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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Orlando Weekly. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Orlando Weekly, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.
Email us at feedback@orlandoweekly.com.
Orlando Weekly works for you, and your support is essential.
Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of Central Florida.
Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.
Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep Orlando’s true free press free.