Florida Spring Training 2012 |
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The snowbirds are not the only people to move down to Florida during the winter.
Since the early 1900s, a lot of the major American and National League baseball teams have taken advantage of Florida's wonderful winter/spring climate and have set up Spring Training camps in Florida each year. This allows the players to train away from the cold and snow of the north and it also allows the managers to check on the talent.
The aptly named Grapefruit League plays in Florida throughout the month of March each Spring and another league, the Cactus League, plays in Arizona
Over time, this has resulted in the Grapefruit League and the teams now play each other throughout the month of March. Recently, Arizona has tempted 15 teams out west but attempts by Las Vegas to set up training camps in Nevada have come to nothing. As it now stands, 15 teams train in Florida and another 15 in Arizona with the Cactus League.
 Spring training at the Champion Stadium, Disney Wide World of Sports
[Courtesy of Disney]
2012 Spring Training Season
This year, only 15 teams are playing in Florida for 2012, down from 18 in 2008 and 16 in 2009. The Cleveland Indians (previously playing at Winter Haven), the Los Angeles Dodgers (Vero Beach) and now the Cincinatti Reds (Sarasota) have all moved to Arizona in recent years.
There is still uncertainty over the fate of the Chain of Lakes Park stadium in Winter Haven, one possibility is that it could be demolished to make way for a new development. And 2008 was the last year that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays played at the Al Lang Field as they moved to the rebuilt ballpark in Charlotte County for 2009.
If you are used to paying upwards of $100 to watch a game then you are in for a real treat. Prices vary by stadium but general admission can be as little as $6 and box seats are typically between $20 and $25.
One of the great things about Spring Training is that the ballparks are generally small which means you can get to watch a top ranking baseball team up close and personal. Spring training is also an ideal opportunity to get autographs of your favourite players.
The first game of the 2012 season is on February 29 and games continue all the way until April 4.
Baseball Team Training Grounds
For the 2012 Spring Training season, 15 teams have made their home at 14 of Florida's baseball stadium in Central and Southern Florida.
If you are staying in the Orlando area, then you have the Osceola Stadium and Champion Stadium, Disney Wide World of Sports on your doorstep with Lakeland only a short drive away.
On the Gulf Coast, there are five stadium within a short drive of Tampa; namely Dunedin, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton and Sarasota with Fort Myers to the South.
On the Atlantic Coast, there is Melbourne, Port St Lucie and Jupiter in the North with Fort Lauderdale to the South. Click on the name of the ball park for details of all upcoming games:
- Bradenton, McKechnie Field - Pittsburgh Pirates
- Clearwater, Bright House Networks Field - Philadelphia Phillies
- Dunedin, Florida Auto Exchange Stadium (formerly called Dunedin Stadium) - Toronto Blue Jays
- Sarasota, Ed Smith Stadium - Baltimore Orioles
- Fort Myers, Hammond Stadium/Lee County Sports Complex - Minnesota Twins
- Fort Myers, City of Palms Park - Boston Red Sox
- Jupiter, Roger Dean Stadium - Florida Marlins and St Louis Cardinals
- Kissimmee, Champion Stadium (formerly called Cracker Jack Stadium) - Atlanta Braves
- Kissimmee, Osceola County Stadium - Houston Astros
- Lakeland, Joker Marchant Stadium - Detroit Tigers
- Port St Lucie, Digital Domain Park (formerly called Tradition Field) - New York Mets
- Port Charlotte, Charlotte County Sports Park - Tampa Bay Rays
- Tampa, George M. Steinbrenner Field - New York Yankees
- Viera, Space Coast Stadium - Washington Nationals
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The Fourth of July or Independence Day celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence (from the colonial rule of Great Britain) on July 4, 1776.
Many Americans will fly the American flag outside their homes to commemorate Independence Day and it is one of the busiest times of year at the theme parks; many of them have extended opening hours.
No matter where you are in Florida, you will find local Independence Day celebrations both by day and at night
 IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth Fireworks at Disney's Epcot
Main Theme Parks
All the main central Florida theme parks celebrate July 4th with special shows usually including fireworks. The only exception is Disney's Animal Kingdom.
There are special events at SeaWorld, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens.
North Florida
Celebrations take place both on the North East coast and the Panhandle:
- St. Augustine
- Jacksonville
- Fernandina Beach
- Mexico Beach
- Destin
- Chattahoochee
- Port St. Joe
- Weeki Wachee Springs
Central Florida
Throughout the whole of Central Florida you will find 4th of July celebrations including:
- St. Cloud
- A special Independence Day Carillon Concert at Bok Tower
- Downtown Mount Dora
- Kissimmee
- Winter Park
- Silver Springs
- Tampa by the Florida Aquarium
- Clearwater
- St. Petersburg
- Sanibel Island
- Daytona Beach
- Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
South Florida
There are typically lots of celebrations in the Miami area including:
- Delray Beach
- South Miami
- Miami Beach
- Bayfront Park
- Key Biscayne
- Blackwater Sound in the Keys
- slamorada
- Key West at White Street Pier
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Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday) has been celebrated in the Southern states for centuries, particularly in Louisiana, Alabama and of course Florida.
As its name suggests, it is always on a Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, as a precursor to Lent and is always 47 days before Easter Sunday. In 2010, Mardi Gras falls on February 16.
Like last year, there will be no celebrations at Disney's Pleasure Island which is closed for a major rework but Universal Studios more than make up for it.
You don't have to go to New Orleans to immerse yourself in Mardi Gras, there are plenty of places in Florida to celebrate Mardi Gras
 Mardi Gras celebrations at Universal Studios
©2007 Universal Orlando. All Rights Reserved.
Universal Studios
One of the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations in 2010 takes place at Universal Studios on selected nights plus every Saturday night between February 6 and April 17 where you can experience authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine including Catfish, Jambalaya, Shrimp Gumbo, red beans and rice, beignets and Andouille Sausage.
You can listen to the authentic sounds of the Big Easy and watch a special evening Mardi Gras parade with 12 authentic New Orleans style Mardi Gras parade floats when multi-coloured float riders and stilt-walkers throw strands of beads and doubloons into the crowds as they pass in true Mardi Gras tradition.
This year the floats have been updated to reflect the true New Orleans Mardi Gras party atmosphere. The parade times are 8:00 pm on February 6 to March 20 and April 17 and then 9:00 pm on March 27 to April 10.
There are also special live concerts featuring world famous acts including Blondie, the Beach Boys and Sheryl Crow. Click here for the full Universal Studios Mardi Gras concert line up for 2010.
In the French Quarter Courtyard, you will feel like you are strolling down Bourbon Street with a special Louisiana music program during the early evening which then continues at Universal CityWalk®.
Confirmed acts include Bryan Lee & the Blues Power Band (February 6), Lil Malcolm & the House Rockers (February 13 and 14), Mem Shannon & the Membership (February 20), Chris Klein & The Boulevards (Sat, February 27), Honey Island Swamp Band (March 6), Big Red & The Zydeco Playmakers (March 13), Rockin' Jake (March 20), Soul Project (March 27), J.J. Callier & the Zydeco Knockouts (April 3), Lil' Brian & the Zydeco Travelers (April 9 and 10) and Daddy Mac Blues Band (April 17).
The Mardi Gras celebrations and concerts are included in the standard park admission plus you get free admission to selected venues at Universal CityWalk® including Pat O'Brien's which is an exact replica of the famous New Orleans bar, so you can party away until 2 o'clock in the morning. The rides remain open until normal park closing time.
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As well as all the local community celebrations, most of the major theme parks like Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens Africa and Cypress Gardens, stage big events to celebrate the more important seasonal festivities.
Walt Disney World have now ended their Year of a Million Dreams and replaced it with their "Celebration Vacations" promotion where you can get free admission to the Walt Disney World Resort on your birthday.
Florida also plays host to a number of sports events including the annual baseball spring training (Grapefruit League) and of course Spring Break.
No matter when you vacation in Florida, there is a good chance one of the major celebrations or events will take place whilst you are there
Particularly around Halloween, Thanksgiving and the holiday season over Christmas and the New Year, you can expect special events at all the main theme parks.
Most of these take place during the evenings and there is often a separate admission charge but parks are decorated for the occasion with special attractions, light shows and fireworks.
These can also be some of the busiest times of the year in the theme parks with the parks often closing early when they reach capacity.
Music Concerts
Most of the main theme parks also run a series of live music concerts, particularly in the early months of the year. Here you will be able to enjoy some of the top names in rock, country and gospel music.
In most cases the concerts are included in the regular price of admission but you can sometimes buy a VIP ticket to guarantee a place at the concert. Regular concerts throughout the year include:
Bok Historic Tower and Gardens also have daily carillon concerts (at 1 pm and 3 pm) but on special occasions, they have other music concerts as well. |
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