Things to do / Travel Guide
There are many special events in Central Florida throughout the year. Most of the following events are free to attend.
January
The Greek community celebrates Greek Epiphany Day in early January in Tarpon Springs, with special music, ceremonies, and feasts.
Tampa celebrates its Gasparilla Pirate Festival with a day-long city-wide party in late January/early February, featuring a mock pirate invasion, boat parades, and lots of pirates on the streets.
February
The Florida Citrus Festival is held in February in Winter Haven, featuring a county fair in honor of the citrus fruit harvest. But the big fair of the year is held in Tampa, also in February, at the Florida State Fair. This large fair offers carnival rides and games, lots of fun, food, live performances, and alligator wrestling.
March
St. Petersburg celebrates the Festival of the States over a three-week period in March with parades, music, dances, and even fireworks. This festival is named after its long-running parade, featuring floats and bands from the various U.S. states.
Greater Orlando celebrates the Winter Park Art Festival in Winter Park each March, showcasing area artists and fine craftspeople.
April
During the Easter/spring break period, the Disney World theme parks are known for spicing up their offerings with additional holiday-themed features, like parades and egg hunts.
July
Cowboys showcase their stuff at the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee. This is the oldest, and supposedly the wildest, rodeo in the entire state of Florida.
August
The Carrollwood Twilight Arts and Crafts Festival is a large art show held in Tampa over an August weekend. Don't miss this festival if you're a serious arts and crafts lover.
October
A special Halloween parade called Guavaween is held in Tampa each October, parodying the history of Tampa, including the Guava growing attempt made in the city's early years.
November
You can see real-live knights jousting at the Sarasota Medieval Fair, held at Hunsaders Farm in Bradenton. This multi-weekend event celebrates the Middle Ages with period costumes, re-enactments, crafts, and food.
A national showcase of artists is held at the Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney in Disney World each November. This is a weekend-long event.
December
The period between Christmas and New Year's Eve is one of the hottest times to visit Orlando's theme parks. Decked out in traditional holiday colors, Disney World and Universal Studios get into the holiday spirit with parades and other special attractions and offers. Even Sea World and Wet N' Wild rivet up their attractions a notch, to the delight of holiday visitors.
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