Monday, August 16, 2021

Fun Things to Do This Fall in Orlando

With more than 130 days of Orlando food-centric events, all-new Halloween experiences and the return of fall-favorite cultural festivals, The Theme Park Capital of the World® has a full lineup of fun for everyone in the family. 

Photo Courtesy: Gatorlando

For the full schedule of this year’s fall festivities, go to VisitOrlando.com.  

WINE AND DINE  

Foodies will be thrilled to hear that Walt Disney World is hosting the longest-ever Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, which will join other top-notch returning favorites:  

  • Guests can dine on haute cuisine without burning through their budget during Visit Orlando's Magical Dining (Aug. 27 – Oct. 3), when more than 80 of Central Florida's top restaurants feature three-course, prix fixe dinner menus for $37.  
  • At the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (July 15 – Nov. 20), guests can savor exciting and unexpected flavors from around the globe as they circle the iconic World Showcase. This delicious celebration features 129 days of foodie fun, including a menu of new flavors and sips along with live entertainment, family activities and more. Guests are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets and make park reservations in advance. 
  • The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic (Oct. 29-30) will return for its 12th year, treating guests to a street party festival with unlimited food and beverage tastings at more than 20 food stations with over 100 beverage selections, featuring culinary selections from the hotel’s award-winning restaurants and wine from around the world.  


Photo Courtesy: SeaWorld


HALLOWEEN THRILLS  

It’s no wonder Orlando is the Halloween Vacation Capital®, beckoning visitors with world-class haunted houses, kid-friendly trick-or-treating and more. Hauntingly delightful festivities and ghoulish fun come together with the addition of a brand new Howl-O-Scream event at SeaWorld Orlando, returning favorites like Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort and plenty of mellow Halloween fun beyond the theme parks. 

Spooky Theme Park Events 

  • Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort (Sept. 3 – Oct. 31) celebrates 30 years of terrifying haunted houses, sinister scare zones and outrageous live entertainment. Halloween Horror Nights legend, “Beetlejuice,” will make his return to this year’s event after premiering in 1991. As Halloween Horror Nights 2021 celebrates a milestone year, this former host will become the supernatural star of a bone-chilling haunted house based on the “Beetlejuice” film. Another fan favorite, Jack the Clown, will be returning in 2021, as well as all-new mazes inspired by Netflix’s critically-acclaimed series “The Haunting of Hill House.”  
  • Walt Disney World is introducing an all-new Halloween-themed event called, Disney After Hours Boo Bash. The Magic Kingdom Park festivities will take place on select nights, Aug. 10 to Oct. 31, starting at 9 p.m., and will include Halloween-themed cavalcades, character sightings throughout the park, special performances by the Cadaver Dans, spooky décor and more. Guests young, old and immortal can dress in costume for the occasion and get their fill of Halloween candy at trick-or-treat stations around the park. 
  • SeaWorld Orlando guests can experience two Halloween-themed events this year: 
    • For the first time in Orlando, Howl-O-Scream will terrorize guests on select nights starting Sept. 10 through Oct. 31. Fear will fill the night at SeaWorld Orlando with fright-inducing haunted houses and scare zones; thrilling rides and experiences; an interactive bar and an electrifying live show. 
    • Little ones can dress up in their favorite costumes to trick-or-treat and meet silly Halloween characters at the SeaWorld Spooktacular family friendly daytime event on weekends from Sept. 18 to Oct. 31. 

Scares Beyond the Theme Parks 

  • Screamin' Green Hauntoween at Crayola Experience celebrates the Halloween season with monster-ific crafts and spooky surprises for the entire family. Dance parties and trick-or-treating are offered on weekends, while weekdays include scavenger hunts, live slime shows and SLIME TIME, a spooky, sticky art class.   
  • Gatorland‘s “Gators, Ghosts and Goblins” event returns for its second year (weekends from Oct. 9-31). Fun and spooky adventures await the whole family, from specially themed shows to ghoulish selfie zones and “Frank & Stein’s” Octoberfest Pavilion.  
  • Scream n' Stream Drive-Thru Halloween Experience at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures (select nights Sept. 17 – Oct. 31) is an interactive, socially distant drive-thru horror adventure featuring goblins, zombies and more.

FALL FESTIVALS  

  • IMMERSE 2021 (Oct. 15-17) transforms 10 blocks of downtown Orlando into an epic celebration of the arts with live performances from musicians, trampoline acrobats, dancers and more.  
  • Come Out With Pride Orlando (Oct. 9) is returning for an in-person celebration at Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando.9) Now in its 17th year, Orlando's Come Out With Pride festival is a celebration of LGBTQ pride and support. In addition, the 2021 National Trans Visibility March will be held in on the same day in collaboration with Come Out With Pride Orlando. This is the first-time the march will occur outside of Washington, D.C.  
  • Fall Fiesta in the Park returns for its 50th year at Lake Eola Park (Nov. 6-7). The downtown Orlando family- and pet-friendly festival features arts and crafts by local artisans, live entertainment and food, as well as a Kidszone.  
  • The 8th annual iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina will be held for the first time at Amway Center on Saturday, Oct. 16. The star-studded lineup will feature Wisin & Yandel, Prince Royce, Luis Fonsi, Natti Natasha, Zion & Lennox, Lunay, Mariah Angeliq and a special performance from J Balvin. Tickets start at $40. 
  • The Electric Daisy Carnival will celebrate its 25th year with the best in electronic dance music, full-size carnival rides, performers and art. EDC Orlando will take place at Tinker Field Nov. 12-14. 

Photo Courtesy: Boggy Creek