US National Holidays & other notable dates
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| 1st |
New Year's Day heralds the start of a new year. Many of the theme parks, towns and cities around Florida ring in the new year with special New Year's Eve celebrations. |
| 19th |
Martin Luther King Day commemorates the birthday of The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. who was an African-American clergyman who fought tirelessly for the civil rights of all Americans until he was assassinated in 1968. |
| 20th |
January 20 marks the Inauguration Day of the 44th American president, Barack Obama. |
Theme Park Events
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| November 14th, 2008 to January 4th, 2009 |
At SeaWorld, the Wild Artic ride is converted into The Polar Express Experience based on the Warner Bros. Pictures film starring the character voiced by actor Tom Hanks. Riders will board the 'train' to take them to North Pole which is specially decorated with Christmas tree, sleigh and Santa Claus himself (www.seaworld.com). |
| November 28th, 2008 to January 4th, 2009 |
Disney's Animal Kingdom puts on a special festive Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade throughout the holiday season plus you can visit Santa Goofy's Wild Wonderland. |
| November 28th, 2008 to January 4th, 2009 |
The spectacular The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights lights up New York Street every night at Disney's Hollywood Studios with millions of twinkling lights set to holiday music. Included in standard admission. |
| November 28th, 2008 to January 3rd, 2009 |
The Holy Land Experience celebrates Christmas with their own Come To The Manger - A Bethlehem Christmas musical plus a host of other celebrations including Light the Lights! - The Story of Hanukah, The Mysteries of the Magi, KidVenture - The True Story of St. Nicholas, Talebearers, Ye Olde Christmas Carols and Christmas Southern Gospel (www.holylandexperience.com). |
| 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). |
Parades and Carnivals
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| 24th |
This annual event draws a crowd of around 235,000 and the fun starts with the Gasparilla Extravaganza in Tampa featuring the Children's Gasparilla Parade and the "Piratechnic" Extravaganza.
The Southwest Airlines Gasparilla Pirate Fest is on February 7 and starts with the Gasparilla Invasion when pirate ship, the Jose Gasparilla sails into Hillsborough Bay. In the afternoon, the Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates starts at the intersection of Bayshore Boulevard and Bay to Bay Boulevard (www.gasparillapiratefest.com).
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Sporting Events
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| December 19th, 2008 to January 4th, 2009 |
The Skydive City Annual Christmas Boogie is at Zephyrhills where you can witness over 1200 jumps every day. Over 700 skydivers from around the world take part in one of the largest parties in Florida. On New Year's Eve there is Pirate Day along with a fireworks display (www.skydivecity.com). |
| 11th to 18th |
The 5th Annual O'Neill Sebastian Inlet Pro Surfing Festivalis one of the top three surf events in mainland North America (www.oneill.com). |
| 8th to 10th |
Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex is host to the 2009 Disney's Health & Fitness Expo hosted by Creigh Kelley ahead of the Disney Marathon (www.disneyworldmarathon.com). |
| 11th |
The 16th Annual Walt Disney World Marathon also takes place at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Around 18,000 people are expected to compete on the 26.2-mile race around the Vacation Kingdom property, including all four theme parks.
Other race events including a half marathon take place during the preceding days of the Expo and those who complete the full marathon will receive a special 16th Anniversary Marathon Finisher's Medal. Finishers in other races including the half marathon and Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge will also receive medals (www.disneyworldmarathon.com).
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| 19th to 23rd |
The Acura Key West 2009 features nearly 300 racing yachts competing for class championships (www.premiere-racing.com). |
| 23rd to 25th |
The 60th Annual Homestead Championship Rodeo in at the Doc' DeMilly Rodeo Arena at Harris Field (www.homesteadrodeo.com). |
| 24th |
The Rolex 24 at Daytona will see around 100 sports cars race at the Daytona International Speedway (www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com). |
Concerts & Music Festivals
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| 22nd to 25th |
The 15th Annual Bluegrass Festival and Fiddle Championship takes place at Yee Haw Junction. Featured acts include Dry Branch Fire Squad, Bluegrass Brothers, Gary Waldrep, Backwater, Larry Gillis Band, Al Batten & Bluegrass Reunion, Roger Bass, Nothin'Fancy, Moron Brothers and Smokey Green (www.originalbluegrass.com). |
| various dates |
There are also some big name acts booked for Silver Springs including Loretta Lynn on January 17, .38 Special on January 24 and then Collin Raye and Restless Heart on the January 31 (www.silversprings.com). |
| various dates |
At the Historic Bok Sanctuary there are special concerts during January. On January 9 the day time concerts celebrate Edward Bok and on January 15, it is the turn of Martin Luther King Jr. On January 31 there is an 80th Anniversary Dedication Day Celebration when admission is free all day (www.boksanctuary.org). |
| various dates |
Busch Gardens Africa starts their Real Music Concert Series in the Stanleyville Theater including The Les Brown Band of Renown featuring Les Brown, Jr. (January 14 to 17), The Terry Myers Orchestra featuring Peter Appleyard (January 21 to 24) and The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra (January 28 to 31) (www.buschgardens.com). |
| 31st |
The 16th Annual Pinellas Folk Festival is held at the Heritage Village at Pinewood Country Park, Largo and features local focal entertainers including Jon Keys, The Exums, Ragtime Annie and Bob and Hammerhead Dulcimers (www.pinellascounty.org). |
Airshows and Rocket Launches
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| 23rd |
A United Launch Alliance Delta 2 Rocket rocket will launch 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.... |
| 22nd to 25th |
The U.S. Sport Aviation Expo 2009 takes place at Sebring Regional Airport and features Light Sport Aircraft, Sport Pilot and related certifications and includes fixed wing, trikes, powered parachutes and gyroplanes (www.sport-aviation-expo.com). |
| 16th to February 25th |
The Collings Foundation start the Florida portion of their Wings of Freedomtour with their Boeing B-17 Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator and North American B-25 Mitchell World War II bombers plus a two-seater North American P-51 Mustang fighter.
If you fancy seeing or even flying in one of them, head over to Ocala Regional / Jim Taylor Field (January 16 to 19), Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (January 19 to 21) Venice Municipal Airport (January 21 to 23), Clearwater International (January 23 to 26), Fort Myers / Page Field Airport (January 26 to 28), Boca Raton Airport (January 28 to February 1), Vero Beach Municipal Airport (February 2 to 4), Pompano Beach Airpark (February 4 to 6), Keystone Heights / Keystone Airpark (February 20 to 23) and finally Panama City-Bay County International (February 23 to 25).
Note that the North American B-25 Mitchell does not participate in the Florida tour except for Keystone Heights (www.collingsfoundation.org)
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County Fairs & Festivals
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| 15th to 25th |
The 92nd Annual Manatee County Fair is in Palmetto and this year's theme is "Planting Memories".
The fair has a midway from Belle City Amusements, livestock shows, pageants, cheerleading competitions, live music and food (www.manateecountyfair.com).
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| 15th to 25th |
The 56th Annual DeSoto County Fair & Livestock Show features a midway, bull riding, live music, talent shows and pageants plus a livestock show (www.desotocountyfair.org). |
| 16th to February 1st |
The annual South Florida Fair runs for 17 days at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach and this year's theme is "A World of Fun". There are over 80 rides, games and attractions at the Wade Shows midway carnival plus Rosaire's Racing Pigs and the Arctic Olympic Games Penguin Show (www.southfloridafair.com). |
| 17th |
The 4th Annual Florida Keys Seafood Festival is at Bayview Park in Key West (www.fla-keys.com). |
| 24th to 25th |
The 24th Annual Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival at the Blue Spring State Park features, over 100 arts and crafts booths, music and dancing, children's play area, Indian dancers and environmental displays (www.themanateefestival.com). |
| 24th to 30th |
The Annual Polk County Youth Fair features livestock shows, arts and crafts competitions and vegetable shows (www2.polk-fl.net). |
| 23rd to 31st |
The 72nd Annual Highlands County Fair, Sebring includes Junior Livestock, a Beauty Pageant, Baking Contest and midway from Reithoffer Shows (www.hcfair.net). |
Other Events including Holiday Season
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| November 28th to January 4th, 2009 |
One of the first Christmas events of the year starts at the Historic Bok Sanctuary with Christmas at Pinewood .
The Pinewood Estate 1930s Mediterranean Revival mansion is decorated for the holiday season and there are also family days, concerts, Santa visits and Shop at Bok night events (www.boksanctuary.org).
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| November 22nd to January 31st, 2009 |
The 15th annual Nights of Lights in St. Augustine is decorated with two million tiny white lights adorning the palm trees and buildings of the city's historic district (www.getaway4florida.com). |
| November 17th to January 4th, 2009 |
Florida's answer to global warming has to be ICE! at Gaylord Palms !!. Experience the 9 degree Fahrenheit winter wonderland walkthrough attraction made from nearly two million pounds of ice. This year's theme is "Santa's Arctic Blast" with several new scenes including an oversized "Santa's knee" photo opportunity and the ICE! castle and slides which have been re-designed to celebrate Santa's Christmas Eve flight complete with reindeers (www.gaylordhotels.com). |
