On The Town: February 2016
35 special events happening in the month of February.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS MARDI GRAS
Feb. 6-Apr. 16 On select nights The Big Easy comes to Orlando, with Cajun and Creole cuisine, street performers, Zydeco music, and beads by the handful. Included with regular admission. universalorlando.com
FOOD TRUCK BAZAAR
These foodie-friendly events take place at locations throughout Central Florida. Bring your appetite and your own seating. thedailycity.com
WINTER WITH THE WRITERS
A festival of the literary arts, free and open to the public. Rollins College campus, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park. 407-646-2666.
rollins.edu/winter-with-the-writers
Feb. 4 Antonio Skármeta: Chilean novelist, screenwriter and diplomat whose novel Ardiente paciencia was adapted for the screen twice, including in 1995 for the Italian film Il Postino (The Postman). Master Class, 4 p.m. Bush Auditorium.
Feb. 11 Philip F. Deaver: American author and poet. Master Class, 4 p.m. SunTrust Auditorium.
Feb. 18 Chase Twichell: Author of seven books of poetry, most recently Horses Where the Answers Should Have Been: New and Selected Poems. Master Class, 4 p.m. SunTrust Auditorium.
Feb. 25 Ross Gay: Poet and 2015 National Book Award finalist. Master Class, 4 p.m. SunTrust Auditorium.
Feb. 25 Sy Montgomery: Naturalist, documentary scriptwriter, author and 2015 National Book Award finalist. Master Class, 2 p.m. SunTrust Auditorium.
LAKE APOPKA WILDLIFE FESTIVAL & BIRDAPALOOZA
Feb. 6 Celebrate the diversity of birds and other wildlife that make Lake Apopka’s north shore their home or migratory stopover; birding tours, fishing, live music and more. Magnolia Park, 2929 S. Binion Road, Apopka. birdapalooza.com
MOUNT DORA ARTS FESTIVAL
Feb. 6-7 This nationally recognized, juried arts show includes oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, clay, sculpture and photography on display throughout downtown, with live music on a main stage in Donnelly Park. mountdoracenterforthearts.org
SHEN YUN
Feb. 9-10 Five thousand years of Chinese culture, heroic tales and legends told through traditional music and dance. 7:30 p.m. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando. 844-513-2014. drphillipscenter.org
PUBLIX PRESENTS GUY FIERI
Feb. 11 Join Publix chefs for a night of cooking with Fieri; learn what he loves about food, how he got his start, and how he makes some of his favorite dishes. 8 p.m. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando. 844-513-2014. drphillipscenter.org
SANFORD’S ALIVE AFTER FIVE STREET PARTY
Feb. 11 Central Florida’s largest recurring street party, a monthly gathering with live music, local artists, and food and beverage samples. 5 p.m. 230 E. First St., Sanford. sanfordwelcomecenter.com
NUDE NITE
Feb. 11-13 Nude Nite brings together hundreds of artists for three evenings of visual art, performances, and characters both in costume and out. 6 p.m.-midnight. Check website for location. nudenite.com
THORNTON PARK 2ND THURSDAY WINE + ART WALK
Feb. 11 Artists display works for sale along the streets and inside local businesses. Free, but a $10 wristband (available at Olde Town Brokers) gets you a free pour of wine at various locations. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Summerlin Avenue at Washington Street. thorntonparkdistrict.com
WINEFEST XXVI
Feb. 12-14 Enjoy the fruits of last year’s harvest, with live music plus arts and crafts. Lakeridge wine, beer, soft drinks and a variety of foods are available for purchase; complimentary winery tours and tastings are offered. Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, 19239 U.S. Highway 27 North, Clermont. lakeridgewinery.com
INDIE-FOLKFEST AT MENNELLO MUSEUM
Feb. 13 Local musicians, artists and crafters, food and more. Noon-5 p.m. Mennello Museum of American Art Sculpture Garden, 600 E. Princeton St., Orlando. Free. orlandofolkfestival.wordpress.com
VALENTINE’S STROLL
Feb. 14 Walk arm-in-arm with your sweetie through Leu Gardens’ 50 acres under a starlit sky. Bring a picnic supper and listen to the music of Selwyn Birchwood, Dave Capp Project and Mud Rooster Blues. 6-9 p.m. 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando. leugardens.org
DRAGON PARADE & LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
Feb. 14 Start off the Year of the Monkey with a bang. Parade begins at 11 a.m.; festival begins at noon with Asian food, arts, cultural performances and live music. Orlando Fashion Square Mall, 3201 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando. centralfloridadragonparade.org
DISNEY PRINCESS HALF MARATHON WEEKEND
Feb. 18-21 Whatever sort of princess you are, this weekend is for you, with shorter races and related events in addition to the Sunday half-marathon at Epcot. disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/disney-princess-half-marathon-weekend
SEED SWAP AT LEU GARDENS
Feb. 17 Bring your extra seeds and exchange them for other varieties; also get expert planting advice. 5-8 p.m. Free. 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando. leugardens.org
3RD THURSDAY GALLERY HOP & ART WALK
Feb. 18 Converge with others on Orlando’s Downtown Arts District to celebrate art. 6 p.m. CityArts Factory, 29 S. Orange Ave., Orlando. orlandoslice.com
MOUNT DORA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Feb. 18-21 Four nights of music for every taste, from The Four Freshmen to a tribute to Henry Mancini. 7:30 p.m. Mount Dora Community Building, 520 N. Baker St., Mount Dora. mountdoramusicfest.com
ANTIQUES VINTAGE AND GARDEN SHOW
Feb. 19-21 Dealers offer antique furniture, paintings, vintage collectibles and more; garden and floral designers provide inspiration, and you may bring items for appraisal. Guest speaker: author India Hicks. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave., Orlando. 407-896-4231, ext. 254. omart.org
ORLANDO WETLANDS FESTIVAL
Feb. 20 Celebrate Orlando’s 1,650-acre wetland park near Fort Christmas with tree giveaways, wilderness hikes, live music, hayrides, birding, native plant ID hikes, and bus tours of the wetlands. Free. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 1300 N. Fort Christmas Road, Christmas. 407-568-1706. cityoforlando.net/wetlands
WINTER PARK INSTITUTE AT ROLLINS COLLEGE
Noted authors, historians and experts speak on a variety of subjects within their disciplines. Free. Rollins College campus, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park. 407-691-1995. rollins.edu/wpi
Bill Bryson: Notes from All Over
Feb. 22 The best-selling author of A Walk in the Woods and A Short History of Nearly Everything muses on travel, science, language and history. 7:30 p.m. Alfond Sports Center.
SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE SPEAKER SERIES
Feb. 24 Sarah Susanka, architect, thought leader, author of the “Not So Big” series. Free. 7 p.m. Fine Arts Concert Hall (Building G), 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford. 407-708-2776.
SANFORD ART WALK
Feb. 26 Explore galleries and art spaces along historic downtown Sanford’s First Street between Magnolia and Sanford avenues. Discover this river town’s culture and nightlife, food and art. 6-9 p.m. sanfordartwalk.com, sanfordwelcomecenter.com
DOWNTOWN FOOD & WINE FEST
Feb. 27-28 A foodie fest featuring samples from Orlando restaurants paired with wine pours from around the world. Lake Eola Park at East Robinson Street, Orlando. downtownfoodandwinefest.cbslocal.com
CENTRAL FLORIDA FAIR
Feb. 25-Mar. 13 Rides, games, livestock and culinary contests make for a traditional, family favorite event. 4603 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. centralfloridafair.com
WORLD SWORD SWALLOWER’S DAY
Feb. 27 Celebrated each year at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! 8201 International Drive, Orlando. 407-345-0501. ripleys.com/orlando
WORLD OF GOOD
February Fundraisers
2/6
OUT OF THE DARKNESS COMMUNITY WALK, benefits the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 2420 Lakemont Ave., Baldwin Park, Orlando. afsp.org
TRASH 2 TRENDS, benefits Keep Orlando Beautiful. Local designers create runway looks from items headed to the landfill. SeaWorld Orlando’s Ports of Call conference center. cityoforlando.net
2/9
MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION, benefits the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Hosted by David Schillhammer and John Starks, Orlando. friendsorlandophil.org
2/12-2/14
CARS FOR THE CURE heathrow, benefits the American Lung Association. Colonial TownPark, Lake Mary. carsforthecure.com
2/13
RUN 4 LOVE 4 MILE, benefits the Track Shack Foundation. Race starts at Showalter Field, Winter Park. trackshack.com
POLAR PLUNGE, benefits Special Olympics Florida. SeaWorld’s Aquatica water park, Orlando. specialolympicsflorida.org
SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION DREAM GALA, benefits the school’s student scholarships and programs. Orlando Marriott Lake Mary. 407-708-4567. seminolestate.edu/foundation/dream-gala
2/27
AN EVENING WITH FABULOUS FRIENDS GALA, benefits the Mennello Museum of American Art. Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Walt Disney World. mennellomuseum.com/gala.html
2/27
UNLEASHED. UNCORKED. UNFRAMED, benefits Franklin’s Friends, supporting Central Florida animal-welfare organizations. Orlando Science Center, Orlando. franklinsfriends.info
Coming up…
3/4
A PAIR TO REMEMBER, benefits Easter Seals Florida. Luncheon and designer shoe auction, The Mall at Millenia, Orlando. mallatmillenia.com
3/5
GARDEN ENCORE, benefits the Garden Theatre in downtown Winter Garden. 407-877-4736. gardentheatre.org/encore
3/12
ORLANDO HEART BALL, benefits the American Heart Association. Hard Rock Cafe, Orlando.
407-481-6314. heart.org/HEARTORG
AN EVENING AT THE PALACE GALA, benefits children with special needs. Buena Vista Palace Hotel, Lake Buena Vista. ucpcfl.org
For more events check out our Calendar!
