Fall in Florida may not see trees changing colors but there’s a definite shift in attitude once people stop sweating the small stuff and start cycling to work and sneaking pumpkin flavors into everything. We all finally don slacks, crack windows and take back the streets to enjoy some of Orlando’s best outdoor activities. The abundance of street festivals and seasonally-themed events can be overwhelming, so we’ve compiled our favorite to-dos to walk you through it - just watch out for the occasional zombie! Moonlit walks through Orlando’s oldest cemetery, Halloween block parties and tacky Christmas trees await. Bring on the fall!
SEPT. 12, OCT. 10, NOV. 7
GREENWOOD CEMETERY MOONLIGHT WALKING TOUR
Orlando’s favorite unofficial dog-park-abutting-a-graveyard is home to one of the coolest historic walking tours around. Skip (respectfully) along a 4-mile route through the cemetery and listen to your tour guide, the renowned Mr. Don, as he saturates your brain with hyper-local knowledge. See the resting place of notable Orlandoans – like the lady who coined the slogan “The City Beautiful.” Be careful; we hear thar be coyotes in them hills. It’s a moonlit tour, so feel free to bring a flashlight with you, but we also suggest bringing a slow friend that you can sacrifice in case something tries to eat you.
8 pm Friday; Greenwood Cemetery, 1603 Greenwood St.; free; 407-246-2616; greenwood-cemetery.net/moonlight-walking-tours
SEPT. 27
Artlando
ART If you’re anything like us, you've probably looked around at the wealth of talent in Orlando from time to time and thought: Wouldn’t it be cool if we could gather all of our favorite artists, performers and arts organizations in one place and get them to take part in the biggest, most interactive display of Orlando artistic talent ever? Well, we’re doing it. Join Orlando Weekly (and all of our fantastical supporting sponsors, who are helping to make our dream a reality) today for this massive exhibition of visual art, installations, dance, live painting, burlesque, singing theater, photography and more. All of the best Orlando talent – as well as some up-and-comers you should probably get to know – will be there. Been meaning to check out a Phantasmagoria performance? They’ll be there. Orlando Ballet and Orlando Philharmonic? They’ll both be there. Skill Focus Burlesque? They’ll be taking part in Artlando, too. All day long, stroll our art walk on the grounds of Loch Haven Park, enjoy free admission to the Orlando Museum of Art and check out the performances. After 6 p.m., we’ll wrap up the daytime programming and switch over to DJs, live music and performances geared toward the after-dark set. Plan to make a day (and night) of it. Food trucks from Tasty Tuesdays will be on hand to feed the hungry crowds, and the Hammered Lamb will make sure there are plenty of cocktails to go around. All you have to do is show up. Please do bring blankets, folding chairs and your wallet. Please don’t bring pets or outside alcohol. We love both, but we can’t have them at Artlando. – Erin Sullivan
11 a.m.-11 p.m. | Loch Haven Park and Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave., 407-377-0400 | artlando.com | free
BARKTOBERFEST
Orange County Animal Services sponsors this massive animal rescue event, which features dogs for adoption from local rescues and shelters all around the region. There will also be food trucks, a Kids Zone, free and low-cost microchipping, vendors and tons more. Adopt, don’t shop.
10 am – 4 pm, Saturday; Lake Eola Park, Rosaline Avenue and East Washington St.; free; ocfl.net/barktoberfest
OKTOBERFEST
Are you ready to be a part of the largest festival to ever hit Germany? While you may not be able to make it to Munich this year, there’s no need to fret. Luckily, we are able to celebrate the traditional 16-day fest in our own backyard. It’s Oktoberfest time again in Central Florida! That means beers and brats galore. You can also expect Bavarian folk dance performances by the Alpenrose Schuhplattler Gruppe, live music by renowned concertina accordionist Dan Witucki and his German band, Mein Heimatland Musikanten and the opportunity to flex your muscles in the stein-holding competition. This is a family friendly event with a bounce house for the little ones. Once you hear the phrase “O’zapft is”, the party has begun. After a few of your favorite Oktoberfest bier, don’t be surprised if you’re linking arms with your neighbors and getting your schunkel on. Prost! – Lea Phillips
3-11 p.m. | Bahia Festival Grounds, 2300 Pembrook Drive | 407-342-4585 | oktoberfestorlando.org | free, $5 for parking
ORLANDO TECH WEEK
We have it on good authority that if you say it three times and spin in a circle, a mysterious angel investor will show up and buy you a membership to a co-working space. “Tech” is the new Orlando buzzword for progress and cool factor, evidenced by the growing influence of groups like Envy Labs, BarCamp Orlando and Orlando Tech (buzzword). The figureheads of the Central Florida tech scene have banded together like a bunch of nerdy Super Friends to host a week of meetups, demonstrations, parties and general tech-tasticness. The two hot events of the week are BarCamp Orlando – a full day of informal TEDTalk-like presentations where the attendees create the agenda – and the Lowcountry Boil and Tech Meetup on Friday – a Southern-style pig-out fest at the Walt Disney Amphitheater in Lake Eola. All of the tech-heads will be out this week so this is your chance to make some invaluable connections and get out of your basement, techies! – Brendan O’Connor
Through Oct. 3 | Multiple venues | free-$30 | orlandotechweek.com
OCT. 17
PECHAKUCHA NIGHT V. 14
Twenty slides and 20 seconds are all the speakers get at this event to spin their stories. All of the most interesting people in Orlando turn out to these every-so-often share-formances, so if you’re new to town or just want to get to know some great people, this is the perfect place to dip your toe into the pool. Tickets sell fast, so don’t wait too long to secure your spot.
7 pm Friday; The Orange Studio, 1121 N. Mills Ave.; $11; pechakucha.org
OCT. 22
ORLANDO ZOMBIE BALL 2014
Last year’s inaugural Zombie Ball was such a killer time that Orlando Weekly has decided to have another one – it was a no-brainer! VH1 Celebrity DJ Brian Dawe will be back to make your costumed booties shake and Phantasmagoria will perform live. The scares will be scarier, the drinks will be drinkier and the party will be even crazier than last year.
8 p.m.-midnight Wednesday; Firestone Live, 578 N. Orange Ave.; $20; orlandozombieball.com
OCT. 25
CENTRAL FLORIDA VEG FEST
Brought to us by the same team that produces Central Florida Earth Day, this annual celebration is the Mecca of all things veg. All of the left-leaning non-profits and organizations are in attendance, along fun bonuses like with games, animal adoptions, demonstrations and workshops. Pot bellied pigs? They got ’em. Carrot Dog on a bun? They’ve got that, too. You can grab an organic, guilt-free beer and watch people meditate or stuff your face while watching some film selections by Global Peace Film Festival in the “Garden.” It’s all good at Veg Fest.
10 am-6 pm Saturday; Orlando Festival Park, East Robinson Street and North Primrose Drive; free; 321-331-1859; cfvegfest.org
NOV. 15-NOV. 23
FESTIVAL OF TREES
This is the 28th year of the Council 101’s (a club of 101 women who raise money to benefit the Orlando Museum of Art) Christmas spectacular. This year’s theme is “’Tis the Season” and Ralph Lauren. Because nothing says “holidays” more than super expensive tartans and polo.
Saturday-Tuesday; Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave.; $10; 407-896-4231; omart.org
To search for more events happening in Orlando this fall, visit our calendar.
