.

The City of Altamonte Springs puts on their Independence Day Celebration and fireworks show every…read moreyear on the 3rd of July and the call it Red Hot & Boom. We love that they pick the 3rd because it opens an opportunity to see another show on the 4th, thanks for that! After last years celebration, we were very saddened to hear that 2023 was going to be their last year putting this event on. I guess the public outcry was so great that they decided Red Hot & Boom must go on, and we are so glad it did. In my opinion, it's the best fireworks display in the central Florida region, I can say that because I've been to all the big events several times over the course of my 24 years living in the area. Who else has two identical displays going off simultaneously,with and extended finale, one on the west side and the other on the east side of Cranes Roost Park. Nobody else does this but The City of Altamonte Springs, so Thank You for continuing this tradition!!! As always, there is plenty of food, beer, and merchant vendors on site. There was at least 65 Porto John's available with hand sanitizer stations. There was five bands who kept us entertained all the way up to the moment before the fireworks were launched. Great job City of Altamonte Springs and a big Thank You to all of the sponsors for keeping this show going, us little people truly appreciate it!

Red Hot & Boom in Altamonte Springs on July 3rd, 2022 was seriously the best fireworks celebration…read morein a long time. This was super organized. It is free to get in and free to park. There is tons of space to sit all around Cranes Roost Park. Bring your chairs and blankets. I'd say bring those chairs so you are most comfortable. The sponsors really did a good job including the local radio station bringing some great entertainment and pop singers. It was very fun filled. The fireworks were in so many directions and they were huge and eye popping and had some energetic music with it. This was a blast and really made for a perfect independence celebration. This will definitely be a must do every year now. After seeing these fireworks, other fireworks are very difficult to beat.

I've been attending Porchfest since its inception, and it continues to grow each year. What started…read morewith just a handful of porches and a few bands has blossomed into a vibrant event featuring 18 porches and 72 bands--it's truly amazing to see how much it's expanded! In the early days, you could easily hop between porches to catch all the bands, including the main headliner, but now, with so many bands and multiple headliners, planning ahead is key. I recommend checking the band schedule in advance, watching their YouTube videos, and deciding who you want to see. However, if you're attending with a group, you might have to adjust your plans on the fly. The event runs all day, starting at 11 a.m. with bands kicking off at noon and the last set finishing around 7:45 p.m. To avoid traffic, plan to arrive by 10 a.m., as parking can be a challenge. We live in Sanford and typically use our bicycles or golf cart to get there. This year, we took the golf cart and parked about a 5-minute walk away at 11th Street and Magnolia Avenue. Keep in mind, the event spans Myrtle, Magnolia, Park, and Oak Streets between 5th and 12th Streets, so expect plenty of walking. Comfortable shoes, sun gear, and a light jacket are essential, and bringing your own cooler with drinks, food, and chairs will make your day more enjoyable. Food trucks are plentiful at the event, but since it's a family-friendly gathering, alcohol is not sold on-site. You're welcome to bring your own beverages, but remember to drink responsibly to keep the atmosphere fun and respectful. There's a strong police presence, and streets are blocked off to ensure everyone's safety. Two areas for improvement: There were long lines at the Porto-lets, especially in high-traffic spots, and they weren't consistently maintained by staff like you might see at larger events. While not a deal breaker, having more attention in this area would enhance the experience, particularly for families. Additionally, some trash receptacles weren't being emptied regularly, which affected cleanliness. Overall, Porchfest is a must-see event. It's the largest outdoor gathering in Sanford and a fantastic way to spend a day--exploring historic homes, enjoying great music, and making memories with friends and family.

The Sanford Porch Festival is free. They have a perimeter with the streets closed to traffic…read more There were 19 bands with a variety of music. For food they had food trucks. They had Porta Potties but they should have had more of them for the number of people attending. Also, parking was hard to find. Some people brought lawn chairs to watch the bands. Other people brought their dogs with them.

You could not ask for a prettier setting than Lake Eola for an outdoor amphitheater. In the…read morebackground of the this performing arts venue, swans glide on Lake Eola in front of the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain which displays a nightly colored light show. The mild weather in Central Florida pretty much means it is almost always perfect for a free play or concert at this open theater. The first Lake Eola band shell was built in the park in 1886 but it was originally on the south side of the lake until it was torn down and reconstructed at its present location on the west side. The Amphitheater became the Walt Disney Amphitheater in 1989. Lake Eola has a park-wide sound system which links the amphitheater with speakers surrounding the lake so you can hear a performance from anywhere in the park. In 2016 the rings of the Walt Disney Amphitheater bandshell were repainted with pride colors in 2016 to honor the 49 lives that were lost in the Pulse nightclub mass shooting tragedy. it is still fun to check out this Lake Eola staple even when a performance is not being held. The area around the amphitheater is used for the weekly Orlando Farmer's Market, held every Sunday from 10 to 3 PM.

The Walt Disney Amphitheatre at Lake Eola Park is a nice place for locals to gather and see some…read morelive music or whatever event they can have here. It is on the Rosalind Avenue entrance and it would be hard not to capture your notice. It is not a big venue by any means, but it will definitely serve a purpose to the community.

We went to the Orlando Beer Festival with VIP tickets, which were supposed to include early entry,…read morea commemorative glass, a t-shirt, a private VIP area with food, covered seating, bathrooms, and private parking. On paper, it sounded great, but the event itself felt very unorganized. When we arrived, the VIP parking lot was completely unmanned. I spent about 30 minutes trying to find someone to confirm we were parked correctly, but no one seemed to know anything about the parking or who I could even talk to. Honestly, anyone could have parked there without being checked. Inside, the beer stations were set up way too close together, which made the flow of traffic feel cramped even though there was plenty of space available. It was a hot day, and unless you were in the VIP area, there was no shade to take a break. The food trucks were outside the event space with no seating, which made grabbing food inconvenient. The turnout was low, and overall the vibe felt pretty "blah" compared to other beer festivals I've attended. On the positive side, there were a lot of quality vendors, and we had fun interacting with them. I even discovered a few new breweries I'll visit later. But the organization issues kept piling up. As we were leaving, we asked about our VIP glasses at the entrance, and the staff had no idea what we meant. We were sent to the information booth, where my husband was questioned about whether he was really leaving before they finally pulled the glasses out from under the table. There was no signage or clear instructions for VIPs about how to get them. We did get our t-shirts in the VIP section, but again, nothing was clearly communicated. Overall, despite some good beer and friendly vendors, the event was poorly organized from start to finish. Between the parking confusion, lack of shade, and unclear VIP perks, it just wasn't worth it. I won't be going back to this particular beer festival.

I've been attending this event for a couple of years now, and I really enjoy it--even though I'm…read morenot a beer drinker. What I love about this festival is that it offers so many options beyond beer, giving you the chance to sample a wide variety of products. This year, we had VIP access, which included food from restaurants like Marlow's and Solita's. The food was delicious. One thing that stood out this year was the number of THC-infused beverages and hemp products available, which was new to me. Overall, I enjoyed walking around, trying different products, and collecting the fun swag they hand out. The event is always hosted in the Milk District, and I'm already looking forward to next year's festival.

It's hard to believe the Maitland Jazz and blues Festival has been going on for 20 years now, where…read moredoes the time go?! We stopped in to check this event out last Saturday and it was a blast. Two days and 12 bands. Unfortunately we were only able to catch the last two bands. There was also two stages which helped with breaking up the crowds. This is in a busy part of Maitland, although parking is available in several locations, it can be tricky finding it since many of the main entrances to the park are blocked. It's free entry to the event. If you plan on staying all day be sure to bring a chair or a blanket to sit on. Also know that pets were not allowed at the event and you could not bring your own drinks or coolers in. There are a lot of food trucks on site along with several other vendors selling goods, jewelry & such, plus several areas for sampling their food/product. If you're not in the mood for any of that you could always opt for Boku sushi, or Kelly's Homemade Ice cream which are also great options. If we planned better we could have spent an entire day here it looked like it was a great time for the community. If you're in the area when this event takes place next year, I recommend checking it out.

Jazz and blues at the park! What more do I need to say? Wonderful event with local and traveling…read morejazz and blues bands playing original tracks and obviously playing some classics. The afternoon was perfect. They had beer stands, food stands/trucks and even a small little artisan market to buy Florida made items. The park is beautiful and was able to host two stages to eliminate down time between bands, and it has plenty of trees to set up your chairs to enjoy the music in the shade. Was definitely kid friendly with a small playground area to keep them entertained. The bands were spectacular which made for such an entertaining and relaxing afternoon. Can't wait for next year's lineup.

The Uptown Art Expo in Altamonte Springs is one of my favorite art festivals in the area, and…read morehere's why: (1) many of the artists featured are the same incredible talent you'll see at the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, and (2) the festival consistently showcases some of the best local bands around. This event is free to attend, which is a huge plus. While parking is limited in the immediate Cranes Roost area, there's plenty of parking at the Altamonte Springs Mall lot. If you arrive early enough, it's just a short walk to the festival location. The expo offers a wide range of art, including blown glass, sculptures, jewelry, oil paintings, watercolors, wood carvings, photography, drawings, pastels, leather work, 3D printing, and more. Some of the standout artists this year included Jeff & Dayana, who showcased their stunning butterfly art--these butterflies from Papua New Guinea are truly unique and difficult to acquire. I also loved Fauna Toys--the wooden toys and puzzles reminded me of the ones my dad used to make for me. Lily Links' custom chainmail work was mind-blowing. She had a gelatin square encased in chainmail, which took her 90 hours to make. It was so cool, and her silver and aluminum necklace for $60 was an amazing deal. There was even a moonshine and rum tasting area, which definitely made me consider a future purchase. The food vendors were plentiful, offering a variety of diverse and delicious options--something for everyone! One downside, though, were the drink prices. At $8 for a beer and $9+ for mixed drinks, it felt a bit steep. However, the VIP concert tickets were very reasonably priced. General VIP tickets were only $16.50, which gave you access to seating anywhere in the coliseum area. For just $4 more, you could sit closer to the stage in a fold-up chair. Either way, it was a great deal to see some amazing local bands up close. Just make sure to buy your tickets in advance because prices go up on the day of the show. If you don't want to buy VIP tickets, you can still enjoy the concert from the general seating area on the left side of the stage, though the view can be a bit obstructed. The bands this year were incredible: Skin Deep (one of the best bands in Orlando), Night Snake (a fantastic Whitesnake tribute), Absolute Queen (playing all the greatest Queen hits), and Slippery When Wet (a Bon Jovi tribute band that never disappoints). All in all, the Uptown Art Expo is a perfect way to spend the day with family and friends. You can enjoy exceptional art, great food, drinks, and some of the best live music in the area. If you haven't experienced the Art Expo yet, I highly recommend marking it on your calendar for next year!

March 2025. This event goes on Friday Saturday and Sunday…read more But they only have the art show on Saturday and Sunday. They have 3 days of music that's what we come for. Friday night was u Ultimate Queen tribute band and they were pretty good. You can sit on the left for free or you can pay $15 to sit in the bleachers in the front of the band Saturday was the art show so we came early and looked at all the art and crafts very unique stuff. We bought a few small items and some warm caramel pecans that were delicious. The second night was a Whitesnake and Bon Jovi tribute band both were awesome! We lucked out this year with having good weather and a breeze not too hot. Sunday is going to bring rain so if you go get out there early. Plenty of parking in the mall parking lot over by Dillard's. Also make sure you check out the chalk art and the Butterfly Man! These people are so talented.