US National Holidays & other notable dates
|
| 11th |
Veterans Day is celebrated every year on November 11 to commemorate all of all Americas war dead. In Europe it is known as Armistice Day and originally commemorated the end of the Great War (First World War) in 1918. |
| 27th |
Traditionally on Thanksgiving Day, Americans will get together with their families and many will take the following day, the Friday, as holiday as well to make it a long weekend. Expect large crowds at the theme parks. |
Theme Park Events
|
| September 26th to November 9th |
The 13th annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival offers a range of activities for the whole family.
There are over 25 international food and wine marketplaces representing more than 25 different countries and regions including South Africa, Italy, Australia, Russia, Spain and Ireland. For a small fee you can sample cuisine from around the world. Each year this event attracts over 1 million visitors (admission included with the standard Epcot ticket).
There are also special exhibits featuring fabulous cuisine and wine, culinary demonstrations, gormet dining experiences and the Eat to the Beat concert series. The final series of concerts are from Atlanta Rhythm Section on October 31 to November 2, David Cassidy on November 3 to 5, Night Ranger on November 6 to 7 and finally Los Lobos on November 8 to 9 (disneyworld.disney.go.com).
|
| September 26th to November 1st |
Universal's 18th annual Halloween Horror Nights with Bloody Mary features the famous horror film characters. Definitely not one for the children (separately ticketed event). |
| September 26th to November 1st |
Howl-O-Scream 2008 runs at Busch Gardens for selected nights during late September and October with six haunted houses five scare zones and three thrilling shows. |
| 7th to 9th |
The 33rd Festival of the Masters takes place in the Downtown Disney Area where you can see artwork from over 200 artists on the Downtown Disney West Side or let the kids have fun at the Children's Activity Centers and Chalk Art displays in the Marketplace (disneyworld.disney.go.com). |
| 8th to 9th |
SeaWorld welcome back celebrity animal expert Jack Hanna for a Jack Hanna Weekend at the Nautilus Theater where Jack introduces both his feathered and furry friends (www.seaworld.com). |
| selected dates between November 10th to December 19th |
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party runs on selected nights at Disney's Magic Kingdom where you can watch live Disney Character stage shows, spectacular firework displays and see snow on Main Street, U.S.A (separately ticketed event). |
| 13th to 16th |
At Silver Springs, the Native American Festival gives you the opportunity to see members of tribes from both North and South America performing ceremonial dances in traditional costume, telling centuries-old stories and demonstrating arts and crafts. There is also a Seminole hunting camp and canoe displays (www.silversprings.com). |
| 15th to 16th |
The 13th and last Annual ABC SOAPnet Super Weekend at Disney's Hollywood Studios features over 30 stars from ABC Daytime dramas "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" including Susan Lucci plus Celebrity Motorcades, Star Conversations and the chance to star in SOAPnet's "I Wanna Be A Soap Star". In 2009 a new event called "Soap Nation" will be held across the country. |
| November 28th 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 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 to December 30th |
Epcot celebrate the Holiday season with Holidays Around The World every day until the end of the year. As well as a breathtaking Candlelight Processional and a specially themed finale to the nightly IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks and laser show there is also the retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator each evening accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir.
The narrator on November 28 to 30 is John o'Hurley.
|
| selected dates between November 28th to December 27th |
The 16th Annual Festival of Lights takes place at Silver Springs on selected dates and features more than a million twinkle lights throughout the park plus neon displays, local choirs, strolling carolers, musical stage shows, a lighted boat parade, shopping, a Holiday Buffet with all the trimmings and of course Santa (www.silversprings.com). |
| November 28th to December 24th |
The shops at Downtown Disney celebrate the Festival of Seasons with special holiday window displays, live entertainment with carollers, musical acts and holiday variety performers plus the chance to have a photo taken with Santa (disneyworld.disney.go.com). |
| November 28th 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). |
Parades and Carnivals
|
| November 29th to December 7th |
More than 150 pirates invade Key West and Fort Taylor for the Pirates in Paradise Festival with tall ships, sea battles, arts and crafts stalls, live entertainment and a living history encampment. You can also celebrate the end of America's Hurricane Season Party at the Mohawk's Truman Annex Pier on November 30 (www.piratesinparadise.com). |
Sporting Events
|
| October 25th to November 2nd |
The 3rd Annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival takes place along 100 miles of canoe and kayak paddling trails between Bonita Springs and Pine Island Sound/Charlotte Harbor. Events include fishing tournaments, races, tours and the Bonita Springs River Fest and Pine Island Blueway Fest (www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com). |
| 6th to 9th |
The 38th Disney Golf Classic, The Children's Miracle Network Classic PGA Tour play is held at Disney's Palm and Magnolia Golf Courses (disneyworld.disney.go.com). |
| 7th to 9th |
The final event of the annual Redbone Trilogy is the Mercury Redbone Celebrity Tournament at Islamorada where anglers catch and release bonefish and redfish (www.redbone.org). |
| 2nd to 9th |
The 28th Annual Key West World Championship Offshore Powerboat Race is expected to draw over 60 boats in various classes with some of the top machines reaching speeds approaching 200 mph from 4,800 hp engines (www.superboat.com). |
Concerts & Music Festivals
|
| various dates |
The Kennedy Space Center plays host to the Fall Concert Series live at the Rocket Garden Stage and featuring Survivor on October 18, The Guess Who on October 25 and Rick Springfield on November 1. Included in normal admission (www.kennedyspacecenter.com). |
| 16th |
Cypress Gardens hosts the The Drifters and The Coasters in concert (www.cypressgardens.com). |
| 6th to 9th |
The Riverhawk Music Festival & Camping is held at the Sertoma Ranch in Brooksville (www.lindentertainment.com). |
| various dates |
At the Historic Bok Sanctuary there is the 7th Annual Sunset & Symphony concert with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra on November 8 at 6 pm.
On November 11, the daily carillon concerts at 1 pm and 3 pm present a special Veterans Day Concert to salute the nation's veterans and current members of America's armed forces
Finally on November 27, the daily carillon concerts celebrate Thanksgiving Day (www.boksanctuary.org).
|
Arts, Crafts and Film Festivals
|
| October 15th to November 11th |
The 23rd Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival features over 175 movies from around the world being shown in theaters from Boca Raton to Miami (www.fliff.com). |
| 7th to 9th |
The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival in held in Pensacola's historic Seville Square and features more than 200 of the nation's best painters, potters, sculptors, jewellers, graphic artists, craftsmen and mixed-media artists plus live music and performing arts (www.ggaf.org). |
| 1st to 2nd |
The 34th Annual Micanopy Fall Harvest Festival in the quiet town of Micanopy features over 200 local artists, crafters and musicians as well as other artists from across the southeast (www.afn.org). |
| 1st to 2nd |
The 14th Annual Mount Dora Plant & Garden Fair takes place at Simpson's Cove on the Downtown Lakefront in Mount Dora and features over 12,000 plants including orchids and native species, butterfly-attracting perennials, herbs, roses, camellias, begonias plus a complete selection of rare and unusual tropical plants from Central Florida's top growers (www.mountdora.com). |
| 1st to 2nd |
The 37th Annual Festival of the Arts around Courthouse Square in downtown historic Inverness attracts over 100 exhibiting artists (www.inverness-fl.gov). |
Car, Motorcycle and Boat Shows
|
| 1st |
The 11th Annual Corvette Show at Silver Springs plays host to over 300 early and late model Corvettes (www.silversprings.com). |
| October 30th to November 3rd |
The 49th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is your opportunity to see over three billion dollars worth of superyachts, boats and accessories from all the major marine manufacturers worldwide.
The show is spread over six locations - Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel and Yacht Club, Hyatt Pier 66 Hotel & Marina, Hall of Fame Marina and Las Olas Marina (www.showmanagement.com).
|
Airshows and Rocket Launches
|
| 8th to 9th |
Following on from last year's World Space Expo, the 2008 Space & Air Show takes place at the Kennedy Space Center and features the US Navy Blue Angels as well as demonstrations by an F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Super Hornet and the 920th Rescue Wing water rescue (www.http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/space_and_air_show/index.asp.com). |
| 14th |
The Space Shuttle Endeavour is due to launch at 7:55 pm on mission STS-126, the 27th U.S. mission to the International Space Station Read more on all launches.... |
| 8th |
The Experimental Aircraft Association are holding their free EAA Marathon Aviation Day at Marathon Airport where you can see historic warbirds and home-built airplanes as well as new commercial aircraft (www.eaamarathon.com). |
| 14th 15th |
To celebrate the end of the show season, the USN Blue Angels will perform at the Blue Angels Homecoming 2008 at Forrest Sherman Field, NAS Pensacola. Other performers include Jan Collmer in the Fina Extra 300L, Dale Snodgrass and the F-86 Sabre, Skip Stewart, the Blackwater Parachute Demonstration Team, Oreck XL Flight Team plusF-16 Falcon, E-2C Hawkeye, F-18F Super Hornet and The Blue Angels C-130 Fat Albert JATO demonstration (www.naspensacola.navy.mil). |
| 8th to 9th |
The 2008 Visiting Nurse Association Air Show at Stuart Field features the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team with four AT-6G Texan trainers, a 1943 Stock Stearman bi-plane, F-16 Falcon, F-4U Corsair, F/A-18 Hornet and the US Army Special Ops "Black Daggers" Parachute Team (www.vnaairshow.com). |
| 8th to 9th |
Fantasy of Flight are holding Roar N' Soar which brings together classic racing machines of yesteryear on land, water and in the air plus hot air balloons, water skiing and kids entertainment. One free child ticket available with the purchase of each adult admission (www.roar-n-soar.com). |
County Fairs & Festivals
|
| 5th to 9th |
The Greater Hillsborough County Fair has moved to the new Fairgrounds located east of Brandon at the intersection of Hwy 60 and Sydney-Washer Road and features carnival rides, food, Youth livestock shows, Arts & Crafts competitions and live entertainment (www.hillsboroughcountyfair.com). |
| October 29th to November 9th |
The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair at Jacksonville features live entertainment from Justin Moore, James Otto, Eric Church, Southbound, Mint Julep, Jason Michael Carroll, Lee Brice, Phil Vassar, Poco, EverLife, Natural Truth and Up Right '08! (www.jacksonvillefair.com). |
| October 30th to November 9th |
The 22nd Annual Space Coast State Fair at the Cocoa Expo Center will feature Space Coast Bull Riding Bash, Motor Cross, hundreds of rides and live entertainment from Brian Howe of Bad Company, Gregg Rolie of Santana and Molly Hatchett (www.cocoaexpo.com). |
| October 30th to November 9th |
The Annual Volusia County Fair and Youth Show at the Volusia County Fairground in DeLand and features a midway, livestock shows and live musical entertainment including Jake Owen and Emerson Drive in concert (www.volusiacountyfair.com). |
| October 31st to November 1st |
The 45th Annual Florida Seafood Festival is in Battery Park in historic Apalachicola at the mouth of the Apalachicola River and is Florida's oldest maritime festival. The festival features seafood, oyster shucking and oyster eating contests, arts and crafts exhibits, live entertainment from Little Texas, Daryle Singletary, Greg Wood and Smackwater Retrievers, a festival parade, a 5k (5000 meter, 3.1 mile) Redfish Run road race and a Blessing of the Fleet (www.floridaseafoodfestival.com). |
| October 28th to November 2nd |
The Northwest Florida Fair at the North West Florida Fairgrounds features Reithoffer Shows, one of the largest midway shows with over 100 rides, the Joseph Bauer International Circus Maximus, Fine Arts show, food and entertainment (www.nwffair.com). |
| October 31st to November 8th |
The 54th Annual Columbia County Fair at Lake City includes midway rides, there is also live entertainment, livestock shows, the hypnotist Ron Diamond and a live stingray encounter (www.columbiacountyresources.com). |
| October 30th to November 2nd |
The Levy County Fair in Williston features a livestock show, creative crafts and live entertainment (www.levycountyfair.com). |
| 6th to 16th |
The 67th Annual North Florida Fair in Tallahassee features the James E. Strates midway, a livestock show, petting zoo, pageants and live entertainment from Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band, the Show Me Swine Racers, Live Shark Encounter and Sea Lion Splash (www.northfloridafair.com). |
| 8th to 9th |
The 34th Annual Homosassa Seafood Festival in Old Homosassa features fresh seafood, Southern delicacies, arts and crafts, art shows, exhibits and holiday gifts (www.homosassaseafoodfestival.com). |
| 14th to 16th |
The St. Johns County Agricultural Fair at The St. Johns County Fairgrounds in Elkton has a midway, agricultural and livestock shows, plus live entertainment from The Robinson Family, The Morse Family Band, Cailin Nicole Eadie, The Restless Kind, Battersby Duo and the Doctor Magic Show (www.stjohnsfair.com). |
| 20th to 30th |
The 32nd Annual Broward County Fair is at the Fort Lauderdale Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (www.browardcountyfair.com). |
Other Events including Holiday Season
|
| October 4th to end of November |
An unusual attraction is Scott's Corn Maze at Long & Scott Farms, about 30 miles northwest of Orlando which is open weekends. This year the maze covers 6.5 acres and the theme is "Fishing for Kids" and there is also an adventure park with a 60 foot slide and hayrides (www.longandscottfarms.com). |
| November 22nd to January 31st, 2008 |
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). |
| November 28th to January 4th, 2008 |
Historic Bok Sanctuary kick off the holiday season with Christmas at Pinewood: A Jolly Jazzy Holiday Home Tour in Pinewood Estate's 1930s Mediterranean Revival mansion plus parties, concerts, family days, Santa visits and Shop at Bok night events (www.boksanctuary.org). |
| 25th |
Nearly 2 million sparkling lights are used to Light Up Mount Dora in Donnelly Park and Downtown Mount Dora with a Community Choir, Ballet, Soloist, Singalongs and Santa (www.mountdora.com). |
