HOME HARD NEWS FEATURES BRIEFS VISUALS CONTACT

Orlando Weekly •

Orlando Ballet stages the haunting and evocative 'Giselle' at Steinmetz Hall

Even beyond the grave, love has no end. Orlando Ballet’s final performance of its current season brings a legendary romantic ballet to the Steinmetz stage.
The haunting tale of Giselle is for the lustful and the lonely — a tale of innocence, love and betrayal. Giselle, a young peasant girl with a passion for dancing, is courted by Count Albrecht, a disguised nobleman who hides his title and engagement to another woman. Giselle dies of a broken heart after discovering Albrecht’s deception, but her ghostly form rises to protect her beloved from evil spirits nonetheless.
Orlando Weekly •

Argentine duo CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso bring the noise and the funk to Orlando

Fresh off two viral Coachella performances, this Argentine duo is ready to rock their ever-growing Florida fanbase.
CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso are childhood friends from Buenos Aires having the time of their lives making a heady mix of experimental hip-hop, pop and electronic sounds. They’ve caught listeners’ attention with their authenticity and high-energy performances — for proof, pull up sets on NPR’s Tiny Desk and Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show.
Orlando Weekly •

Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ roars into Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center

The Serengeti comes to life inside the Walt Disney Theater when The Lion King roars into Orlando.
Follow Pride Rock’s Simba in this creative stage adaptation of the Disney classic. He’s gonna be a mighty king, so enemies beware! Beloved characters from the Disney film are brought to life with stunning costuming and puppetry against a vivid backdrop that transports audiences right into the Pride Lands.
Orlando Weekly •

SeaWorld Orlando's new Arctic-themed ride Expedition Odyssey opens in May

Guests can soon embark on an immersive Arctic adventure with SeaWorld Orlando’s newest attraction, Expedition Odyssey, officially set to open in May.
The flying theater takes riders to the Arctic terrain via real-world footage captured by the SeaWorld production team. The four-and-a-half-minute ride displays onshore and underwater ecosystems of the Arctic region that are normally inaccessible to humans.
The family-friendly ride opens May 1. It debuts at the park along with Uki, an orphaned Pacific walrus calf rescued in Alaska last fall who is set to join the walrus herd in the Expedition Odyssey Arctic habitat.
Orlando Weekly •

Arts and theater: Where to find galleries, museums, and more in Orlando's culture scene

Despite recent challenges, Central Florida still flourishes as a booming hub for the arts. Look beyond the theme parks for entertainment and you'll find more than a few innovative, and often unconventional, stage productions and art shows. From touring Broadway productions and art exhibits to the creativity of our locals across medium and genre, consider seeing some of the productions these local companies and stages have to offer, as well as the visual delights on gallery walls.
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?
Load More