The release of our Summer Double Issue every July means we always have not one, but TWO jam packed months of exciting events to talk about in our September issue! Here are all the highlights, just in case you missed it!
Held at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte, Red Hot & Boom is an annual Independence Day celebration like no other! This year’s festivities took place on July 3rd and featured live entertainment by XL106.7. Thousands packed the park for to honor the country’s birthday with an unforgettable night of great performances, mouthwatering eats and 25 minutes of beautifully synchronized fireworks
Hopefully guests didn’t party too hard at Red, White & Boom because the Watermelon 5K took place bright and early the following morning! The Independence Day event consisted of a 5K around Park Avenue at Winter Park. The run was immediately followed by a watermelon eating contest and all event proceeds benefited the Track Shack Youth Foundation which promotes physical fitness to children and teens through a wide variety of community organizations.
The favorite time of year for foodies and wine enthusiasts alike has arrived – the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE! Starting July 14th and running through November 19th, this iconic festival serves up flavors from across six continents and unlocks unlimited fun through your tastebuds. With more than 25 Global Marketplaces, guests can indulge in cuisines from across the globe featuring the culinary mastery of the chefs and mixologists, who yet again do not disappoint. The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival recurs daily until November 19th so check it out and be sure to pick up a Festival Passport to keep track of all your stamps and experiences.
Luau by Lake Nona Social brought the month of July to a close with a unique Polynesian experience that proved to be fun for the whole family! Luau and Tiki Highlights included hula dancers, fire knife performance, a delicious pig roast, Tiki Bar, live Polynesian music, and more. Visitors who upgraded to a VIP ticket also got to enjoy reserved covered seating, a free specialty drink and premium views of the hula and fire dancer show. Held at Nona Adventure Park on July 30th, attendees were also invited to partake in Aqua Park Actives at a whopping 50% off.
SeaWorld is serving up an incredible festival for craft beer lovers! SeaWorld’s Craft Beer Festival features more than 100 craft brews, wines, seltzers, and cocktails. Attendees get to sample an unbeatable mix of domestic and local Florida favorites in addition to savoring more than 20 food items expertly paired to match their preferred brew. Then, top it all off with nightly fireworks during Ignite 360. This is the one craft beer celebration you won’t want to miss. The fun began brewing on August 5th and the festivities will continue on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until September 5th, only at SeaWorld.
On August 13th, Track Shack’s Celebration of Running 5k presented by AdventHealth helped to kick off the Florida running season. This year was an extra special event as attendees celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Track Shack Store and the Track Shack Running Series. Held at Orlando Cultural Park, event highlights for participants included a Finisher Medal, a gender-specific micro mesh fabric tech shirt, B-Tag Timed, FREE AdventHealth for Children Kids’ Run, a rocking post-race party, and more! To celebrate and commemorate Track Shack’s anniversary, each 5k finisher also received a finisher medal that was worn with pride.
The 85 South Show Live – Ghetto Legends 2: Unfinished Business, featuring three of America’s funniest, talented and fearless comedians, made a stop at Orlando’s Amway Center on August 18th. Produced by 85 South Media, the 85 South Show has altered the comedy industry with over 2 million YouTube subscribers, 410 million independent views, and over 100,000+ live show tickets sold. Laughter was had by all in attendance as 85 South Show co-hosts DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and Chico Bean kept attendees on the edge of their seats all night long.
The 7th Annual Florida Kids and Family Expo brought more than 150 prenatal, baby, toddler, kid, teen and family exhibitors together with products, services and opportunities to enrich the entire family. From August 20th-21st, the expo offered live performances and a variety of epic family fun while also helping attendees to discover all that Central Florida has to offer. Held at the Orange County Convention Center, attendees enjoyed everything from fun zones, a sports zone, a wrestling ring, a petting zoo, character meet and greets and so much more.
