Seasonal Events & Festivals near me in Orange County, FL
Orlando's calendar is packed with annual events, and many of the best ones only happen for a few weeks a year.
40 listings · Updated October 2026
Seasonal Events & Festivals in Orlando
Open the Orlando page-
Festival of Trees
Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $$
Now in its 40th year, this holiday fundraiser by The Council of 101 fills the Orlando Museum of Art with dozens of designer-decorated trees, gingerbread displays and a holiday boutique.
- Christmas
- Festival
- Ticketed
- Family
-
Painted Oaks Academy Pumpkin Patch
Event in East Orlando, $
A ranch-style riding academy in east Orange County that opens a pumpkin patch every October with hayrides, a petting zoo and pony rides.
- Pumpkin patch
- Fall
- Ticketed
- Kids
-
City of Orlando Tree Lighting Celebration
Event in Downtown, Orlando
Orlando's annual tree lighting switches on a 64-foot tree at Lake Eola with a stage show, holiday market and Santa visits. After the ceremony the tree runs a synchronized light-and-music show every evening into early January.
- Christmas
- Holiday lights
- Outdoor
- Family
-
Come Out With Pride Orlando
Event in Downtown, Orlando
Central Florida's big Pride celebration fills Lake Eola Park for a day of stages, community areas and a downtown parade, ending with fireworks. Entry is free, with paid VIP options for those 21 and up.
- Pride
- Festival
- Parade
- Fireworks
-
Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens
Event in Audubon Park, Orlando, $$
A separately ticketed after-dark holiday light walk that winds through Harry P. Leu Gardens past themed light worlds, a glowing poinsettia tunnel and play zones for kids.
- Christmas
- Holiday lights
- Ticketed
- Outdoor
-
Dinos In Lights
Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $$
Orlando Science Center's holiday light-and-music show stars its T. rex skeleton and fossil friends in the DinoDigs hall, with short shows through the day.
- Christmas
- Holiday lights
- Ticketed
- Kids
-
Fiesta in the Park
Event in Downtown, Orlando
A twice-yearly arts and crafts fair around Lake Eola that has been running for more than five decades. Hundreds of artisan and food booths line the lake path, with live entertainment through the weekend.
- Art festival
- Festival
- Fall
- Spring
-
Fireworks at the Fountain
Event in Downtown, Orlando
The City of Orlando's Independence Day celebration at Lake Eola Park has run for nearly five decades.
- Fireworks
- Summer
- Festival
- Outdoor
-
St. Luke's Pumpkin Patch
Event in Dr. Phillips, Orlando, $
Seasonal pumpkin patch on the St. Luke's United Methodist campus off Apopka-Vineland Road.
- Pumpkin patch
- Fall
- Family
- Kids
-
Central Florida Fair
Event in Pine Hills, Orlando, $
Orange County's annual fair runs for about 11 days each late winter at the fairgrounds on West Colonial Drive. Expect midway rides, fair food, livestock shows and live entertainment.
- Festival
- Ticketed
- Kids
- Family
-
Gatorland's Holiday Ho, Ho, Ho-Down
Event in Orlando, $$
December weekends at Gatorland bring a quirky Florida-style holiday party with Gator Claus photos, costumed characters and holiday music. It is included with regular park admission.
- Christmas
- Ticketed
- Kids
- Family
-
Gators, Ghosts & Goblins
Event in Orlando, $$
Gatorland's daytime Halloween weekends are designed for kids, with trick-or-treating, a costume parade with treat bags and a themed haunted museum.
- Halloween
- Ticketed
- Kids
- Family
-
Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival
Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $
Billed as the longest-running fringe festival in the U.S., Orlando Fringe takes over Loch Haven Park and nearby theaters for about two weeks every May.
- Festival
- Spring
- Ticketed
- Adults
-
PlayFest at Orlando Shakes
Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $
Orlando Shakes' annual new-play festival presents staged readings of works in development over two weekends, with audience talkbacks after each one. A pass covers most readings, and single tickets are inexpensive.
- Festival
- Fall
- Ticketed
- Adults
-
Spooky Empire
Event in International Drive, Orlando, $$
A horror fan convention held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando on Halloween weekend, with celebrity guests, a vendor hall, costume contests and a zombie walk. It is ticketed, with VIP passes that get in an hour early.
- Halloween
- Ticketed
- Adults
- Nightlife
-
A Christmas Carol at Orlando Shakes
Event in Loch Haven Park, Orlando, $$
Orlando Shakes stages Dickens' A Christmas Carol as its holiday production, running from Thanksgiving week through Christmas Eve. It makes an easy holiday theatre outing for families.
- Christmas
- Ticketed
- Family
- Date idea
-
Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando
Event in International Drive, Orlando, $$
SeaWorld's separately ticketed Halloween event fills the park with haunted houses, scare zones and themed bars after dark. It is aimed at mature audiences with gory themes, and costumes are not permitted.
- Halloween
- Theme park
- Ticketed
- Nightlife
-
Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld Orlando
Event in International Drive, Orlando, $$$
SeaWorld's holiday season adds millions of lights, snow flurries, an ice-skating show and nightly holiday fireworks over the lagoon.
- Christmas
- Holiday lights
- Theme park
- Ticketed
-
Electric Ocean
Event in International Drive, Orlando, $$$
SeaWorld's summer nights event keeps the park lively after dark with DJ dance parties, a cirque-style water show, a drone show and fireworks. It runs on summer evenings at the park.
- Summer
- Fireworks
- Theme park
- Ticketed
-
Halloween Horror Nights
Event in Universal, Orlando, $$$
Universal's long-running after-dark horror event turns Universal Studios Florida into a maze of haunted houses and scare zones on select fall nights.
- Halloween
- Theme park
- Ticketed
- Nightlife
-
Holidays at Universal Orlando
Event in Universal, Orlando, $$$
Universal decks out its parks for the season, with a giant-balloon holiday parade presented with Macy's and festive decor in the Wizarding World's Diagon Alley.
- Christmas
- Theme park
- Ticketed
- Parade
-
Seven Seas Food Festival
Event in International Drive, Orlando, $$$
SeaWorld's long spring food festival sets up kiosks around the park serving more than 200 dishes from many cuisines, plus wine, cocktails and craft beer.
- Food festival
- Festival
- Spring
- Theme park
-
Universal Orlando Mardi Gras
Event in Universal, Orlando, $$$
Universal Studios Florida's take on Mardi Gras brings a nighttime parade where riders toss beads, plus concerts on select nights. Festival food is sold around the park.
- Festival
- Parade
- Theme park
- Ticketed
Seasonal Events & Festivals in Winter Park
Open the Winter Park page-
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
Running since 1960, this volunteer-led juried art show fills Central Park and Park Avenue each March, drawing more than 250,000 visitors.
- Art festival
- Festival
- Spring
- Outdoor
-
Winter on the Avenue
Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
The Winter Park Chamber's free holiday kickoff lights the tree and menorah on Park Avenue, then fills Central Park with snow slides, s'mores and an outdoor family movie.
- Christmas
- Free
- Outdoor
- Family
-
Winter Park 4th of July Celebration
Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
Winter Park's free, small-town style Independence Day evening in Central Park mixes patriotic music with a decorated children's bike parade and a kids' zone. Local sponsors hand out pie, cake and ice cream while they last.
- Summer
- Festival
- Parade
- Free
-
Winter Park Autumn Art Festival
Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, this free weekend art show in Central Park and along Park Avenue features only Florida artists working in media from ceramics to photography.
- Art festival
- Festival
- Fall
- Free
-
Winter Park Christmas Parade
Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
Organized by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, this morning parade travels down Park Avenue on the first Saturday of December and is billed as Central Florida's oldest continuous holiday parade.
- Christmas
- Parade
- Outdoor
- Family
-
Christmas in the Park (Winter Park)
Event in Park Avenue, Winter Park
The Morse Museum opens Winter Park's holiday season by displaying lit Tiffany stained-glass windows in Central Park for one evening. The Bach Festival Choir and Brass Ensemble perform a holiday concert alongside them.
- Christmas
- Outdoor
- Family
- Local favorite
-
Winter Park Paint Out
Event in Winter Park
A week-long plein air festival based at the Albin Polasek Museum, where more than twenty professional artists paint outdoors around Winter Park and Orlando.
- Art festival
- Festival
- Spring
- Free
Seasonal Events & Festivals in Lake Buena Vista
Open the Lake Buena Vista page-
Disney Jollywood Nights
Event in Lake Buena Vista, $$$$
A separately ticketed holiday evening at Disney's Hollywood Studios with a Hollywood-glamour theme, character meetups, holiday shows and an ice-skating performance. No day ticket is needed, and kids 3 to 9 get a small discount.
- Christmas
- Theme park
- Ticketed
- Nightlife
-
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Event in Lake Buena Vista, $$$$
A separately ticketed evening party at Magic Kingdom where guests of all ages can come in costume and trick-or-treat around the park.
- Halloween
- Theme park
- Ticketed
- Kids
-
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Event in Lake Buena Vista, $$$$
A separately ticketed holiday night at Magic Kingdom with a Christmas parade, a holiday fireworks show and falling 'snow' on Main Street.
- Christmas
- Theme park
- Ticketed
- Kids
-
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
Event in Lake Buena Vista, $$$
EPCOT's winter festival centers on visual, culinary and performing arts, from Broadway-style concerts to live chalk artists and a mural guests help paint. It is included with EPCOT admission.
- Festival
- Art festival
- Food festival
- Theme park
-
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Event in Lake Buena Vista, $$$
EPCOT dresses World Showcase for the season with holiday food kiosks and storytellers who share traditions from each country.
- Christmas
- Festival
- Theme park
- Ticketed
-
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
Event in Lake Buena Vista, $$$
Each spring EPCOT fills with themed gardens and topiaries shaped like Disney characters, along with festival food kiosks and a nightly concert series.
- Festival
- Food festival
- Spring
- Theme park
-
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
Event in Lake Buena Vista, $$$
EPCOT's biggest festival sets up dozens of small-plate marketplace booths around World Showcase, each serving dishes and drinks inspired by different cuisines.
- Food festival
- Festival
- Fall
- Theme park
Seasonal Events & Festivals in Apopka
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Club Lake Fall Festival
Event in Apopka, $$
A weekend fall festival on a 43-acre ranch venue in Apopka with hayrides, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch and farm-style games for kids. Admission covers the activity area, while the pumpkin patch, country store and parking are free.
- Pumpkin patch
- Fall
- Festival
- Ticketed
Seasonal Events & Festivals in Eatonville
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ZORA! Festival
Event in Eatonville, $
An annual celebration of author Zora Neale Hurston and historic Eatonville, one of the oldest incorporated Black towns in the U.S.
- Festival
- Art festival
- Ticketed
- Outdoor
Seasonal Events & Festivals in Maitland
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Florida Film Festival
Event in Maitland, $$
Enzian's 10-day festival screens more than 160 independent features and shorts each April and is Oscar-qualifying. Screenings are paired with parties and food and drink at the theater's Eden Bar.
- Film
- Festival
- Spring
- Ticketed
Choosing seasonal events & festivals in Orange County
Fall brings Halloween Horror Nights at Universal, Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom, along with pumpkin patches, corn mazes and the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. The holiday season adds light displays such as Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens and the Lake Eola tree show, plus Disney and Universal holiday events and Winter Park's free parade and tree lighting. Winter and spring are festival season, with the ZORA! Festival in Eatonville, the Central Florida Fair, the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, EPCOT's arts and flower festivals, the Florida Film Festival and Orlando Fringe. Summer is quieter, with July 4 fireworks and SeaWorld's Electric Ocean nights. Some events are free, some are included with park admission and some need their own ticket, so read each listing carefully. Dates change every year, so always confirm this year's schedule on the official event page before you make plans.
Local tip
Separately ticketed theme park parties like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party can sell out well in advance, and all of its 2026 dates are already sold out, so watch for ticket releases early if a party is on your list.
About these seasonal events & festivals
This page covers 40 seasonal events & festivals in Orange County. You'll find them in Park Avenue, International Drive, Loch Haven Park and Downtown, spread across Orlando, Lake Buena Vista, Winter Park and Maitland.
Where menus list prices, most of these sit in the $$$ 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 seasonal events are included with theme park admission?
Several are. The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, Festival of the Holidays, Flower & Garden Festival and Festival of the Arts are included with EPCOT admission. SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration and Seven Seas Food Festival are included with park admission, though festival food costs extra. Halloween Horror Nights, Howl-O-Scream and Disney's after-hours parties need their own tickets.
What are the best fall events in Orlando?
Halloween Horror Nights, Howl-O-Scream and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are the big theme park events. Locally, Come Out With Pride fills Lake Eola Park in October, Club Lake Fall Festival and Painted Oaks Academy run pumpkin patches, and Fiesta in the Park and the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival take place in November.
What free seasonal events are there in Orlando?
Come Out With Pride, Winter on the Avenue, the Winter Park Christmas Parade, Christmas in the Park, the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival and the Winter Park 4th of July Celebration are free. The Lake Eola Christmas tree runs free nightly light shows after the city's tree lighting in early December.
When is the Central Florida Fair?
The Central Florida Fair runs for about 11 days in late February or early March at the fairgrounds on West Colonial Drive. Check the fair's official site for this year's dates.
What events happen at Universal in the spring?
Universal Orlando Mardi Gras runs on select nights in late winter and spring, with a nighttime parade where riders toss beads, concerts on select nights and festival food around Universal Studios Florida.
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