As fall approaches, the city of Orlando is on fire with fantastic events! Last month proved to be one of the best times for Central Floridians to explore the City Beautiful as crowds were low and the kickoff of fall left a joyful pep in every step. Here’s a look at just some of the incredible events that took place, just in case you missed it!
Fairy Doors was a hit in Orlando last month and it’s not too late for you to check out this charming exhibit too as it runs through October 31. It features twenty, one-of-a-kind, whimsical fairy doors which will inspire your child’s imaginative world of enchanted forests, secret gardens and the magic of fairies. Each door is created by a very special fairy and all you have to do is find these beautiful doors located throughout the 50-acre gardens. A map of the fairy doors and a narrative of each fairy will be available for this fun exhibit for all ages. Gather some friends and family to see if you can find all the fairy doors, but remember the doors only open for the fairies.
Throughout the month of September, the city had the opportunity to experience the wonders of Orlando’s acclaimed culinary scene with Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining which celebrated its 17th year from August 26 through October 2. With 38 delicious days, it was the perfect chance to enjoy three-course, prix-fixe dinners at many of Orlando’s most popular restaurants, including MICHELIN Guide honorees, for just $40 per person. In addition, $1 from each meal served will benefit The Able Trust, which works to help expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. New this year, participants could upgrade dinner and a movie to dinner and an overnight stay with Visit Orlando’s Magical Nights. This popular program featured special offers from some of Orlando’s best resorts and hotels — including many that host one or more restaurants participating in Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining.
This Labor Day weekend at Disney Springs, Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant celebrated the 10th anniversary of their boutique music festival, the Great Irish Hooley. What does “Hooley” mean, you may ask? It’s a Gaelic term for a lively party with music, entertainment and fun for the whole family. From September 2-5, guests joined in the fun while they danced and sang along to traditional Irish tunes, Celt grass, folk, and blues performed by Irish bands – and enjoyed some classic Irish fare of course. Taking the stage were a first-rate lineup from the Irish music world that were guaranteed to get toes tapping such as Beyond Eire, One for the Foxes and Teada.
Before a packed house of 25,527 fans, Orlando City SC won the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, U.S. Soccer’s National Championship, by defeating Sacramento Republic SC 3-0 on September 7th. A second half Facundo Torres brace fired the club to victory and its first trophy as a Division I (MLS) club. With the win, Orlando also pockets the $300,000 prize awarded to the tournament champion, sees their name engraved on the historic Dewar Cup and claims a berth in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League. The Lions are only the second team from the Sunshine State to win the Open Cup and they were watched by members of Florida’s last Open Cup champs, the St. Petersburg Kickers, who won American soccer’s oldest competition in 1989. Ten members of the Kickers championship team were honored for their Cup win in a special pre-match ceremony.
Mayor Buddy Dyer and District 2 City Commissioner Tony Ortiz joined our community to celebrate our diversity during the City of Orlando’s Hispanic Heritage Month festivities from September 15 to October 15. The Hispanic Heritage Month national theme is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.” The theme encouraged us to ensure that all voices are represented and welcomed to help build stronger communities and a stronger nation. The city celebrated the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean by hosting several activities, including a community celebration event with Hispanic food, music, and entertainment, an art exhibition at the City Hall’s Terrace Gallery featuring art pieces from local Hispanic visual artists, and more.
Continuing its mission to use creative media as a catalyst to inspire and educate people to initiate positive change in their local communities and worldwide, the Global Peace Film Festival (GPFF) celebrated its 20th anniversary this fall. From September 19-25, GPFF once again employed a hybrid format to deliver a robust program of thought-provoking films and art exhibits to people all over the world. Over the course of the festival, a selection of feature and short films were presented in person at locations in Winter Park and Orlando. These films highlighted themes such as civil rights, environmental justice, ethics, human rights, immigration, music, social justice, voting, wellness and wildlife. By design, GPFF is programmed to intersect with the U.N.-sanctioned International Day of Peace on September 21.
Halloween came early this year! The separately ticketed Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort is Orlando’s most famous Halloween event for adults and teens, bringing together the stories and visions of the world’s most notorious creators of horror. From cinematic greats and crazed current cult favorites to the park’s original abominations — every year, the legend grows and the experience reaches beyond your wildest nightmares. Visitors definitely needed someone to cling to, someone to hide behind, and somebody to panic with as they entered mind-ripping haunted houses inspired by the biggest names in horror. In addition to 10 haunted houses, you can face nightmarish creatures on streets twisted into five sinister scare zones, lose yourself in two outrageous live shows filled with diabolical surprises, feast on fearsomely themed food and drinks, and escape to some of Universal Studios Florida’s most exhilarating attractions. The event continues running now through October 31.
