US National Holidays & other notable dates
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| 12th |
Easter Sunday. Expect some shopping malls etc. to be closed. |
| 22nd |
April 22 is officially Earth Day and you will find a number of Earth Day events around Florida from the previous weekend to the next weekend including Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and Naples.
In Miami there is a Goin' Green Earth Day on April 25 with a green car parade and both Bok Tower and Silver Springs are holding special events (see below).
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Theme Park Events
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| January 12th to April 19th |
Busch Gardens Africa are hosting their Let's Dance Featuring Burn The Floor contemporary ballroom dancing show in the Desert Grill (www.buschgardens.com). |
| March 18th to May 31st |
The 16th Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival runs for 75 days and features over 30 million blooms, gardens and some 70 topiaries. This year, the topiaries feature Cinderella and Prince Charming, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip, and Belle and Beast from "Beauty and the Beast".
You can meet top horticulturists at the new Garden Odyssey Festival Center or enjoy evening Flower Power Concerts in the American Gardens Theatre at 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm and 7:45 pm except on April 3, when the curtain rises 30 minutes earlier at 4:45 pm , 6:00 pm and 7:15 pm.
The schedule of performers includes The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie (April 3 to 5), Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone (April 10 to 12), The Ventures (April 17 to 19), Harold Melvin's Blue Notes (April 24 to 26), Chubby Checker and the Wildcats (May 1 to 3), Ricky Nelson Remembered - featuring The Nelsons (May 8 to 10), Jose Feliciano (May 15 to 17), The 5th Dimension (May 22 to 24) and finally Tony Orlando (May 29 to May 31).
Included with standard admission ticket (disneyworld.disney.go.com).
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| 22nd to 23rd |
Silver Springs are celebrating Earth Day with Flumpa® and Friends LIVE! with family orientated entertainment and the wonders of biological, earth and physical sciences (www.silversprings.com). |
| April 25th, May 1st and 2nd |
Universal Orlando are hosting their annual Universal Grad Bash '09 at both parks where high school seniors can let their hair down and enjoy outrageous parties at both Universal's Islands of Adventure® and Universal Studios® from 7 pm to 2 am.
All the major rides will be open as well as DJs, dance parties and live music from a number of artists including Akon (www.universalorlando.com).
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| various dates |
The Holy Land Experience are celebrating Easter with Follow Me: The Road to Resurrection and The Wedding at Cana. Note that the Holy Land Experience will be open on Palm Sunday (April 5) and Easter Sunday (April 12). Between April 8 and 18 there is also a special evening presentation of "The Last Adam" Broadway musical (separate ticketed event) (www.holylandexperience.com). |
Sporting Events
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| Until April 4th |
The Atlanta Braves are holding their Spring training at the Champion Stadium at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex from mid February through to early April as the nations baseball teams head south for Spring training in Florida or Arizona. See the Spring Training page for more details of the all the teams training in Florida in 2009. |
| 5th to 6th |
The 5th Annual Okaloosa Island Kite Festival takes place at the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. Bring the kids along to watch the mass kite flying plus there is free kitemaking, stunt kite exhibitions, kid's activities and games. |
| 10th to 12th |
The 45th Ron Jon Easter Surf Festival is at Shepard Park Beach and Cocoa Beach Pier. Join 100,000 surf fans to watch the East Coast's oldest and largest surfing festival (www.eastersurffest.com). |
| Cancelled |
This year's Ocean Fest 2009 Dive & Adventure Sports Expo on the beach at Fort Lauderdale has been cancelled due to construction work. In previous years, Ocean Fest has featured over 150 dive-related exhibits and an underwater treasure hunt and underwater music festival. You could also get a scuba introductory course at the DEMA Pool. Rescheduled for April 16 to 18, 2010 (www.oceanfest.com). |
| April 30th to May 3rd |
The nationally televised professional annual fishing tournament, 2009 Redfish Cup kicks off in Punta Gorda. The annual Punta Gorda Fishing Festival is on at the same time (www.redfishcup.com). |
Concerts
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| 2nd to 4th |
The 7th Florida Bluegrass Festival takes place in Perry at the Forest Capital Museum State Park where you can enjoy music from artists including Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Charlie McCoy, Mountain Heart, Pure & Simple, Ernie Evans, Mueller Family, Southern Lite, Swinging Bridge and the Tallahassee Fiddlers plus food, arts, crafts and other festivities (www.perryfl.com). |
| 3rd to 5th |
In Jacksonville, the free outdoor Springing the Blues Festival will be held at Seawalk Plaza, Jacksonville Beach and typically attracts over 125,000 fans. This year's performers will include John Miller Blues, J.P. Soars and the Red Hots, Regi Blue, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Skinny Legs and All, Marquise ÒManchildÓ Knox, Willie Mae, Nicole Hart and the NRG Band, Shane Dwight, Tommy Thunderfoot and the Accelerators and Dave Herrero featuring Felix Reyes (www.springingtheblues.com). |
| 12th |
The Historic Bok Tower Sanctuary are hosting a special 81st Annual Easter Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday from 6:00 am to 8:00 am (http://www.boksanctuary.org). |
| April 29th to May 3rd |
The Sunfest 2009 at West Palm Beach is billed as Florida's largest music, art and waterfront festival, featuring over 50 musicians from across the US including James Taylor, UB40, The Steve Miller Band plus a number of tribute bands (www.sunfest.com). |
Art and Film Festivals
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| March 27th to April 5th |
The 18th Annual Florida Film Festival takes place in Maitland, just north of Orlando and features over 160 films. Over 25,000 guests are expected to attend (www.floridafilmfestival.com). |
| 23rd to 27th |
The Palm Beach International Film Festival features the best American and Independent Films from over 20 countries (www.pbifilmfest.org). |
Car, Motorcycle and Boat Shows
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| 3rd to 5th |
There is an Antique Tractor & Engine Show at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park where you can see vintage farm equipment and tractor pulls (www.floridastateparks.org). |
| 11th |
In Largo at the Heritage Village, they are holding the 23rd Annual Heritage Village Antique Car Show with over 100 original and restored pre 1959 antique cars on display (www.pinellascounty.org). |
| 11th |
If you like fast cars and fast planes then you should visit the the 12th Annual Mustangs and Mustangs show at the Fantasy of Flight where you can see both restored P-51 Mustang fighters from World War II and over 300 Ford Mustang automobiles (www.fantasyofflight.com). |
| 11th |
The 23rd Annual Antique Car Show is hosted by the Pin-Mar Antique Car Club and Heritage Village at Pinewood Country Park, Largo featuring more than 100 restored automobiles (www.pinellascounty.org). |
| 16th to 19th |
The Exotic Cat Festival takes place at a number of venues over four days and features over 250 exotic cars including the Bugatti Veyron. On April 16 and 17 there are two Track Days at the Sebring Raceway plus the inaugral "Make-A-Wish Challenge Race" and then on April 18 there is a Concours Event at the lakefront in Celebration and then finally a Rally on April 19 concluding at the Disney/Petty Speedway (www.celebrationexoticcars.com). |
| 19th |
The 7th Annual Ponte Verde Beach Car Show at the Nocatee Community Center features over 100 classic, custom and antique automobiles (www.pontevedrachamber.org). |
| 25th |
The 11th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show takes place at Veterans Park, Apalachicola on the coast south east of Panama City, with all types of antique and classic boats and cars. Around 50 to 60 boats ranging from authentic oyster boats, wooden Chris Crafts and fiberglass and aluminum classics are expected (www.apalachicolabay.org). |
| 30th to May 3rd |
The 11th Annual Thunder Beach Spring Rally is the southeast's largest Spring motorcycle rally and takes place at five different venues around Panama City Beach and features concerts from ELI, Mustang Sally and Geneva plus a custom bike show and bike parade. Over 20,000 motorcycle enthusiasts can be expected (www.thunderbeachproductions.com). |
Airshows and Rocket Launches
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| 1st |
NASA hope to launch a United Launch Alliance Delta 2 Rocket. The Delta 2 mission is a tracking technology demonstrator for the Missile Defense Agency as part of a ballistic missile defense system (Space Tracking and Surveillance System). Read more on all launches.... |
| 1st to 4th |
For hang glider fans, the 2009 Wallaby Fly-in, Party and Anniversary Celebration is at the Wallaby Ranch, Davenport, Florida (www.wallaby.com). |
| 18th to 19th |
The Cecil Field AirShow 2009 in Jacksonville will host the AeroShell Aerobatic Team flying World War II Harvard trainers, the Legacy Flight with the F-18 Tactical Demonstration team and World War II and Korean War era Corsair, USAF F-15 Strike Eagle Demonstration, The Heritage Flight, Big Dog Lockheed T-33A, plus a number of aerobatic pilots including from Patty Wagstaff, Sean Tucker, John Mohr, Greg Koontz, Greg Poe, Jimmy Fordham, Steve & Suzie Oliver, and The Red Eagle Air Sports (www.cecilfield.aero). |
| 21st to 26th |
In Lakeland, the 35th Annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-In features a large static aircraft display, over 500 commercial exhibits, Ladies Pavilion, Parts Exchange and a daily airshow including the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights This year, the flightline area will be accessible to all attendees and over 5,000 aircraft are expected to attend (www.sun-n-fun.org). |
| 28th |
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 will launch the GOES-O satellite. This is a joint NASA/NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) mission to launch a Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). |
County Fairs & Festivals
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| March 26th to April 12th |
The 58th Annual Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition is one of the largest fairs with nearly 700,000 visitors each year and is located off 112 Avenue. There are around 100 rides, 170 food vendors, games, gifts, shops and thousands of exhibits plus a daily Mardi Gras parade and live entertainment (www.fairexpo.com). |
| March 27th to April 4th |
The 93rd Annual Suwannee County Fair and Youth Livestock Show at Live Oak features Midway rides, arts and crafts, contests, tractor pull and farm equipment (www.suwanneecountyfair.org). |
| March 31st to April 5th |
The Santa Rosa County Fair takes place on Highway 90 at East Milton Park and features Easter Bonnet Contest and Easter Egg Hunt, Tri-State 7 Event Rodeo, NABA Bullriding, barrel racing, NBHA horse show, all kinds of handicrafts and a midway. Live entertainment includes Jason Michael Carroll, Anna Garrott, Rusty Whitfield, Jourdan Pace and Vince Vance & The Valiants Last year there were 25,000 visitors (www.santarosacountyfair.org). |
| 2nd to 11th |
The Lake County Fair is at Eustis and there is live entertainment plus livestock shows, Belle City Amusements midway, games, food, creative arts including photography and a pageant (www.lakecofair.com). |
| 2nd to 11th |
The 23rd Annual Clay County Agricultural Fair is at Green Cove Springs and features free amusements and entertainment including the Florida State High School Rodeo Competition, Mower Madness Lawn Mower Race, Nickelodeon Live, Kort McCumber, Steve Azar, LightSoldiers, The Isaac Family, Big Engine, Katie Gillard and 38 Special (www.claycountyfair.org). |
| 6th to 12th |
The 58th Annual Hernando County Fair and Youth Livestock Show takes place in Brooksville and features a rodeo, demolition derby, midway, tractor pull, NoJoe's Clown Circus, Cow Town and live music including The Marlins, Matthew Romeo, Stephanie Renae, U & Me, Noiz Control, The Alabama Blues Brothers, Jenny Rimmer, Shaza DI & Jewels of the Desert, Kenny Grubbe "Elvis", Mitch Cain, George Marshall and Midlife Crisis (hernandocountyfair.com). |
| 16th to 26th |
The 97th Annual Central Florida Fair in Orlando features music, dancing, animal acts, thrill shows, livestock, Cattlemen's Rodeo and over 100 midway rides plus food, creative arts and horticultural displays (www.centralfloridafair.com). |
| 24th to 26th |
The 25th Annual Pompano Beach Seafood Festival features fresh local seafood plus arts and crafts, a children's play area and musical entertainment from Grand Funk Railroad and Classic Rock Allstars (www.pompanobeachseafoodfestival.com). |
Other Events
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| 16th to 17th |
There is an Earth Day Celebration at the Historic Bok Tower Sanctuary where you can learn about protecting wildlife and how to plant a garden (http://www.boksanctuary.org). |
