You don’t have to spend money to have fun in Orlando. There are plenty of things to do this spring 2019 that don’t cost a thing, including festivals, art shows and cultural celebrations around town. These festivals happening in Central Florida are absolutely free, and you know what they say: “The best things in life are free.”

March 9Spring Fest at Deadly Sins Brewing A day of family fun, food, arts and crafts, music and more. Noon-6 pm; Deadly Sins Brewing, 750 Jackson Ave., Winter Park; free; 407-900-8726; deadlysinsbrewing.com Photo via Facebook/Deadly Sins Brewing
March 9-10Leu Gardens Plant Sale 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 Photo via Facebook/Harry P. Leu Gardens
March 10Oviedo Birthday Bash Community party in the park with a chili cook-off, cupcake wars, kids activities, entertainment and local vendors. 11 am-4 pm; Center Lake Park, 299 Center Lake Lane, Oviedo; free-$15; oviedobirthdaybash.com Photo via Adobe Stock
March 10It’s Just Yoga Health & Fitness Festival Free yoga classes for newbies, pros and everyone in between. 10 am-5 pm; Lake Eola Park, Eola Drive, North Eola Drive and East Robinson Street; free; facebook.com/It’s Just Yoga Health & Fitness Festival Photo via Facebook/It’s Just Yoga
March 15-17Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival Art festival featuring fine arts and crafts in an array of mediums from artists across the country. 9 am-6 pm; Central Park, Winter Park, North Park Avenue and West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park; free; wpsaf.org Photo via Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
March 16-17Mount Dora Spring Festival 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, Mount Dora; free; 352-217-8390; mountdoraspringshow.com Photo via Adobe Stock
March 16-17Lake Mary St. Patrick’s Block Party Tribute artists, beer, bag pipers and more. Liam Fitzpatrick’s Restaurant & Irish Pub, 951 Market Promenade Ave., Lake Mary; free; 407-936-3782; lakemaryblockparty.com Photo via Yelp/Mark P.
March 17St. Patrick’s Day at Lizzy’s Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at downtown Orlando’s favorite traditional Irish bar. 11 am; Lizzy McCormack’s, 55 N. Orange Ave.; free; 407-426-8007; lizzymccormacks.com Photo via Yelp/Lizzy McCormack’s owner
March 17St. Patrick’s Day Party St. Patrick’s Day block party with Guinness, Irish food and live music. 10 am; The Harp & Celt, 25 S. Magnolia Ave.; free; 407-481-2928; harpandcelt.com Photo via Facebook/Harp and Celt Irish Pub and Restaurant
March 23Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival A forum promoting environmentally friendly, sustainable gardening practices featuring speakers, demonstrations, and plant and gardening supplies. 9 am-3 pm; Downtown DeLand, Indiana Avenue and South Woodland Boulevard, DeLand; free; mainstreetdeland.org Photo via Facebook/Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival
March 23Orlando Holi Festival Indian Holi celebration with live music, cultural dances, food and lots of colored powder. 11 am-7 pm; Bill Frederick Park, 3401 S. Hiawassee Road; free; 321-662-1887;facebook.com/orlandoholifestival Photo via Facebook/ Indian Horizon of Florida .A 501-C-3
March 23Uptown Art Expo Exhibitions from fine artists and chalk street artists, as well as live music, food and other vendors. 10 am-7:30 pm; Cranes Roost Park, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs; free; 407-571-8863; uptownartexpo.com Photo via Facebook/Uptown Art Expo
March 23-24Caribbean Food & Music Festival Featuring live performances by Jah Movement, LIPS International, and headliner Rupee. Fun Spot, 5700 Fun Spot Way; free; fun-spot.com Photo via Adobe Stock
March 24Will’s a Faire Outdoor vintage and handmade art market with live music, drinks, food and more. 1 pm; Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave.; free; willspub.org Photo via Facebook/Will’s A Faire
March 27UCF Vegfest A festival celebrating and promoting a vegan lifestyle. Includes guest speakers, vegan food, yoga, vendors, raffles and more. 4-10 pm; University of Central Florida, Memory Mall, 4000 Central Florida Blvd.; free; 954-778-5775;facebook.com/UCF VegFest Photo via Facebook/Valkyrie Doughnuts
March 30Longwood Pirate Seafood Festival Festival filled with vendors, mermaids, a pirate village, great music, a pirate ship for kids to climb and a shark ride. An assortment of ocean delights are available, along with beer and wine. 11 am-7 pm; Reiter Park, 301 W. Warren Ave., Longwood; free; 352-217-8390; longwoodfestival.com Photo via Adobe Stock
March 30Community Chalk Art Festival Live chalk painting dedicated to the local community’s diversity. 10 am-5 pm; Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 5475 Gateway Village Circle; free; artatgateway.com. Photo via Facebook/Community Chalk Art Festival
March 30World Food Festival Culinary delights from around the world, cultural performances, vendors and more. Noon-7 pm; Cranes Roost Park, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs; free; 407-571-8863; altamonte.org Photo via Yelp/Mark D.
March 30Fort Christmas Bluegrass & Backyard BBQ Fest Barbecue contest for best chicken and St. Louis pork-style ribs. 10 am-5 pm; Fort Christmas Historical Park and Museum, 1300 Fort Christmas Road, Christmas; free; 407-254-9310; orangecountyfl.net/cultureparks Photo via Facebook/Orange County, Florida Government
March 31Arab Fest Cultural heritage festival celebrating Arabic art, food and traditions. 11 am-7 pm; Lake Eola Park, Eola Drive, North Eola Drive and East Robinson Street; free; aaccflorida.org/festival Photo via Yelp/Anthony C.
April 6FL ANTIFEST IV Music festival celebrating Florida’s experimental music scene. 6 pm; Grumpy’s Underground Lounge, 1018 N. Mills Ave.; free; 407-237-9180; facebook.com/grumpysunderground Photo via Facebook/Grumpy’s Underground Eatery and Lounge
April 6-7Hollerbach’s Springfest A spring version of Oktoberfest complete with sausages, pretzels, beer and people dancing to polka music in lederhosen and dirndls. 2 pm Saturday, noon Sunday; Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe, 205 E. First St., Sanford; free;hollerbachs.com Photo via Yelp/Martha J.
April 6-7Spring Fever in the Garden Flower and garden festival with live entertainment, food vendors and thousands of plants for sale. 9 am-5 pm; Winter Garden – Plant Street, Plant Street and State Road 429, Winter Garden; free; wearewg.com Photo via Adobe Stock
April 6-7Vintage Garden Show Displays of vintage and antique garden decor, plants and herbs. 9 am-5 pm; Renninger’s Antique Center, 20651 U.S. Highway 441, Mount Dora; free; 352-383-8393; renningers.net Photo via Adobe Stock
April 6-7Spring Fiesta in the Park Arts, crafts and food vendors at Lake Eola. 10 am-5 pm; Lake Eola Park, Eola Drive, North Eola Drive and East Robinson Street; free; fiestainthepark.com Photo via Fiesta in the Park/Facebook
April 7Ice Cream Social Enjoy an assortment of ice cream served by celebrity servers and provided by Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream. Other treats include Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Peak Season Pops, the Father’s Table Cheesecake, popcorn, and Publix cake. 1 pm; Blue Jacket Park, 2501 General Rees Ave.; free; 407-206-0957; rmhccf.org Photo via Adobe Stock
April 11-13APC National Pie Championships Pies from across the country go crust-to-crust for the national title. 5:30-7 pm; Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive; free; piecouncil.org Photo via piecouncil.org
April 13Mount Dora Earth Day Celebration Celebrate the Earth with live music, exhibits, craft and plant vendors, yoga, educational workshops and much more. 9 am-3 pm; Donnelly Park, N. Baker Street and E. Fifth Avenue, Mount Dora; free; 352-217-8390; mountdoraenvironment.org Photo via Mount Dora Enviornment
April 14Opera on Eola Outdoor opera and classical music festival with vendor tables, live art and food trucks. Noon-4 pm; Walt Disney Amphitheater, Lake Eola Park, Rosalind Avenue and Washington Street; free; 407-246-2827; operadelsol.org Photo via Instagram/Opera del Sol
April 16AIDS Walk Orlando Music, entertainment and guest speakers raising funds and awareness for the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida. 8-11 am; Walt Disney Amphitheater, Lake Eola Park, Rosalind Avenue and Washington Street; free; 407-246-2827; aidswalkorlando.com Photo by Holly Whelden
April 18IOA Corporate 5K 5K race for Florida’s corporate community. 6:45 pm; Track Shack, 1104 N. Mills Ave.; free; 407-898-1313; corporate5k.com Photo via Adobe Stock
April 20Central Florida Earth Day Earth Day festival featuring healthy living and eco-friendly exhibitions, environmental education, vendors, crafts and more. 10 am-6 pm; Lake Eola Park, East Central Boulevard and North Eola Drive; free; cfearthday.org Photo via Central Florida Earth Day
April 20Orlando Beer & BBQ Festival Noon; Dezerland Action Park, 5250 International Drive; free; 321-754-1700; dezerlandactionpark.com Photo via Facebook/Orlando Beer & BBQ Festival
April 21-27Winter Park Paint Out Live painting event featuring 25 professionally-acclaimed artists. Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens, 633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park; free; 407-647-6294; polasek.org Photo via Facebook/Winter Park Paint Out
April 27Hannibal Square Heritage Center Folk & Urban Art Festival A celebration of Central Florida’s richly diverse culture through art, music, food and more. 10 am-4 pm; Hannibal Square Heritage Center, 642 W. New England Ave., Winter Park; free; 407-539-2680; cityofwinterpark.org Photo via Facebook/Hannibal Square Heritage Festival
April 27-28Mount Dora Blueberry Festival 9 am-5 pm; Donnelly Park, N. Baker Street and E. Fifth Avenue, Mount Dora; free; 352-217-8390; mountdorablueberryfestival.com Photo via Adobe Stock
May 10Orlando Pottery Festival Spring Arts Market 9 am-5 pm; Florida National Guard Armory, 2809 S. Ferncreek Ave.; free; 407-897-2713; orlandopotteryfestival.org Photo via Adobe Stock
May 11Mayday Picnic Traditional picnic setting and outdoor Mayday games. 11 am-1 pm; Museum of Seminole County History, 300 Bush Blvd., Sanford; free; 407-665-2489;facebook.com/maydaypicnic Photo via Facebook/Museum of Seminole County History
May 12Mother’s Day at Leu Gardens Leu Gardens celebrates with free admission for moms on Mother’s Day. 9 am; Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave.; free-$10; 407-246-2620; leugardens.org Photo via Facebook/Harry P. Leu Gardens
May 14-27Orlando Fringe The 28th annual Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival. Loch Haven Park, 777 E. Princeton St.; free-$15; orlandofringe.org Photo via Facebook/Orlando Fringe Festival