The latest Orlando happenings updated weekly using information provided by partners and destination press releases. Stay up-to-date on Orlando's most recent announcements and openings from accommodations and attractions to restaurants and more.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Orlando has been selected as a Good Housekeeping 2023 Family Travel Award Winner.
Orlando is 2022's 5th best city for Christmas, according to a recent study from the personal finance outlet WalletHub.com.
Orlando ranked as the top destination for Valentine’s Day travel for 2023, according to Allianz Partners USA’s destination travel report.
ATTRACTIONS
Orlando Fringe will celebrate the grand opening of their year-round performing arts space, Fringe ArtSpace, with a fun-filled open house and street party that will be free and open to the community, featuring a ribbon cutting with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a live DJ, strolling entertainment, drinks and two special preview performances of the Fringe Winter Mini-Fest.
Roboland, a new exhibit and interactive robot attraction, will open on International Drive on Jan. 20. From robotic shows to a virtual reality experience, the attraction will combine robotics with cutting-edge technology to create a family-friendly immersive experience.
City Works Eatery & Pour House will offer two new Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic beers, Athletic Brewing Upside Dawn and Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA, along with limited-time mocktail, Cucumber Cure.
TRON Lightcycle / Run, scheduled to open at Magic Kingdom Park on April 4, will be one of the fastest coasters at any Disney theme park in the world. Based on the Disney sci-fi film TRON: Legacy, guests will speed across a world with no horizons in a high-stakes race in their very own Lightcycle.
Walt Disney World Resort announced updates for its nighttime spectaculars including, the return of “Happily Ever After” at Magic Kingdom Park, featuring all-new projections down Main Street, U.S.A. and “EPCOT Forever,” a limited-time spectacle of lasers, lighting, special effects and fireworks at EPCOT, on April 3.
Dezerland Action Park will host Elite Tuner, as they kick off a year of car shows across the country, with their first indoor car show of the year on Jan. 21. The event will showcase hundreds of unique vehicles that will be judged for prizes and awards, and feature live DJs, giveaways and more.
DINING & NIGHTLIFE
Roundup Rodeo BBQ, the world’s first “Toy Story” table service restaurant, will open spring 2023 at Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The restaurant features barbecue-inspired comfort foods served family style and miniature sweet surprises.
Sampaguita Ice Cream & Desserts, an all-new Filipino-inspired ice cream shop from the owners of Greenery Creamery, has soft-opened in the Mills 50 district. The shop currently features ice cream, soft cream, halo halo, shakes and sundaes, along with vegan options, and plans to offer traditional Filipino baked goods in the future.
Haan Coffee, a Korean-style beanery, has soft-opened in the Mills 50 district, offering beverages like matcha, tea, coffee and “croffles” (croissant-waffles).
Dolly Llama, a L.A.-based waffle and artisanal ice cream shop, will open in Winter Garden on Jan.7 featuring ice cream and bubble waffles.
ICEBAR Orlando will present its 2023 Love Spell Valentine’s Day Celebration February 10-14, featuring specialty cocktails, food offerings and music.
Sugar Factory Orlando will offer two “sweet” experiences in the month of February including, the “Crazy For You Insane Milkshake”, made with a blend of strawberry ice cream and New York cheesecake, topped with whipped cream, cherry gummy hearts, M&M's, chocolate hearts and gumdrops, available Feb. 1-28, and a free tequila shot with the purchase of any one of the restaurant’s signature smoking, oversized margarita goblets on Feb. 22 in honor of National Margarita Day.
With its original location in East End Market, Farm & Haus soft-opened its second location in Park Avenue. The café offers seasonal breakfast and brunch menu options made with locally sourced ingredients.
Enzian Theater will host a Valentine’s Day dinner special with a viewing of the film “Moonstruck” on Feb. 14. The experience will include a dinner buffet, live music, various drinks and desserts, and a complimentary glass of champagne.
American Social Orlando will host a Super Bowl watch party on Feb. 13 with various drink specials featuring buckets of Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light and Buckets of High Noon or Truly.
EVENTS & FESTIVALS
The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens will present a new exhibit, “All that Glitters: The Society of Gilders,” through April 16. In partnership with The Society of Gilders, this exhibition aims to preserve traditional gilding skills and techniques and to promote the highest standards in the practice of gilding.
The 29th Annual Taste of Oviedo, sponsored by Oviedo Medical Center, will be held March 25. The event will feature food and beverages from local eateries, the Oviedo Roots farmer’s market, a free kids activity area, and other family-friendly performances and activities.
XFL announced its 2023 schedule in partnership with ESPN, the exclusive broadcast partner of the XFL, with the Orlando Guardians opening their home schedule on Feb. 26 by hosting the San Antonio Brahmas at Camping World Stadium.
The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts will present the annual ZORA! Festival season with key offerings that include the Outdoor Festival of the Arts (Jan. 27 – 29, 2023), HATitude Cultural Flair (Oct. 15, 2023) and more. The festival is multi-disciplinary, intergenerational series of events that include public talks, conferences, movie screenings and arts education programming.
The annual Paws In The Park Pet Festival, hosted by Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, will return to Lake Eola Park on Feb. 11. The event will feature a variety of festivities and pet-friendly activities including a pet costume contest, dock diving and doggy sports, food trucks and a special award ceremony.
The Orlando Repertory Theatre will present a family-friendly performance of “Pip Squeak: An Anti-Bullying Magic Show” Jan. 27-29, with both morning and afternoon showtimes that use comedy, magic tricks, juggling and many other theatric elements to teach children about how to navigate bullying in schools.
Opera Orlando’s “On The Town” series returns with an announcement of its Bella Notte at Bella Collina event on March 31 featuring an immersive production of Rossini's, The Marriage Project and Puccini’s, Gianni Schicchi. Appetizers, desserts and wine are included for guests and will be served throughout the night.
Country Nights Live, a new and interactive family dinner experience, presented by the creators of Pirates Dinner Adventure, Orlando Dinner Entertainment, will offer an exclusive preview to the new shows Feb. 2-25. The all-new experience will feature live music, dancing and country cooking.
Hyatt Regency Orlando will host the BIG Salsa Festival, showcasing Orlando’s best dancers and world-renowned talent, from Feb. 24-27. The two-day event will feature dance classes, performances and Latin dance parties into the early morning hours.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum will present its free Wednesday Lecture Series on select Wednesdays through April 19 in the Jeannette G. and Hugh F. McKean Pavilion behind the Museum. The four-part series will focus on historic preservation and shed light on the Museum’s renowned collection.
Museum of Illusions Orlando will host Life in Neon, a nighttime event where guests can explore the museum’s mind-bending exhibits and party under neon lights, on Feb. 17. The night will offer colorful fun with body paint, live EDM DJs and a cash bar provided by ICON Park. Admission is $29.99 per ticket for guests 21 and older.
TRANSPORTATION
Lynx Air, Canada’s low-cost carrier, launched its inaugural U.S. Flight from Toronto (YYZ) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Jan. 27.
