Festivals & Annual Events near me in Orlando, FL

Looking for festivals and annual events in Orlando? The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival draws huge crowds every March, the Central Florida Fair brings rides and livestock shows each late winter, and Come Out With Pride fills Lake Eola Park every October. Here is a year-round list to plan around.

25 picks · Updated October 2026

1
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
Running since 1960, this juried art show fills Central Park and Park Avenue on the third weekend of March and draws more than 250,000 visitors. Friday evening brings a headline concert in the park.
- Art festival
- Festival
- Spring
- Outdoor
Call Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival Website for Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival (opens in a new tab)Directions to Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival (opens maps)
2
Central Florida Fair

Event in Pine Hills, Orlando, $
Orange County's annual fair runs about 11 days in late February or early March at the West Colonial Drive fairgrounds, with midway rides, fair food, livestock shows and live music.
- Festival
- Ticketed
- Kids
- Family
Website for Central Florida Fair (opens in a new tab)Directions to Central Florida Fair (opens maps)
3
Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival

Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $
Billed as the longest-running fringe festival in the U.S., Orlando Fringe takes over Loch Haven Park for about two weeks every May. All ticket revenue goes to the artists, and the lawn stage and Kids Fringe are free.
- Festival
- Spring
- Ticketed
- Adults
Website for Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival (opens in a new tab)Directions to Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival (opens maps)
4
Come Out With Pride Orlando

Event in Downtown, Orlando
Central Florida's big Pride celebration fills Lake Eola Park on a Saturday in October with stages, a downtown parade of 250-plus groups and a fireworks finale. Entry is free, with a Family Spot and Sensory Space.
- Pride
- Festival
- Parade
- Fireworks
Website for Come Out With Pride Orlando (opens in a new tab)Directions to Come Out With Pride Orlando (opens maps)
5
Florida Film Festival

Event in Maitland, $$
Enzian's 10-day April festival screens more than 160 independent features and shorts, including world premieres and an Oscar-qualifying short film program.
- Film
- Festival
- Spring
- Ticketed
Call Florida Film Festival Website for Florida Film Festival (opens in a new tab)Directions to Florida Film Festival (opens maps)
6
ZORA! Festival

Event in Eatonville, $
An annual celebration of Zora Neale Hurston and historic Eatonville that peaks with a three-day outdoor arts festival in late January. Friday is free, and kids get in free all weekend.
- Festival
- Art festival
- Ticketed
- Outdoor
Website for ZORA! Festival (opens in a new tab)Directions to ZORA! Festival (opens maps)
7
Fiesta in the Park

Event in Downtown, Orlando
A twice-yearly arts and crafts fair around Lake Eola, running for more than five decades, with hundreds of artisan and food booths along the lake path in spring and fall.
- Art festival
- Festival
- Fall
- Spring
Website for Fiesta in the Park (opens in a new tab)Directions to Fiesta in the Park (opens maps)
8
Fireworks at the Fountain

Event in Downtown, Orlando
Orlando's July 4 celebration at Lake Eola Park, with an afternoon of entertainment and vendors leading to a concert band set and fireworks over the lake.
- Fireworks
- Summer
- Festival
- Outdoor
Website for Fireworks at the Fountain (opens in a new tab)Directions to Fireworks at the Fountain (opens maps)
9
Winter Park Autumn Art Festival

Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
A free November weekend art show in Central Park and along Park Avenue featuring only Florida artists, with a children's art workshop and a beer garden.
- Art festival
- Festival
- Fall
- Free
Website for Winter Park Autumn Art Festival (opens in a new tab)Directions to Winter Park Autumn Art Festival (opens maps)
10
City of Orlando Tree Lighting Celebration

Event in Downtown, Orlando
The city lights its 64-foot Lake Eola tree in early December with a stage show, holiday market and Santa, then runs nightly tree light shows into January.
- Christmas
- Holiday lights
- Outdoor
- Family
Website for City of Orlando Tree Lighting Celebration (opens in a new tab)Directions to City of Orlando Tree Lighting Celebration (opens maps)
11
Festival of Trees

Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $$
A long-running holiday fundraiser in mid-November that fills the Orlando Museum of Art with designer-decorated trees, gingerbread displays and a holiday boutique.
- Christmas
- Festival
- Ticketed
- Family
Call Festival of Trees Website for Festival of Trees (opens in a new tab)Directions to Festival of Trees (opens maps)
12
Spooky Empire

Event in International Drive, Orlando, $$
A horror fan convention on Halloween weekend with celebrity guests, costume contests, a zombie walk and a horror film festival.
- Halloween
- Ticketed
- Adults
- Nightlife
Website for Spooky Empire (opens in a new tab)
13
Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens

Event in Audubon Park, Orlando, $$
A nightly holiday light walk through Leu Gardens from late November into early January, with a poinsettia tunnel, falling snow and a kids' play area.
- Christmas
- Holiday lights
- Ticketed
- Outdoor
Website for Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens (opens in a new tab)Directions to Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens (opens maps)
14
Winter Park Paint Out

Event in Winter Park
A week-long plein air festival each April based at the Albin Polasek Museum, where more than 20 artists paint outdoors. Demos are free, and the finished works are for sale.
- Art festival
- Festival
- Spring
- Free
Website for Winter Park Paint Out (opens in a new tab)Directions to Winter Park Paint Out (opens maps)
15
PlayFest at Orlando Shakes

Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $
Orlando Shakes' new-play festival presents staged readings over two weekends in the fall, with talkbacks after each one. A festival pass covers most readings.
- Festival
- Fall
- Ticketed
- Adults
Website for PlayFest at Orlando Shakes (opens in a new tab)Directions to PlayFest at Orlando Shakes (opens maps)
16
Winter on the Avenue

Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
A free early December evening on Park Avenue with tree and menorah lighting, snow slides, s'mores and an outdoor holiday movie.
- Christmas
- Free
- Outdoor
- Family
Website for Winter on the Avenue (opens in a new tab)Directions to Winter on the Avenue (opens maps)
17
Winter Park 4th of July Celebration

Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
A free small-town Independence Day evening in Central Park with a choir and brass concert, a children's bike parade and free pie and ice cream while supplies last.
- Summer
- Festival
- Parade
- Free
Website for Winter Park 4th of July Celebration (opens in a new tab)Directions to Winter Park 4th of July Celebration (opens maps)
18
Winter Park Christmas Parade

Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
Billed as Central Florida's oldest continuous holiday parade, it travels down Park Avenue on the first Saturday of December with 80-plus groups.
- Christmas
- Parade
- Outdoor
- Family
Website for Winter Park Christmas Parade (opens in a new tab)Directions to Winter Park Christmas Parade (opens maps)
19
Christmas in the Park (Winter Park)

Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
One evening in early December when the Morse Museum lights Tiffany windows in Central Park and the Bach Festival Choir performs.
- Christmas
- Outdoor
- Family
- Local favorite
Website for Christmas in the Park (Winter Park) (opens in a new tab)Directions to Christmas in the Park (Winter Park) (opens maps)
20
Club Lake Fall Festival

Event in Apopka, $$
A fall weekend festival on a ranch venue in Apopka with a corn maze, hayrides and a pumpkin patch, running from late September into early November.
- Pumpkin patch
- Fall
- Festival
- Ticketed
Call Club Lake Fall Festival Website for Club Lake Fall Festival (opens in a new tab)Directions to Club Lake Fall Festival (opens maps)
21
Painted Oaks Academy Pumpkin Patch

Event in East Orlando, $
An October pumpkin patch with pony rides and a petting zoo, where weekends add a fall festival with music, food trucks and carnival games.
- Pumpkin patch
- Fall
- Ticketed
- Kids
Call Painted Oaks Academy Pumpkin Patch Website for Painted Oaks Academy Pumpkin Patch (opens in a new tab)Directions to Painted Oaks Academy Pumpkin Patch (opens maps)
22
Gators, Ghosts & Goblins

Event in Orlando, $$
Gatorland's daytime Halloween weekends in October, with trick-or-treating, a kids' costume parade and a haunted museum.
- Halloween
- Ticketed
- Kids
- Family
Website for Gators, Ghosts & Goblins (opens in a new tab)Directions to Gators, Ghosts & Goblins (opens maps)
23
Gatorland's Holiday Ho, Ho, Ho-Down

Event in Orlando, $$
December weekends at Gatorland with Gator Claus photos, costumed characters and holiday music, included with admission.
- Christmas
- Ticketed
- Kids
- Family
Website for Gatorland's Holiday Ho, Ho, Ho-Down (opens in a new tab)Directions to Gatorland's Holiday Ho, Ho, Ho-Down (opens maps)
24
Dinos In Lights

Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $$
The Orlando Science Center's holiday light-and-music show starring its T. rex skeleton, included with general admission through the holidays.
- Christmas
- Holiday lights
- Ticketed
- Kids
Website for Dinos In Lights (opens in a new tab)Directions to Dinos In Lights (opens maps)
25
St. Luke's Pumpkin Patch

Event in Dr. Phillips, Orlando, $
A church-run October pumpkin patch in Dr. Phillips whose proceeds support the church's child development center.
- Pumpkin patch
- Fall
- Family
- Kids
Website for St. Luke's Pumpkin Patch (opens in a new tab)Directions to St. Luke's Pumpkin Patch (opens maps)

Orlando's festival calendar by season

Winter and spring are the busiest festival months. The ZORA! Festival peaks in late January, the Central Florida Fair arrives in late February or early March, and the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival takes the third weekend of March. April brings the Florida Film Festival and the Winter Park Paint Out, and Orlando Fringe runs for about two weeks in May. Summer is quieter, with July 4 fireworks at Lake Eola and in Winter Park. Fall picks back up with Come Out With Pride in October, Fiesta in the Park and the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival in November, then a run of holiday events into January.

Free festivals and ticketed ones

Many of Orlando's best annual events are free to attend. Come Out With Pride, the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival, Winter on the Avenue, the Winter Park 4th of July Celebration and the Paint Out's demos cost nothing. Orlando Fringe has a free lawn stage and free Kids Fringe shows, though individual performances are ticketed. ZORA! is free on Friday and free for kids all weekend. The Central Florida Fair, the Florida Film Festival, Spooky Empire and PlayFest are ticketed. Festival of Trees and Dazzling Nights also need tickets, and Dazzling Nights uses timed entry.

Tips for festival days

Dates shift every year, so check each event's official page for this year's schedule before you plan. For the big outdoor shows on Park Avenue and around Lake Eola, arrive early, since parking fills fast, and consider rideshare. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat for daytime events, and a light layer for winter evenings. Pets are not allowed in Central Park during the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival or Winter on the Avenue. Bring a tote bag for small purchases and some cash or a card for food vendors.

About this list

Every place here is a locally run business in Orange County with its own website, which we checked for hours, menus and contact details. We leave national chains off our best-of lists and favor places with a clear specialty.

This page covers 25 festivals and annual events in Orlando. You'll find them in Park Avenue, Loch Haven Park, Downtown and Pine Hills, spread across Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville.

Where menus list prices, most of these sit in the $$ range, with a handful at $.

What comes up again and again on their menus and websites: Live entertainment, Bach Festival Choir and Brass Ensemble concert and Pumpkin patch.

Frequently asked questions

What are the biggest festivals in Orlando?

The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival draws more than 250,000 visitors each March, and the Central Florida Fair runs about 11 days in late winter. Come Out With Pride, Orlando Fringe and the Florida Film Festival are other major annual events.

What festivals are in Orlando in the spring?

Spring brings the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in March, the Florida Film Festival and Winter Park Paint Out in April, and Orlando Fringe in May. Fiesta in the Park also holds a spring weekend around Lake Eola. Check each official page for this year's dates.

Are there free festivals in Orlando?

Yes. Come Out With Pride, the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival, Winter on the Avenue and the Winter Park 4th of July Celebration are free. Orlando Fringe has a free outdoor stage and Kids Fringe, and the ZORA! Festival is free on Friday with kids free all weekend.

When is the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival?

The festival is held on the third weekend of March each year in Central Park and along Park Avenue. It runs Friday through Sunday, with a headline concert on Friday evening.

When is Orlando Pride?

Come Out With Pride Orlando is held on a Saturday in October at Lake Eola Park, with a festival during the day, a downtown parade in the late afternoon and fireworks at night. Check the official page for this year's date.