HOME HARD NEWS FEATURES BRIEFS VISUALS CONTACT

Orlando Weekly •

True crime fans, your leaders Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat of the ‘Crime Junkie’ Podcast come to Orlando this week

This one’s for all the true-crime fanatics. Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, co-hosts of the hit true crime podcast “Crime Junkie,” stop in Orlando as part of their 18-city U.S. tour.
Flowers and Prawat are loved by fans for their deep dives, covering everything from missing persons cases to mysterious deaths and unsolved murders. The podcast shot to fame in 2018 when Rolling Stone named it as one of the best crime podcasts, but “Crime Junkie” had garnered a massive and loyal fanbase already — and they’ve since become the second most-listened-to podcast in 2022, behind Joe Rogan (ugh).
Orlando Weekly •

Central Florida Earth Day returns to the great outdoors at Lake Eola this weekend

Show some love to Mother Nature at this outdoor Earth Day event. Central Florida Earth Day is a long-lived, locally grown annual gathering to encourage sustainable living and nature-friendly community involvement.
Various local leaders will be in attendance to talk about environmental advocacy and climate change. There will be live entertainment from folk and spiritual musicians, dance performances, yoga and tai chi. The day is dog-friendly, family-friendly, smoke-free and vegan-forward.
Orlando Weekly •

Longtime Ivanhoe Village eatery White Wolf Cafe sold to Shaker’s American Cafe owner

White Wolf Cafe's co-owner, Michael Hennessey, has announced the Ivanhoe Village restaurant has been sold.
The staple eatery on the Ivanhoe Village Main Street served the community for nearly 34 years, and is now moving on, reports Bungalower.
“After 12,315 days of good times, hard work, laughter, tears, and unforgettable memories, the time has come for us to pass the torch," Hennessey wrote in a joint statement with Anne Marie Hennessey, according to Bungalower. "Our little café that we have poured our hearts into will begin a new chapter under new ownership."
Orlando Weekly •

Poppy brings her 'They're All Around Us' tour to Orlando for command performance this weekend

Poppy’s “They’re All Around Us” tour commemorates her latest, harder-edged album Negative Spaces, an exposé of personal torment and a deep dive into dark thoughts.
Originally famed for her eerie YouTube videos (“I’m Poppy” ring any bells?), Poppy has carved out her own singular space in alternative music. She’s collaborated with big and loud names like Bad Omens and Knocked Loose, and it surely shows in her new work.
For this tour, the Grammy-winning artist rolls out a setlist filled with tracks from the new album and fan faves. Poppy’s music is thrilling, loud and emotional, and the heavier edge of her new songs should make for even bigger spectacle
Orlando Weekly •

Wu-Tang Clan's Masta Killa plays a solo show in Orlando this week

Orlando beware! Killa Bees swarm the area this week as Brooklyn-born rapper Masta Killa takes the stage at the Abbey.
Masta Killa is one of the founding members of famed old-school hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, alongside rap luminaries like Method Man, RZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard (RIP). Known affectionately as the Wu-Tang’s ninth member, he has been ever-present on the group’s albums and multitude of solo projects since the Clan’s start
Orlando Weekly •

The Greatest American Cleanup needs you to help beautify the parks of Winter Park this weekend

April commemorates all things beautiful about the planet during Earth Month, and the city of Winter Park’s Natural Resources and Sustainability Department partners with Keep Winter Park Beautiful and Sustainable to put on the people-powered Great American Cleanup Saturday.
Locals may volunteer at one of five cleanup locations: Howell Branch Preserve, Ward Park, the Park Avenue area, Lake Baldwin Park’s off-leash area or Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. GAC is a nationwide effort that aims to tidy up 25,000 local communities between now and July.
The goal is to de-litter America’s public spaces and parks in time for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration. (Hopefully the federal ones will still be open by then.)
Orlando Weekly •

Valencia College Theater takes on the suddenly timely again musical 'Green Day’s American Idiot' this week

Valencia College’s theater department is calling out idiot America with American Idiot, the rock musical based on the 2004 concept album by Green Day, in a limited local run.
Raucous and riotous, Green Day’s American Idiot adapts Green Day’s album of the same name to Quadrophenia-esque results. The musical, which originally premiered in April 2010, is the winner of two Tony Awards and a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album.
Orlando Weekly •

Girls’ Night Out: Spring Daze in downtown Sanford promises enchanting crafts, entertainment and cocktails

Magpies Modern General Store and Jeanine Taylor Folk Art team up to host a Girls’ Night Out event in the heart of downtown Sanford.
The Girls’ Night Out: Spring Daze happening happens at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 28, the event’s third installment. This Night is a fairy-themed one, with attendees encouraged to dress in a suitably enchanting fashion.
Throughout the evening, both Jeanine Taylor Folk Art and Magpies on First Street will feature entertainment like guitarist Clara McLain, a fairy hair booth, local spirits and a craft room with enough supplies for folks to create their model fairy-house.
Orlando Weekly •

Pints N’ Paws livens up downtown Sanford with refreshing suds and intoxicatingly cute pups

Pints N’ Paws, the pet-friendly craft beer festival in Sanford, is back for a 12th year, slinging suds and lending a helping paw to pups at local animal shelters and rescues.
Pints N’ Paws assembles local craft breweries and artisans for a great big paw-ty in downtown Sanford (a place never averse to a good bash). This year, organizers have lined up over 100 breweries, vendors, food trucks and live entertainment, with proceeds going to care for animals in need and finding them their furever homes.
There will be activities and fun for all attendees, both canine and human, including a Poster Dog Contest, where folks can enter their pups to be considered as the face of next year’s event poster.
Orlando Weekly •

Get your art on this weekend at Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

Over 200 fine artists and emerging crafters will have their works showcased in the annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival this weekend. This outdoor, juried arts festival has been running smoothly for more than 60 years after debuting in March 1960.
The gathering joins artists showing off everything from printmaking and photography to sculpture and jewelry-making with art lovers from all over the country. For three days, browse the works of featured artists and enjoy live music in a bucolic outdoor setting in the heart of Winter Park.
Orlando Weekly •

Lauren Francis-Sharma brings her book tour to Orlando Public Library

Washington, D.C.-based writer Lauren Francis-Sharma marks the release of her latest novel, Casualties of Truth, with a book tour stopping right here in Orlando.
Francis-Sharma previously authored Book of the Little Axe, nominated for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and the critical fave ’Til the Well Runs Dry. The child of Trinidadian immigrants, Francis-Sharma’s past works have centered on the Caribbean, but her latest novel turns instead to the legacy of apartheid in South Africa and delves into the human costs of state-sanctioned racial injustice.
Orlando Weekly •

Orlando Fringe Festival announces 2025 dates and theme

Orlando’s most coveted display of local arts and culture is gearing up for its 34th annual festival, and we now have dates and a new theme to look forward to.
Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival returns to Loch Haven Park from May 13 to May 26, sporting its 2025 theme: “Let Your Fringe Flag Fly!”
“Let Your Fringe Flag Fly!” is more than just a theme, says artistic director Tempestt Halstead — it’s a declaration.
Orlando Weekly •

A rescheduled Lionheart Music Fest roars into Central Florida Fairgrounds this weekend

Lionheart Music Festival roars into town this weekend with a lineup featuring Funtcase, BadVoid, Figure, Riot and more — all spread over three stages at Orlando Amphitheater.
The fest was rescheduled after its original October date was pushed back thanks to the local impact of Hurricane Helene. Founded by domestic violence survivors, Lionheart aims to create a positive space for survivors and supporters while breaking the taboo around discussing domestic abuse.
Orlando Weekly •

Trachtenfest offers up all the traditional German fare, bier and dancing in Casselberry Saturday

Don’t say “nein” to a schnitzel or traditional German bier this weekend.
The German American Society of Central Florida rallies on Saturday for its annual festival celebrating German culture with German food, beer, live music and dance. So let loose and strut your lederhosen — what’s the wurst that can happen?
This year’s Trachtenfest features live performances from Sonnenschein Express, an Alpine/Oktoberfest show band known for rocking the German pavilion at Disney World’s EPCOT.
Orlando Weekly •

Orlando Magic to induct Dwight Howard into Hall of Fame

Pro basketball star Dwight Howard will soon have permanent residence in the Orlando Magic’s Hall of Fame as its 13th inductee.
The NBA champion and former Orlando Magic center (and recent Dancing With the Stars competitor) will join the franchise’s hall of fame during an induction ceremony held 3:45 p.m. Monday, March 24, at the Kia Center. He will also be honored that night at the Magic's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Orlando Weekly •

Swan stops traffic, waddles across busy Orlando highway

If you honked your car horn on an Orlando highway Friday, you might have gotten an especially wild honk back.
The Orlando Police Department received multiple calls Friday morning regarding an unexpected pedestrian waddling along the Florida 408 East-West Expressway near Bumby Avenue and obstructing traffic: a swan.
Around 7:45 a.m., Orlando police were sent on a wild goose — or, swan — chase to secure the fowl out of harm’s way. Officers captured the bird after some chasing and closures of all eastbound lanes.
Orlando Weekly •

Crossover classical pianist Lang Lang comes to Orlando's Steinmetz Hall this week

World-renowned classical pianist Lang Lang graces the stage of Steinmetz Hall as part of the Great Orchestra Series this week.
Besides undeniable chops, the Chinese pianist brings a charismatic stage presence and ability to connect with his audience to every concert. His performances are a bridge between classical music and more popular fare; one night’s program takes in everything from Beethoven and Tchaikovsky to Disney nuggets like “A Whole New World” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
Along similar lines, what other performers can claim to have jammed with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra ... and Metallica and Ed Sheeran?
Orlando Weekly •

'Welcome to Matteson!' premieres at Orlando Shakes for a monthlong run

What’s a dinner party without a little drama? Orlando Shakes features their production of Welcome to Matteson! throughout March. This dark comedy by American playwright and screenwriter Inda Craig-Galván debuted as part of Orlando Shakes’ PlayFest back in 2020 and now returns in full vivid life.
Craig-Galván’s works often portray conflicts and politics within Black communities, but with an added layer of magical realism. In Welcome, married couple Patricia and Gerald are content and cozy in suburban Matteson, Illinois. The two host a getting-to-know-you dinner party for their new neighbors, Regina and Corey, who relocated to the suburbs after the Chicago Housing Authority demolished its roughest housing project, Cabrini-Green.
Orlando Weekly •

The Central Florida Fair is here in Orlando for a 113th year

The Central Florida Fair kicks up its heels in Orlando for a 113th year (!) and during this 11-day run, fairgoers can avail themselves of all the classic midway fixtures.
Gorge on all kinds of fried food, from the traditional to the more experimental (who came up with fried cheesecake on a stick?), wash it all down with a lemon shake-up, and rock your guts around on the twists and turns of the thrill rides.
This year's fair also features live music on select nights, a petting zoo, fiery performances from Circus Inferno, high-energy entertainment from the Zerbini Family Circus and the return of 1990s video store reenactment "The Blockbuster Experience." Throughout, the fair will hold themed nights with special deals, including Pride Night and Educator Night.
Orlando Weekly •

Winter Park Arts Weekend offers up performing and visual art in Central Park and beyond

Winter Park goes artsy with this eclectic multi-day performing arts bounty.
Highlights include a Friday reprise of the Bach Festival’s Big Band Spirituals jazz-gospel mashup, this time outdoors at bucolic Central Park. Saturday the action returns to Central Park with Art in the Park, featuring art and activities, live music and other performances on the green at Central Park.
And spend Sunday winding down at various Winter Park art destinations to see their latest exhibitions — many of which are offering free or discounted admission — including Rollins Museum of Art, the Polasek Museum and the Tiffany-centric Morse Museum.
Orlando Weekly •

Orlando Ballet brings new production of ‘Peter Pan’ to Steinmetz Hall

Peter Pan and his gang of Lost Boys take to the stage (and the skies) for the weekend, courtesy of the Orlando Ballet. All you need to bring is some faith, trust and pixie dust.
The company last presented this production during their 2021 season; this time around the choreography is brand-new, from artistic director Jorden Morris.
A family-friendly show will be offered on Saturday, featuring a children’s dance class, photo opportunities and themed face-painting.
Orlando Weekly •

Wine and spirits market The Good Pour hosts grand opening in College Park this weekend

Philanthropy-fueled wine and spirits store The Good Pour hosts its College Park grand opening this weekend.
The new outpost, which comes from co-owners Ray and Giuliana Horal and is located at 2201 Edgewater Drive, is the company’s first spot in Orange County and its largest yet. Others are located in Longwood and Gainesville.
The grand opening event takes place Feb. 22 and 23 and will offer free beer, wine and spirit tastings, engraving services and opportunities to create custom gifts, and plenty of bottles available in the market. There will also be live music and entertainment.
The 9,000-square-foot space features more than 5,000 varieties of wines, spirits, beer, seltzers, non-alcoholic beverages and a selection of gifts and goodies.
Orlando Weekly •

Mills 50 is the place to be this weekend for the Lunar New Year Dragon parade and festival

Ring in the Year of the Snake at Central Florida’s Dragon Parade and Lunar New Year Festival.
The festival parade, led by city and county officials and — much more importantly — a dragon, will feature representatives from numerous Asian organizations across Central Florida and proceed joyously down Thornton Avenue in Mills 50.
Following the excitement of the Dragon Parade, take in the sights, tastes and smells of this new festival market hosted by Orlando’s Small Food Group. Check out over 30 local vendors including Kai Kai BBQ, UniGirl, Dean’s Oyster Bar and Hapa Halo Filipino/Hawaiian Street Food, all selling Asian snacks, treats, drinks and retail goods.
Load More