Get tips for having a fantastic fall in Orlando with new theme park experiences, food festivals, holiday events, cultural celebrations and more.


Updated September 23, 2021

Autumn has officially arrived, marking one of the best times of year to visit Orlando. The season’s cooler temperatures and smaller crowds provide an unbeatable opportunity to get out and enjoy the diverse range of experiences spotlighted here — including our theme park’s latest additions!

DiscoverFall in Orlando

Before you arrive, stock up on discounted theme park and attraction tickets from Visit Orlando powered by BestofOrlando.com. What a way to start your autumn adventures!

Try Something New at a Theme Park

It’s been an incredible year at Orlando’s theme parks, which all have new experiences for you this fall.

DiscoverNew Reasons to Visit Orlando

A family walking and sharing popcorn in a theme park.
Orlando’s Theme Parks Always Have New Adventures in Store

Walt Disney World® Resort

All of Walt Disney World Resort’s theme parks will be hosting “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” 50th anniversary gala starting Oct. 1, 2021. Depending on how long it’s been since your last visit, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will be new to you at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, with Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure debuting at EPCOT® on Oct. 1.

Save on discount tickets: Walt Disney World Resort

SeaWorld® Orlando

Florida’s first-ever dueling waterslide, Riptide Race is now open at Aquatica® Orlando! Plus, the new Flamingo Mingle experience is available at Discovery Cove®, with Ice Breaker — Florida’s first launch coaster — coming to SeaWorld® Orlando in February 2022.

Save on discount tickets: SeaWorld Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort

Based on the blockbuster movie franchise, Jurassic World VelociCoaster has arrived at Universal Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort! And if it’s been more than a year since your last visit, The Bourne Stuntacular at Universal Studios Florida will also be new to you.

Save on discount tickets: Universal Orlando Resort

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

Live the pirate’s life at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort with the all-new Brickbeard’s Watersport Stunt Show. Kids will also love the immersive new Planet LEGOLAND play area.

Save on discount tickets: LEGOLAND Florida Resort

Feast at a Foodie Festival

closeup of fish, risotto and asparagus on a white dinner plate
Enjoy Great Brews and Food at SeaWorld® Orlando’s Craft Beer Festival

Come hungry when you visit Orlando this autumn, because we’re serving up a cornucopia of fall food festivals! In addition to Walt Disney World Resort’s EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival (through Nov. 20, 2021), you can look forward to SeaWorld Orlando’s Craft Beer Festival (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31, 2021), the Fall Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic (Oct. 29-30, 2021), and downtown Orlando’s FusionFest (Nov. 27-28, 2021), the latter of which celebrates a wealth of global heritages with food, music, fashion, dance, short films and more.

DiscoverOrlando's Fall Foodie Festivals

You can also dig into special fall menus at top restaurants throughout the destination.

Celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas

Pumpkins with Visit Orlando logo, Happy Halloween, Boo and Trick or Treat carved on them
Orlando: Halloween Vacation Capital

No destination does Halloween and Christmas better than Orlando — Halloween Vacation Capital — and we have multiple opportunities to celebrate both this fall.

For Halloween, options include specially ticketed events like Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando’s first-ever Howl-O-Scream, both of which are intended for mature audiences, as well as the all-ages Disney After Hours Boo Bash at Walt Disney World Resort. You can also look forward to the SeaWorld Spooktacular® and Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida, both of which are all-ages daytime haunts and included with park admission. All of these events are available on select days and nights through Oct. 31, 2021, and they’re complemented by many other Halloween happenings throughout the destination.

DiscoverHalloween in Orlando

In early November, our theme parks, attractions, hotels and other venues will start rolling out their Christmas holiday events, including the Disney Very Merriest After Hours at Walt Disney World Resort (select nights, Nov. 8 – Dec. 21, 2021), Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration, and Holidays at LEGOLAND (select dates, Nov. 26 – Dec. 31, 2021). Also in November, you can enjoy gourmet Thanksgiving feasts at our acclaimed restaurants. Stay tuned to Visit Orlando’s blog for details!

Enjoy Outdoor Adventures

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes family on canoes
Kayaking at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

With fall’s cooler temperatures, there’s no excuse for not taking advantage of Orlando’s great outdoors — especially given how many options we have in that regard. We offer kayaking, off-roading, zip-lining, airboat and boat tours, natural springs, nature and hiking trails, amenity-loaded public parks, birding, wakeboarding, and much more. Better yet, these experiences can all be found within an hour of our theme parks, and often closer!

DiscoverOrlando Ecotourism

Experience Performing Arts

Creative City Project IMMERSE performances and art installations guest interactions
IMMERSE in Downtown Orlando, courtesy Cody Board

Fall is arts season in Orlando, making it a great time to take in live theater, concerts, ballet and more at our performance halls, with downtown’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts leading the way. Other venues with robust fall offerings include Orlando Shakespeare Theater (aka Orlando Shakes) and Orlando Family Stage (formerly Orlando Repertory Theatre) in Loch Haven Cultural Park near downtown, The Winter Park Playhouse, and the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden.

Discover: Orlando Arts & Entertainment

You can also catch live music at places such as Hard Rock Live® at Universal CityWalk, House of Blues at Disney Springs, Ole Red and Tin Roof at ICON Park®, and the Kia Center in downtown Orlando, among others. For the best in electronic dance music, check out Electric Daisy Carnival, aka EDC (Nov. 12 – 14, 2021).

Don’t forget our fall cultural events, either, starting with IMMERSE (Oct. 15 – 17, 2021) — a three-day multimedia spectacular in the heart of downtown Orlando — or the aforementioned FusionFest. Other cultural galas include the Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival and Asian Cultural Expo (Oct. 16, 2021) and Festival Calle Orange (Oct. 24, 2021).

The Orlando area also hosts some high-profile outdoor art shows during the fall, including the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival (Oct. 9 – 10, 2021).

Get Your Holiday Shopping Done

african american woman holding shopping bags
Explore a True Shopper’s Paradise in Orlando

As the temperatures drop, shopping and fashion start heating up at retail meccas throughout the destination — making fall ideal for holiday shopping! What’s more, you can save big by hitting up our famous discount malls, which include Orlando International Premium Outlets®, Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets® and Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores.

DiscoverOrlando Insider Shopping Tips

You can also shop high-end luxury at The Mall at Millenia, exclusive retailers and family fun at The Florida Mall®, and one-of-a-kind finds at stores in Winter Park and other distinctive neighborhoods. These and other shopping hotspots, including Disney Springs, Universal CityWalk, Pointe Orlando and ICON Park, are all within a 15-mile radius of our theme parks.

Dive Into Warm Water

Hilton Orlando lazy river
Lazy River at Hilton Orlando

For most of the country, fall brings chilly temps that are better for sweaters than swimsuits — but in Orlando, you can enjoy relaxing warm water for most of the season! Even when temperatures drop, heated water helps keep our resort pools and water parks open for business.

DiscoverOrlando Water Parks

Orlando’s top water parks include Universal Volcano BayDisney’s Blizzard Beach® and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon®, Aquatica® Orlando, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s onsite water park. (However, please note that water parks are subject to seasonal closings.) You’ll also find water parks at numerous Orlando resorts, including The Grove Resort Orlando, Margaritaville Resort OrlandoRenaissance Orlando at SeaWorld, and Reunion Resort.

If your place of lodging doesn’t have a water park, chances are it has a pool, many of which have enticing extras like lazy rivers, waterslides, gorgeous scenery, kid-friendly fun, and other features, including heated water.

DiscoverCool Pools in Orlando

Tour a Brewery

Park Pizza & Brewing Company beer
Park Pizza & Brewing Co. in Orlando’s Lake Nona Neighborhood

Orlando visitors and locals love beer so much that, over the past decade, dozens of acclaimed microbreweries have popped up to slake our thirst. As a result, you can build a day trip — or even an entire vacation — around bespoke breweries in Orlando this fall.

DiscoverOrlando Breweries

Want to experience multiple breweries without worrying about driving? Look into Hop On! Central Florida Brew Tours, which partners with the Central Florida Ale Trail for four-hour excursions to multiple Orlando-area breweries. Bottoms up!

DiscoverHop On! Brewery Tours

Hit the Links

Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Resort Orlando family on putting course
Tranquilo Golf Course at Four Seasons Resort Orlando

Ready to master your golf game? Come to Orlando this autumn and challenge yourself on our gorgeous greens, many of which were designed by iconic players and renowned course architects. Some of the best include Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & LodgeShingle Creek Golf ClubWalt Disney World GolfReunion Resort & Golf ClubGrand Cypress Golf Club, and Orange Lake Resort, to name a few.

DiscoverOrlando Golf


Stay Connected to Orlando
You never know what we’ll dream up next. Connect with Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planning Services for free, personalized assistance, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Threads and YouTube for valuable offers, exclusive tips, fresh attractions and the latest events. You can also subscribe to our eNewsletter for more information from Orlando: Theme Park Capital of the World.

Have feedback about this blog? Let us know.