It’s that time of year. We’ve started the 2011 holiday season going with Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
It’s now time to throw the switch and light up the official city of Orlando Christmas tree.
Join Mayor Buddy Dyer on December 2 for Holiday Lights Orlando. The event starts at 4pm with live performances of holiday music, as well as a puppet show.
At 6:15pm the actual tree lighting ceremony will start, followed by more live entertainment.
The evening will culminate with a showing of the movie The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (live action version with Jim Carrey) at 8:15.
The entire event is free to the public and should be great fun for the whole family.
One of my favorite things about the holidays in Central Florida (other than no snow!) is that it’s cool enough outside to enjoy outdoor activities but not too cold to be outside.
I also love that many of the local communities celebrate the holidays with outdoor events like parades and such. One of these is the upcoming Avalon Aglow in downtown Avalon Park area of town (East Orlando, 5 miles south of th 408 Expressway on Alafaya Trail).
This will be the tenth year of Avalon Aglow and it will feature amusement rides, live music, food and drink for purchase and more. Highlights of the event will be the Holiday Parade at 3pm with Santa Claus, and the winter fireworks extravaganza at 9pm.
Toys for Tots will also be at the event collecting new unwrapped toys valued at $10 or more for children. Everyone who donates a toy or $10 will be entered into a raffle to win prizes.
Avalon Aglow takes place December 3, 2011, in downtown Avalon Park, and is free for all to attend. This is a great way to spend the day with the family.
Light Up UCF, one of Orlando’s annual holiday traditions, starts up this Friday, November 11, 2011, and runs through January 1, 2012.
During the event, the area in and around the University of Central Florida arena is transformed into a winter wonderland with lights, holiday music and rides.
Several times throughout the event, they’re also showing free movies outdoors on a two-story screen. According to their schedule, here are the movies they have lined up (start times are at 7pm, with a repeat at 9:30pm):
Friday, November 11 – Home Alone
Friday, November 18 – Elf
Saturday, November 19 – It’s a Wonderful Life
Wednesday, November 23 – The Santa Claus
Saturday, November 26 – Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Tuesday, November 29 – Fred Claus
Friday, December 09 – A Christmas Story
Saturday, December 10 – Home Alone 2
Friday, December 16 – Polar Express
Tuesday, December 20 – Miracle on 34th Street
Friday, December 23 – A Christmas Carol
Friday, December 30 – Santa Claus 2
Santa will also be making appearances at the neighboring Barnes & Noble for photo ops on the weekends and every day from December 16-23. Price for the photo is $12.50.
It’s free to wander around but there is a charge for the rides. There is also a charge for using the ice skating rink ($12 nightly skating/$19.75 nightly unlimited skate and rides pass/$75 seasonal skate pass).
Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster. Light up UCF has several group packages, including discounts on skating for groups of 10 or more.
Hours are Monday through Thursday 5pm to 10pm, Fridays 5pm to midnight , Saturday 11am to midnight, and Sundays 11am to 10pm.
Who doesn’t like a nice cold margarita? Whether you like yours frozen or on the rocks, there’s a flavor for just about every taste bud.
Today, February 22, is National Margarita Day, celebrating the drink that was first invented in 1948.
According to legend, a socialite named Margarita Sames created the first margarita at her hacienda in Acapulco, Mexico. She mixed together tequila, Cointreau and fresh lime juice, which today remains the basic recipe for a margarita.
Over 60 years later, the margarita is one of the top 3 cocktails in the U.S., and, according to the Food Network, on average, over 185,000 margaritas are consumed every hour in this country.
Whew! That’s a lot of wasting away in Margaritaville.
Speaking of Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffet’s nationwide chain of restaurants is celebrating today with drink specials and giveaways. The location at Universal Orlando CityWalk is participating.
Of course, you can always celebrate at home. The basic recipe is 1 ounce tequila, 1 ounce Cointreau and fresh lime juice to fill the glass. Shake to mix and serve on the rocks in a glass rimmed with sea salt (dip the rim in lime juice or tequila to get it to stick).
Don’t feel like making from scratch? Just grab one of the pre-made margarita mixes at the grocery or liquor store, add tequila and ice and you’re all set.
So how do you plan to celebrate National Margarita Day?
Yesterday, we had a clip of Mariah Carey singing, “All I Want for Christmas is You,” from the ABC airing of the 2010 Disney Christmas Parade.
Today, we have a really cool video of the entire parade itself, turned into a mini-toy-like celebration, using a technology called Tilt-Shift. I don’t know how it’s done, but I think you’ll enjoy this clip (courtesy of the Disney Parks):
This blog is both for the natives and the visitors. We cover the theme parks and all the other fun stuff to do in Central Florida, but we also cover events, dining, shopping, nightlife and news of interest to those who live in the Orlando area.
I hope you enjoy this blog and that it gets you out, about and exploring all the things that make this city so much fun to play and stay in.
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