CitySurfing Orlando

On select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from now through June 3, the Orlando Science Center is taking Astronomy Day and stretching it into a month-long celebration during May 2012.

Throughout the building, demonstrations that examine gravity, what comets are made of and how space suits work will be taking place. It’s here you’ll find the Science On A Sphere exhibit, which connects guests of all ages to earth and space science through a dramatic visual presentation. Using a six-foot suspended sphere and state-of-the-art projection technology, explore our planet’s dynamic landscape and weather, tour the solar system and understand the complex relationship between our planet and its sister worlds. And be among the first to experience its newest program, Kinesthetic Astronomy, to learn about the four seasons and the rotation of the earth.

The aluminum-domed Crosby Observatory atop the Orlando Science Center will be open for SunWatch events during these select weekends. Peer through the powerful, 10-inch lens of one of the largest publicly-accessible refractor telescopes in Florida and safely gaze upon the closest star to our home planet.

Read the rest of this entry »

When I was growing up in Wisconsin, there was an annual festival that included hot air balloons blanketing the sky over the course of a weekend. Albequerque, New Mexico, also has their own balloon fest, as do several other cities.

Well, this year we’ll be able to add Kissimmee to that list as they are starting an event they are calling the Festival of Festivals.

They have picked the weekend of Septeber 21-23, 2012, to hold the festival. This three-day event will be highlighted by foot races, hot air balloons, music, arts, food and more. The event will take place at Formosa Gardens, which is located west of I-4, between Walt Disney World and the intersection of U.S. 192 and U.S. 27.

The event will kick off that Friday with evening 5k and 10k runs.

Saturday, in the early a.m., the hot air balloons will take to the sky, and there will be spots available to ride in one, with advance purchase. There will also be tethered and untethered rides available for purchase all weekend.

On the main festival grounds, an array of activities will be held each day, including concerts, contests, games and arts and crafts vendors. There will also be food and drink available for purchase.

The event is being sponsored by a number of Osceola County-based businesses and organizations, including the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce, Formosa Gardens Village and Orlando Balloon Rides.

For more information about the Festival of Festivals, visit kissimmeefestival.com.

If you like a good slice of pie, you’ll want to be in Celebration this weekend for the annural Great American Pie Festival.

It’s such a popular event that over 30,000 people are expected to showup. Oh, sure you can see the highlights later in some Food Network special, but why watch it on TV when you can bbe there in person, enjoying all this pie first hand.

This year will be the 11th edition of the fest and it will take place April 28 and 29 in downtown Celebration.

There will be a pie eating and baking contests, dmonstrations, vendor exhibits, and more, but let’s be honest. You go to a festival like this for the actual eating, which here includes a Never Ending Pie Buffet.

Admission to the buffet is $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. Hours are 11am to 7pm on Saturday and noon to 5pm on Sunday.

For more information, visit piecouncil.org.

Say the word chocolate and most everybody with a taste bud will suddenly pay attention.

And now that I have yours, I’d like to inform you that this year’s installment of the popular Festival of Chocolate event will take place the weekend of April 27 through 29, 2012.

Last year it was held at the Orlando Science Center, but this year it’s being held across town at the UCF Arena. This is good, as hopefully it’ll invite more vendors to participate.

In addition to tasty chocolate creations to purchase, there will bedemonstrations by world renowned pastry chefs, a Cocoa Coutoure Fashion Show, chocolate and wine pairings, hands-on classes, a one-of-a-kind chocolate museum, Kids-4-Chocolate workshop, crazy chocolate contests for adults and children, the chocolate game show stage, and live professional competitions.

Daily ticket prices are $15 for adults and $9 for kids. The event runs 4-10pm on Friday; 10am-6pm on Saturday; and 10am-5pm on Sunday.

For tickets, class registration and schedule of events, visit festivalofchocolate.com.

Wondering what to do with your family that won’t cost a lot of money this upcoming weekend?

Florida Mall has just the thing, with the next installment of their Movie Under the Stars program.

It takes place this Friday, April 20, as soon as it gets dark, over by the H&M. Just drive around until you see the big 35 foot jumbotron in the parking lot.

This month’s movie is We Bought a Zoo, starring Matt Damon. In it he plays a father who moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.

So bring some chairs to sit on and enjoy a free night out with your family courtesy of the Florida Mall.