Orlando is often thought of when a family is looking to take advantage of one of the area’s world famous theme parks, from Disney World to Sea World and everything in between. But as fall is right around the corner, there are also many events taking over the city that provide even more reasons to visit. Here are some of the exciting events that you can enjoy in Orlando in September.
Go Party Food Truck Festival
This is a special time of the year for the food enthusiasts out there. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it is time to gather for timeless celebrations of food! On September 17th, 2016, a fleet of the area’s most popular food trucks will flood into The Orlando Festival Park. You will be able to find delicious dishes in every style from American cuisine to German and seafood. Apart from all of the delicious food, you can also find craft beers, specialty drinks, and even unlimited mimosas, wine, and sangria from 11 am to 2 pm for only $20! Throughout the day, you can also enjoy live music, karaoke, a kids’ zone, and much more. Perhaps the best part of this event is that it is free to enter for everyone!
Howl-O-Scream
While Halloween is still a month away, it is never too early to take advantage of the season with some spooky fun at the famous Busch Gardens. You can enjoy the fun of the Howl-O-Scream events, beginning Thursday, September 29th from 7:30 pm to 1:00 am. Throughout this time, you can take advantage of haunted houses, shows, and of course, rides. These rides include the all new Cobra’s Curse, Falcon’s Fury, and Cheetah Hunt.
Step in the Name of Love
The Step in the Name of Love 3K and/or 5K is a great way to get out and enjoy the beautiful September weather that comes to Orlando over every year. On September 17th, 2016 at 7 am, Barnett Park will be taken over with this loving event in support of the Multi-Cultural Addictions Network. This is a special event because you will be helping those in need, all while you enjoy a lovely day of light exercise, food, and entertainment. There are numerous there walks and runs supporting different causes and celebrating different things. This makes September a great time for the lovers of fitness and leisure alike!
If you are looking for fun filled events this September, then you cannot go wrong with a visit to Orlando, Florida!
May is quite possibly one of the most beautiful times of the year here in Orlando, so if you’re planning your vacation at that time, plan on finding lots of fun and exciting things to do while you’re here! Starting with the Orlando Cabaret Festival and ending with Megacon, the ultimate in cult film, comic book and gaming conventions, you can be sure to find a little something special for each and every member of your traveling party! Our great staff at Tropical Escape has compiled a short list of some of the fun events in the Orlando area during the month of May. If you see something you like you might want to plan your vacation around them!
The 14th Annual Orlando Cabaret Festival, April 22 –May 8
Music lovers and fans of all that’s cabaret will want to make sure to experience this fun festival held at Mad Cow Theatre in downtown Orlando. Their fabulous Mother’s Day Cabaret Brunch is back and better than ever. Mom can enjoy a three-course meal and then head over to the special Mother’s Day performance of Side by Side: A Steve & Eydie Tribute.
Blues-N-Groove Weekend, May 20 & 21
For more musical fun and excitement with just a little bit of travel involved (Mount Dora is about 40 minutes away from Orlando proper) come enjoy the Blues-N-Groove Weekend, an outdoor music festival featuring top blues musicians at Elizabeth Evans Park. This year’s special guest is the unbelievably talented David Julia; he’s only 14 years old and is already becoming an acclaimed singer and songwriter!
Megacon, May 26-May 29
You’ve heard of ComicCon, perhaps even heard of PopCon, but have you heard about MegaCon in Orlando? This 4-day extravaganza features the best of nerddom favorite cult films, anime, comics, and video games and promises to be even better than previous years! This year’s featured guests are Stan Lee, William Shatner, and John Cusack; your teenager will never forgive you if you try to skip this mega event in Orlando!
Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout, May 27 & 28
You’re on vacation, and you have to eat, so if you’re planning your Orlando trip over the Memorial Day weekend, this barbecue blowout is the place to visit! Admission is free and there will be live music and a kid-que competition as well! This barbecue competition has been considered the Super Bowl of Barbecue; the meat will be smoking in Oviedo at the Oviedo Mall, just 18 miles outside of Orlando. Our mouths are already watering and we still have a few weeks to wait!
Orlando Carnival, Memorial Day Weekend
Finally, we can’t forget to mention the Orlando Carnival Downtown. For over 20 years this Mardi Gras-like celebration has signified the “official” start to summer with a parade, costumes, and Caribbean-style food and music. The Miss Orlando Carnival Cultural Pageant offers beautiful women a chance to shine and the Kiddies’ Carnival activities ensure no one is left out of the party!
Need something to do in Orlando This President’s Day?
This year’s President’s’ Day holiday is happening over the weekend of February 13-15, and is a very popular time to visit the Orlando area. Here is a quick look at some of the great things you can do over the holiday.
The Big Three
Of course, you don’t want to miss the main Orlando area attractions — Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios. These three theme parks offer a variety of attractions, events and activities that you can enjoy during your vacation. At these premier parks, you can see and enjoy any number of attractions including thrilling rides and shows.
Other Great Orlando Events and Activities
Pirate’s Dinner Adventure — Enjoy watching pirates in action! Watch as Sebastian the Black and his cohorts kidnap Princess Anita and the drama that follows. During the play, enjoy a meal fit for a pirate and then party the night away with the cast and crew.
Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theater — Join the fun as you solve the murder, all while eating an exceptional dinner. You and your tablemates will become part of the mystery, as the murder may (or may not) be solved.
WonderWorks Orlando — This is another wonderful amusement park where you can enjoy activities and attractions such as Wonder Brite, Tesla Coil, Inversion Tuning, WonderCoasters, and Velocity Ball. This is not to be missed by those who enjoy discovering the wonders of science.
Orlando City Tour – Explore the city from a different viewpoint. On these tours you will enjoy sailing on the city’s beautiful lakes or walking its gorgeous parks. You can even visit the downtown shopping center, as well as visiting Disney’s Celebration Village and more.
Swim with the Manatees — This is a once-in-a-lifetime, not-to-be-missed experience. You’ll take a boat to the Crystal River, where your professional guide will provide information about these phenomenal creatures. Then you’ll don snorkel gear to take a swim with the manatees.
Kennedy Space Center Tours — Space enthusiasts will love this insider’s look at space. Catch a glimpse of the launch pads, sky observatories, and other space facilities. You can even experience a space shuttle launch!
Orlando Explorer Pass — With this pass, you can experience several of the many attractions Orlando offers, including Ripley’s Believe it or Not, a comedy club, golf, airboat rides, and many more.
Make this a weekend to remember! Reserve a wonderful vacation rental from Tropical Escape Vacation Homes, where you can enjoy luxury amenities, as well as great locations that will let you experience all that Orlando offers!
Orlando Is A Popular Destination, But When Is The Best Time To Visit?
Orlando, Florida is one of the kings of vacation hotspots, and this fact bears the resulting effect of people flocking to the esteemed destination. People want the best, but it’s an interesting paradox that the crowds can take away from an area’s prestige. Luckily, there’s a solution to throngs of people. Going in the off season to Orlando is a great way to enjoy all the classic locations and pampering of Orlando vacationing, without the crowds that can cause you stress.
The Best Alternative Vacations Times Revealed
Most people choose to travel during the summer. This vacation period staple provides warm sun on the beach and kids are free of school, but beyond these, there aren’t many items that give summer proprietary rights to vacation. The trending item to vacation goers looking to avoid the packed locations that summer cultivates is alternative-time vacationing. In remedy of summer, two periods are offered, January through April and September through December. The deciding factors between these two largely include weather and when the events you may be interested in are scheduled. Scratch out May through August on your calendar, this is the time to avoid Orlando if you don’t like crowds. Let’s look at these opportunities a bit closer.
Added Benefits to Avoiding Summer
The great thing about alternative-timed vacation, besides the lighter density of people, is the ability to get rooms cheaper than normal. In an effort to stimulate vacation going, many companies will mark down their rooms; a win-win for those avoiding crowds. These discounted rates are found most significant earlier in the year, with the exception of Spring Break. The September to December period is also advantageous, but with all the holidays like Thanksgiving and December, it may be harder to find the discounted rates. Also keep in mind that certain activities like Disney World will have a special draw during the holidays, so if theme parks are on the agenda, the earlier period of the year may be preferred.
Whenever you choose to visit Orlando, remember it may not be a period of time for tanning on the beach. It gets a bit cooler when it’s not summer, so a light jacket may be necessary. The cold is likely the least of your worries; a small price to pay versus having to fight crowds and pay a higher cost. Simply hop online whenever you are thinking of getting away, and check the forecast in advance.
Knowledge is Power
You now are primed in alternative-vacation knowledge. Pick out a time that fits well with your schedule and reap the benefits of a more personal vacation, free of the rush of the masses.
Click here for more information on everything you need for your Orlando trip!