US National Holidays & other notable dates
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| 5th |
Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "The Fifth of May") is celebrated in Mexico to commemorate the victory of the Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 when they defeated the French occupational forces.
It is now widely recognised in the United States to celebrate the culture of Americans of Mexican ancestry in the same way as St. Patrick's Day and Oktoberfest.
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| 10th |
Mother's Day is on Sunday, May 10 so look out for special Mother's Day promotions. |
| 16th |
Armed Forces Day honours all Americans serving in the five national services; the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. |
| 25th |
May 25 is Memorial Day held on the fourth Monday in May and is a commemoration to America's War Dead. It is originally started after the American Civil War. |
Theme Park Events
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| 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.
The schedule of performers includes 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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| 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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| May 22nd to June 14th (weekends) |
At Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Star Wars Weekends run from May 22 to June 14, centred around the Star Tours attraction.
Each weekend (Friday to Sunday) there is an opportunity to see Star Wars actors and movie makers through a series of meet and greet sessions, conversations and motorcades.
Hosting all four weekends is Jay Laga'aia ("Captain Typho") and special guest Ashley Eckstein ("Ahsoka Tano").
On May 22 to 24 look out for Ray Park ("Darth Maul"), Warwick Davis ("Wicket the Ewok") and James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan in Star Wars: The Clone Wars).
On May 29 to 31 it is the turn of Peter Mayhew ("Chewbacca") and Matthew Wood ("General Grievous").
On June 5 to 7, Jeremy Bulloch ("Boba Fett"), David Prowse ("Darth Vader") and Matt Lanter (voice of Anakin in Star Wars: The Clone Wars). Finally on June 12 to 14 see Dave Filoni (Director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Temuera Morrison ("Jango Fett").
You can also take part in the Jedi Training Academy where you can test your skills against Darth Vader and Darth Maul, watch "Legends of the Force" a motorcade featuring favourite Star Wars celebrities, learn about the films with "Behind the Force -- Experience THE CLONE WARS" and compete in a under 12s kid's trivia contest with Star Wars prizes at the Padawan Mind Challenge and join in Hyperspace Hoopla.
Wicket's Warehouse will also feature limited edition Star Wars memorabilia.
Included in the normal admission price (disneyworld.disney.go.com).
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| May 23rd to September 7th |
SeaWorld restart their summertime SeaWorld AfterDark entertainment with Shamu Rocks, the high energy Shamu show/rock n roll concert plus Shamu Rocks Dinner Buffet, the night time Bayside Ski Jam with stunt kites and fireworks, Mistify fireworks, laser and water show and Sea Lions Tonite where Clyde and Seemore plus friends parody other SeaWorld shows. (www.seaworld.com). |
Sporting Events
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| 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). |
| various dates |
In May, Disney's Wide World of Sports® complex hosts a number of events including the 37th Annual Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games (May 15 to 16), Sun & Surf Baseball Bash (May 22 to 25) and Disney's Memorial Day Soccer Shootout (May 23 to 25) (www.disneysports.com). |
| 9th |
The 27th Annual Gulf Coast Triathlon at the Boardwalk Beach Resort, Panama City Beach is the Southeast's largest 1/2 Ironman distance race and 1,800 athletes from the USA and Canada will be competing. The race starts at 6:15 am and consists of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride and a 1/2 marathon run (13.1 miles) (www.gulfcoasttriathlon.com). |
| 17th |
At Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, they are hosting the Ironman 70.3 Florida triathlon qualifier. There is a 1.2 mile swim around Bay Lake followed by a 56 mile bike race through western Orange Country and finally a 13.1 mile run on the bike paths and canal roads of Fort Wilderness (www.floridahalfironman.com). |
Concerts
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| 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). |
| 22nd to 24th |
The 56th Annual Florida Folk Festival at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park at White Springs celebrates Florida's diverse culture and history. You can visit a Seminole family camp, watch a fiddling contest and try ethnic food or listen to folk singers (www.floridastateparks.org). |
| various dates |
The Historic Bok Tower Sanctuary are hosting their 19th Annual Concert Under the Stars on May 2 at 7:30 pm. The concert features the Sanctuary carillon and the Imperial Symphony Orchestra. On May 30, there is Live at the Gardens! Broadway & JAZZ with Victoria de Lissovoy and Rebecca Renfroe. Both of these events are by special ticket only.
There are also two concerts commemorating the military as part of the daily afternoon carillon concerts. On May 16, it is the Armed Forces Day Concerts and on May 28, the Memorial Day Concerts (http://www.boksanctuary.org).
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Art and Film Festivals
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| 16th to 17th |
The Summer Craft Fair at Cocoa Village features over 175 crafters and artists, a food court, children's amusement area (www.cocoavillage.com). |
Car, Motorcycle and Boat Shows
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| April 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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| 12th |
The Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-125) is due to lift off on the fifth and final mission to the Hubble Space Telescope in order to extend its useful working life to 2013. Launch time is provisionally set for 1:11 pm EDT from launch pad LC-39A. Read more on all launches.... |
| various dates |
The US Navy Blue Angels will be starting their 2009 season practice sessions at their home base at the Pensacola Naval Air Station and admittance is free. Provisional dates are May 26 and 27 www.navalaviationmuseum.org). |
County Fairs & Festivals
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| 1st to 3rd |
The 46th Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival at Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island attracts over 130,000 visitors to the arts, craft and antique booths, regional and local live music, shrimp and seafood dishes. The are two invasions by pirates plus a parade and fireworks (www.shrimpfestival.com). |
| 1st to 3rd |
The 25th Annual Pensacola Crawfish Creole Fiesta is held in Bartram Park and celebrates the Cajun influence in Northwest Florida with authentic bayou country food and entertainment (fiestaoffiveflags.org). |
| 3rd |
The 8th Annual Taste of Mount Dora offers an evening of culinary delights prepared by Mount Dora's finest restaurants (www.mountdora.com). |
| 8th to 10th |
The Cotee River Seafood Festival & Bright House Networks Boat Show is held at New Port Richey and features arts and crafts, live Blues music, seafood, river boat tours, "Live Shark Experience" Show, Corvette and Classic Car Show and Meet a Weeki Wachee Mermaid (www.nprmainstreet.com). |
| 17th |
The 26th Annual Heritage Village Skirmish re-enacts the Civil War Days at the Heritage Village, Pinewood Country Park, Largo and features Civil War era games and music, military drills, blacksmithing and civil and military fashions (www.pinellascounty.org). |
| Cancelled |
This year's Annual Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for 2010 (www.zellwoodcornfestival.com). |
