30 annual Orlando-area events that should be on your radar 

APRIL

Spring Fiesta in the Park

April 1-2, 2017, Lake Eola Park, North Eola Drive and East Washington Street, fiestainthepark.com

Wander around Lake Eola and check out food, live music, and arts and crafts from tons of vendors.

Florida Film Festival

April 21-30, 2017, Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, floridafilmfestival.com

Whether you're a fan of dramas, comedies, documentaries or shorts, the Florida Film Festival has it all.

Whiskey Business

April 14, 2017, Cheyenne Saloon, 128 W. Church St., whiskeybusinessorlando.com

At this upscale and sophisticated event, guests can sample their way across continents to discover the best scotch, bourbon and whiskey.

Florida Music Festival

April 20-22, 2017, downtown Orlando, multiple venues, floridamusicfestival.com

A downtown music festival geared toward artists looking to break into the industry.

Florida Salsa Festival

April 30, 2017, downtown Orlando, Pine Street and Eola Drive, floridasalsafest.com

This block party celebration features unlimited salsa tasting, salsa music, and a salsa competition for pros and amateurs.

MAY

Orlando Fringe

May 16-29, 2017; Loch Haven Park, 777 E. Princeton St.; orlandofringe.org

Thespians from all over the world descend on Loch Haven Park for two weeks of performances.

Beer 'Merica

May 20, 2017, Gaston Edwards Park, 1236 N. Orange Ave., orlandoweeklytickets.com

Celebrating American Craft Beer Week, this daylong beer festival on the shore of Lake Ivanhoe spotlights more than 100 varieties of American craft brews, along with live music, games and giveaways.

MegaCon

May 25-28, 2017, Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, megaconorlando.com

The area's largest con brings in big names from the worlds of television, film, comics and more for a huge celebration of pop culture.

JUNE

Bite30

June 1-30, 2017, multiple locations, bite30.com

A monthlong celebration of the best food in Central Florida, with special prix fixe menus at each participating restaurant.

Bite Night

June 26, 2017, Orchid Garden, 126 W. Church St., bitenightorlando.com

Bite Night transforms the historic Orchid Garden Ballroom into a foodie wonderland featuring samples from Orlando's best-loved chefs and restaurants.

Gay Days

June 1-4, 2017, multiple locations, gaydays.com

Organized trips to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando resorts during the day, themed parties every night.

JULY

Fireworks at the Fountain

July 4, 2017, Lake Eola Park, North Eola Drive and East Robinson Street, cityoforlando.net

Nothing says patriotism like the choreographed firework and light show at Lake Eola each year.

AUGUST

Best of Orlando

Aug. 23, 2017, The Beacham, 46 N. Orange Ave., orlandoweekly.com

Annual party in honor of Orlando Weekly's Best of Orlando winners. If you snag a ticket to this exclusive party, congratulations: We like you.

SEPTEMBER

Halloween Horror Nights

Sept. 15-Nov. 4, 2017, Universal Studios, 6000 Universal Blvd., halloweenhorrornights.com

More than a month of special haunted houses and scare zones. Bring your heart medication.

Artlando

Sept. 30, 2017, Loch Haven Park, 777 E. Princeton St., artlando.com

A day in the park that features all kinds of art, from choirs to puppets to painting to dance and everything in between.

OCTOBER

Come Out With Pride

Oct. 14, 2017, Lake Eola Park, 512 E. Washington St., comeoutwithpride.com

Our favorite downtown parade party celebrates the LGBTQ community.

Big Gay Brunch

Oct. 14, 2017, The Abbey, 100 S. Eola Drive, biggaybrunchorlando.com Before the big gay parade, come eat and drink with Orlando Weekly and check out surprise performances at our big gay brunch.

Orlando Zombie Ball

October 2017 (date TBA), Venue 578,

578 N. Orange Ave., orlandozombieball.com

We go all-out for our annual Halloween party, featuring a high-stakes costume contest, fantastic holiday photo ops and plenty of special thrills and chills.

Central Florida Veg Fest

Oct. 28, 2017, Festival Park, 2911 E. Robinson St., cfvegfest.org

Chow down on some cruelty-free cooking at this event for vegetarians, vegans and open-minded omnivores.

Spooky Empire

Oct. 27-29, 2017, Wyndham Orlando Resort, 8001 International Drive, spookyempire.com

This convention for horror fans descends on I-Drive every year, bringing actors, musicians, makeup specialists, tattoo artists and more for a ghoulishly fun weekend.

NOVEMBER

Orlando Beer Festival

Nov. 11, 2017, Festival Park, 2911 E. Robinson St., orlandobeerfestival.com

A large-scale legitimate craft beer festival that attracts brewers and guests from all over Florida.

Florida Blue Florida Classic

Nov. 18, 2017, Camping World Stadium, 1 Citrus Bowl Place, floridaclassic.org

Annual football game between Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M.

DECEMBER

Christmas in the Park

December 2017 (date TBA), Central Park, Winter Park; morsemuseum.org

The Morse Museum decorates Central Park with stained glass windows and the Bach Festival Choir performs a Christmas concert.

Grandma Party Bazaar

December 2017 (date TBA), Stardust Video & Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Road, facebook.com/grandmaparty

Handmade crafts from local artisans and live music from local bands make this our favorite stop for holiday shopping.

JANUARY

Zora! Festival

January 2018 (dates TBA), downtown Eatonville, zorafestival.org

Eatonville's most famous writer gets a festival in her honor every year featuring live music, arts and educational activities.

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl

Jan. 1, 2018, Camping World Stadium, 1 Citrus Bowl Place, buffalowildwingscitrus bowl.com

The Citrus Bowl plays host to one of the BCS games every New Year's Day.

FEBRUARY

Lunar New Year Dragon Parade

February 2018 (date TBA), Fashion Square Mall, 3201 E. Colonial Drive, central floridadragonparade.org

Formerly taking place in Mills 50, this Lunar New Year celebration got so big that it had to move to the Fashion Square Mall in 2015.

Orlando Chili Cook-Off

February 2018 (date TBA), Festival Park, 2911 E. Robinson St., orlandochilicookoff.com

This event brings the heat with more than 100 different types of chili to sample, the World Chili Eating Championship competition, live music and more.

MARCH

Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

March 2018 (dates TBA), Central Park, Winter Park, wpsaf.org

Browse through booths from tons of artists and vendors at one of the country's oldest, largest and most prestigious juried art festivals.

Art31

March 2018, multiple locations, art31.org

The Art & History Museums – Maitland sponsors this monthlong celebration featuring internationally acclaimed artists every year.