Spring is in the air, and if you’re looking for some Orlando-area-centric things to do during this time of year, look no further for the best springtime selections — we’ve got live music, food festivals, group runs and, yes, monster trucks.
Enjoy the Central Florida springtime sun, and don’t forget the tissues and Allegra. You’re going to need it. For Orlando Weekly’s full list of local spring events, check out our Spring Guide 2023.
Okechobee Arts and Music Festival
March 2-5
Excision, Odesza, Griz, Baby Keem, Peekaboo, Lil Yachty, Earth, Wind & Fire, Turnstile Sunshine Grove, 12517 NE 91st Ave., Okeechobee; $129-$369; okeechobeefest.com. Credit:Photo via Okechobee Fest WebsiteCollect-A-Con
Feb. 25
The nation’s largest trading card, anime & pop culture convention. 10 am; Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive; $25-$100; 407-685-9800. Credit:Photo via CollectAConUSAWekiva Island Paint Out
Feb. 27-March 4
A weeklong art exhibit featuring dozens of artists painting outdoors. Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Road, Longwood; free-$90; wekivapaintout.com. Credit:Photo via Wekiva Paint Out/FacebookThe Florida Strawberry Festival
March 2-12
Eleven full days of strawberries, shortcake, big name concerts, rides, stage shows, attractions, food galore, exhibits, displays, contests, competitions and a berry sweet time for the whole family. Florida Strawberry Festival, 303 BerryFest Place, Plant City; $10; flstrawberryfestival.com. Credit:Photo via Orlando Record & CD Show/FacebookCentral Florida Fair
March 2-12
Rides, games, and food, along with live music and entertainment, animals, livestock exhibitions and more. Central Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 W. Colonial Drive; $10-$125; 407-295-3247; centralfloridafair.com. Credit:Photo via Florida Fair/FacebookThundering Spirit Family Pow-Wow
March 3-5
Intertribal Native American pow-wow. Renninger’s Antique Center, 20651 U.S. Highway 441, Mount Dora; $10-$15; 352-383-8393. Credit:Photo via TSF Powwow/FacebookMayor’s Jazz in the Park
March 4
Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings invites you, your family and friends to attend a free evening of jazz. 2-6 pm; Cypress Grove Park, 290 Holden Ave.; free. Credit:Photo via Cypress Grove Park/FacebookMonster Jam is back at Camping World Stadium Credit:Courtesy photo8th Annual It’s Just Yoga Health & Fitness Festival
March 5
For yogis of all experience levels, ages, shapes and sizes. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Lake Eola Park, North Eola Drive and East Robinson Street, ijyconnects.com, free Credit:Photo via Its Just Yoga Fest/FacebookDeLand Indie Market Spring Edition
March 5
Vintage, handcrafted, art and boutique items. 11 am; Downtown DeLand, Indiana Avenue and South Woodland Boulevard; facebook.com/delandindiemarketatartisanalley. Credit:Photo via DeLand Market at Artisan Alley/FacebookWinter Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 5
One of the longest-running St. Patrick’s Day parades in Central Florida. 2-4 pm; Downtown Winter Park, North Park Avenue; free; cityofwinterpark.org. Credit:Photo via City of Winter Park websiteUptown Art Expo
March 24-26
Over 140 art exhibits, chalk street paintings, festival foods, and live music all weekend long. Cranes Roost Park, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs; free; 407-592-0002; uptownartexpo.com. Credit:Photo via Uptown Art Expo websiteSmile Mile
March 11
A running festival just for kids ages 5 to 11. Mile and half-mile runners receive a bib, T-shirt and finisher medal. 8 am; Lake Baldwin Upper Park, Upper Park Road and South Lakemont Avenue; $10-$20; 407-896-1160; trackshack.com. Credit:Photo via Smile Mile/FacebookLeu Gardens Plant Sale
March 11-12
Plant and outdoor accessories sale featuring more than 50 local growers and vendors. 9 am-5 pm; Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave.; free; 407-246-2620; leugardens.org. Credit:Photo via Leu Gardens WebsiteLucky St. Patrick’s Day Crawl
March 17-18
Enjoy drinks, food, costumes and more on this themed pub crawl. 4 pm; Underground Public House, 19 S. Orange Ave.; $15; crawlwith.us. Credit:Photo via Crawl With Us WebsiteWinter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
March 17-19
One of the nation’s oldest, largest and most prestigious outdoor art festivals. Central Park, Park Avenue, Winter Park; free; wpsaf.org. Credit:Photo via Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival/FacebookMount Dora Spring Festival
March 18-19
More than 200 artists, craft exhibitors and musicians fill the historic streets of downtown Mount Dora. 9 am-5 pm; Downtown Mount Dora, East Fifth Avenue and North Donnelly Street; free; 352-217-8390; mountdoraspringfest.com. Credit:Photo via Mount Dora Spring Fest WebsitePints N Paws Craft Beer Festival
March 25
Interact with other pet lovers while enjoying unlimited beer sampling from over 100 breweries. 1-6 pm; Historic Downtown Sanford; $40-$65; pintsandpaws.com. Credit:Photo via Pints N Paws Craft Beer Fest Sanford FL/FacebookThe 29th Annual Taste of Oviedo
March 25
Learn new cooking techniques, sip on adult beverages, discover your new favorite food, dance to live music and more. 10 am; Oviedo Mall, 1700 Oviedo Marketplace Blvd., Oviedo; free-$20; owsrcc.org/tasteofoviedo. Credit:Photo via Taste of Oviedo/FacebookCentral Florida Soul Fest
March 25
Fantasia, Babyface, Goodie Mob, Lyfe Jennings and more. 1 pm; Central Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 W. Colonial Drive; $50-$145; 407-295-3247; centralfloridasoulfest.com. Credit:Photo via Central Fl Soul Fest/FacebookFlorida Wildflower and Garden Festival
March 25
A forum to promote environmentally friendly sustainable gardening practices featuring an array of vendors and presentations by experts. 9 am; Downtown DeLand, Indiana Avenue and South Woodland Boulevard; free; mainstreetdeland.org. Credit:Photo via Mainstreet Deland WebsiteTaste of Lake Mary
March 27
Gourmet food and wine tasting alongside live entertainment. 5:30-8 pm; Orlando Marriott Lake Mary, 1501 International Parkway, Lake Mary; $55; 407-995-1100; lakemaryrotary.com. Credit:Photo via Lake Mary Rotary Website34th Annual Spring Fiesta in the Park
April 1-2
Mingle with artists and crafters from around the country as they line the streets around the park, savor the flavors from a variety of food vendors, and enjoy live entertainment for the whole family. 10 am; Lake Eola Park, North Rosalind Avenue and East Washington Street; fiestainthepark.com. Credit:Photo via Fiesta in the Park/FacebookOrlando Record and CD Show
April 2-15
7 am; Central Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 W. Colonial Drive; $3; 407-295-3247; facebook.com/lpand45man. Credit:Photo via Orlando Record & CD Show/Facebook