Events On The Town: July 2019
12 Fourth of July Happenings, 7 Special Events and 5 fundraisers happening during the month.
4TH OF JULY HAPPENINGS
RED HOT & BOOM
July 3: Get an early start on Independence Day the night before with live music, games, vendors, food and a 25-minute fireworks display synchronized with patriotic and contemporary music. Free. 4-11 p.m. Cranes Roost Park, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs. 407-571-8180. altamonte.org
BALDWIN PARK INDEPENDENCE BASH
July 3: Start the evening with a walk through the town center as artists and craftsmen sell their wares. Also available: food trucks, a beer garden, live music, carnival games and more. Get there early for a good spot at Harbor Park to see the fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Free. 6-11 p.m. New Broad Street, Baldwin Park Town Center, Orlando. baldwinparkevents.com
FIREWORKS AT THE FOUNTAIN
July 4: Come early to join Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer at Lake Eola and enjoy live music, games, food and drink before the city’s annual patriotic fireworks start at 9 p.m. Free. 4-10 p.m. Lake Eola Park, 512 E. Washington St., Orlando. orlando.gov/events/fireworks-at-the-fountain
ALL-AMERICAN 4TH OF JULY
July 4: Celebration Town Center’s annual Independence Day festivities start with a morning parade through the community and resumes that afternoon with games, live music and shopping before winding up with nighttime fireworks synchronized to music. Free. Parade at 9 a.m.; other events 4-9:15 p.m. 407-566-1200. celebration.fl.us/events
AVALON PARK 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
July 4: This year’s Independence Day celebration in downtown Avalon Park will kick off with the annual bike parade and include an apple pie bake-off, community performances and wet and dry bounce houses—topped off with a fireworks display. Free. 5-9 p.m. Avalon Park East Boulevard, Orlando. 407-658-6565. avalonpark.com
4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
July 4: The City of Winter Park offers patriotic music by the Bach Festival Society Choir and live entertainment by Orlando Cloggers. Activities include horse-drawn wagon rides, a bicycle parade and games for kids, plus complimentary hot dogs, watermelon and water. Free. 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Central Park along Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3463. cityofwinterpark.org
CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM
July 4: Enjoy live entertainment, vendors and a free kids area. At 8 p.m. join the Winter Springs mayor and the commission for the Freedom Fling Prize Toss. Fireworks at 9:10 p.m. Free. 5-9:30 p.m. Central Winds Park, 1000 Central Winds Drive, Winter Springs. 407-327-6593. winterspringsfl.org/events
WINTER GARDEN PARTY IN THE PARK
July 4: Enjoy live music by Speed Limit 70, family activities, food and more, followed by fireworks. Free. 5-9:30 p.m. Newton Park, 29 W. Garden Ave., Winter Garden. 407-877-5432. wintergardenpost.com
INDEPENDENCE DAY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July 3-4: Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot each have special fireworks shows for the Fourth of July. “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks at the Magic Kingdom are at 9:15 p.m. on July 3 and 4; “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” fireworks are at Epcot at 9 and 10 p.m. on July 4 only. Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista. disneyworld.disney.go.com
INDEPENDENCE DAY AT SEAWORLD ORLANDO
July 4: The night sky will light up with fireworks, pyrotechnics and lasers during a one-of-a-kind, patriotic finale to “Ignite,” SeaWorld’s end-of-day spectacle. Included in park admission. 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando. seaworld.com/orlando
ICON PARK LIGHTS UP I-DRIVE
July 4-5: Visit The Wheel at ICON Park and enjoy the festivities celebrating the Fourth of July. The two-day event includes live bands, stiltwalkers, balloon animals, food and more. Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday 4 p.m.-midnight. Guests must purchase a ticket for The Wheel to enter. ICON Park, 8375 International Drive, Orlando. iconparkorlando.com
LEGOLAND RED, WHITE & BOOM
July 4-6: Celebrate America’s independence with fireworks in the skies above Lake Eloise and help create a giant USA flag out of thousands of LEGO bricks before the sun goes down. Included in park admission. 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven. florida.legoland.com
SPECIAL EVENTS
SEAWORLD ELECTRIC OCEAN
Through Sept. 1: As the sun sets, the park comes alive with exciting nighttime shows and electrifying music. Guests are immersed in a sea of wonder that ends in a fireworks finale. Included in park admission, on select nights only. SeaWorld Orlando, 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando. seaworldparks.com
COKE ZERO SUGAR 400
July 4-6: The action at Daytona International Speedway starts Thursday with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series practice laps, followed Friday with qualifying laps during the day and the Daytona Firecracker 250 race that evening—100 laps under the lights. On Saturday, the 61st annual Coke Zero Sugar 400 caps the weekend, with the final race starting at 7:30 p.m. daytonainternationalspeedway.com
LAKERIDGE SUMMER MUSIC SERIES
July 6, 13, 20 & 27: Take a complimentary winery tour, then spend the afternoon listening to live music as a different band performs on the outdoor stage each Saturday. Food and drink are available for purchase. Free. noon-4 p.m. Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, 19239 U.S. Highway 27 North, Clermont. lakeridgewinery.com
ORLANDO STORY CLUB
July 10: Anyone with a story can put their name in the hat for a chance to share. Ten names are drawn at random and three judges are selected to score the storytellers. This month’s theme is “Cake for Breakfast” and all proceeds support Kids House of Seminole, Inc. 7-9:30 p.m. The Abbey, 100 S. Eola Drive, Orlando. 407-704-6261. orlandostoryclub.com, abbeyorlando.com
SUMMER F.U.N. CONVENTION
July 11-13: Florida United Numismatists host this annual event for buying, selling and appraising coins, paper currency, tokens, medals and similar items. Free. Thursday-Friday 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, Orlando. funtopics.com
PAW PATROL LIVE—RACE TO THE RESCUE
July 13-14: Mayor Goodway is missing on the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race, and it’s up to the PAW Patrol to rescue her. Saturday 10 a.m., 2 & 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Addition Financial Arena, 12777 N. Gemini Blvd., Orlando. additionfiarena.com, ticketmaster.com
LEGO MOVIE DAYS
July 13-14, 20-21 & 27-28: Join Emmet and the gang for character experiences with the stars of The LEGO Movie films, interactive photo opportunities, exclusive building activities and specially themed dining offers. Included in park admission. 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven. florida.legoland.com
ONGOING EVENTS
Monthly happenings around town
EATONVILLE CRAFTS & CULTURE MARKET
July 7: Experience the heritage and culture that is the historic Town of Eatonville with storytellers, performers, reenactments, local merchants and more, the first Sunday of each month. Free. 1-5 p.m. 100 E. Kennedy Blvd., Eatonville. eatonvillechf.com
THORNTON PARK 2ND THURSDAY ART AND WINE WALK
July 11: Artists display works for sale along downtown streets and inside local businesses. Free, but $15 gets you a glass (pay and pickup at Olde Town Brokers) and a map of participating businesses offering wine pours. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Summerlin Avenue and Washington Street. thorntonparkdistrict.com
SANFORD’S ALIVE AFTER 5 STREET PARTY
July 11: Central Florida’s largest recurring street party is a monthly gathering with live music, local artists, and food and beverage samples and more. 5 p.m. 230 E. First St., Sanford. sanfordwelcomecenter.com
ART AND MUSIC IN THE PARK
July 12: Discover artwork and live music in the park between Casselberry City Hall and Lake Concord, the second Friday of each month. Food trucks and other vendors are on site as well. 6 p.m. Free. Casselberry City Hall, 95 Triplet Lake Drive, Casselberry. 407-262-7700, ext. 1507. casselberry.org
MOUNT DORA 2ND FRIDAY ART IN THE ALLEY
July 12: Downtown Mount Dora galleries are open to the public while art exhibitors show their latest works and musicians perform. Free. Galleries open 6-8 p.m. Sidewalk exhibitions open until 9 p.m. 138 E. Fifth Ave., Mount Dora. mountdoracenterforthearts.org
3RD THURSDAY GALLERY HOP & ART WALK
July 18: Visitors converge on the core of Orlando’s Downtown Arts District to browse the galleries and nontraditional art venues that spotlight the best of established and emerging artists who are based in Central Florida. 6 p.m. Rogers Kiene Building, 39 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando. 3rdthu.com
EVENING EXCHANGE
July 19: Every third Friday, meet at East End Market for fun, interactive workshops and a chance to browse the wares of more than 30 artisan makers, plus culinary demonstrations, specialty cocktail bars, food specials and much more. 3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando. 321-236-3316. eastendmkt.com
WORLD OF GOOD
July Fundraisers
July 4
ADVENTHEALTH WATERMELON 5K, benefits the Track Shack Youth Foundation. Combines a 5K run and watermelon-eating contest. Park Avenue South, Winter Park. trackshack.com
July 10
ORLANDO STORY CLUB, benefits Kids House of Seminole, Inc. Participants tell five-minute stories related to a specific theme. The Abbey, Orlando. facebook.com/orlandostoryclub
July 13
SWEET DREAMS—DANCING FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, raises funds to ensure a safe night’s sleep for members of the transgender community when they are in need. Hosted by Scott Maxwell and Moira with celebrity judges and dancers. Presented by Bliss CARES. DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Orlando. sweetdreamsevent.eventbrite.com
July 21
STRIKE OUT HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE, benefits the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Aloma Bowl, Winter Park. hdsa.donordrive.com
July 27
CHILDHOOD CANCER 5K RUN/WALK, benefits the Caleb Solomon Williams BELAC Foundation. Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake, Orlando. 407-405-7790. facebook.com/calebsolomonwilliams
