We went to the Orlando Beer Festival with VIP tickets, which were supposed to include early entry,…read morea commemorative glass, a t-shirt, a private VIP area with food, covered seating, bathrooms, and private parking. On paper, it sounded great, but the event itself felt very unorganized. When we arrived, the VIP parking lot was completely unmanned. I spent about 30 minutes trying to find someone to confirm we were parked correctly, but no one seemed to know anything about the parking or who I could even talk to. Honestly, anyone could have parked there without being checked. Inside, the beer stations were set up way too close together, which made the flow of traffic feel cramped even though there was plenty of space available. It was a hot day, and unless you were in the VIP area, there was no shade to take a break. The food trucks were outside the event space with no seating, which made grabbing food inconvenient. The turnout was low, and overall the vibe felt pretty "blah" compared to other beer festivals I've attended. On the positive side, there were a lot of quality vendors, and we had fun interacting with them. I even discovered a few new breweries I'll visit later. But the organization issues kept piling up. As we were leaving, we asked about our VIP glasses at the entrance, and the staff had no idea what we meant. We were sent to the information booth, where my husband was questioned about whether he was really leaving before they finally pulled the glasses out from under the table. There was no signage or clear instructions for VIPs about how to get them. We did get our t-shirts in the VIP section, but again, nothing was clearly communicated. Overall, despite some good beer and friendly vendors, the event was poorly organized from start to finish. Between the parking confusion, lack of shade, and unclear VIP perks, it just wasn't worth it. I won't be going back to this particular beer festival.

I've been attending this event for a couple of years now, and I really enjoy it--even though I'm…read morenot a beer drinker. What I love about this festival is that it offers so many options beyond beer, giving you the chance to sample a wide variety of products. This year, we had VIP access, which included food from restaurants like Marlow's and Solita's. The food was delicious. One thing that stood out this year was the number of THC-infused beverages and hemp products available, which was new to me. Overall, I enjoyed walking around, trying different products, and collecting the fun swag they hand out. The event is always hosted in the Milk District, and I'm already looking forward to next year's festival.

The Uptown Art Expo in Altamonte Springs is one of my favorite art festivals in the area, and…read morehere's why: (1) many of the artists featured are the same incredible talent you'll see at the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, and (2) the festival consistently showcases some of the best local bands around. This event is free to attend, which is a huge plus. While parking is limited in the immediate Cranes Roost area, there's plenty of parking at the Altamonte Springs Mall lot. If you arrive early enough, it's just a short walk to the festival location. The expo offers a wide range of art, including blown glass, sculptures, jewelry, oil paintings, watercolors, wood carvings, photography, drawings, pastels, leather work, 3D printing, and more. Some of the standout artists this year included Jeff & Dayana, who showcased their stunning butterfly art--these butterflies from Papua New Guinea are truly unique and difficult to acquire. I also loved Fauna Toys--the wooden toys and puzzles reminded me of the ones my dad used to make for me. Lily Links' custom chainmail work was mind-blowing. She had a gelatin square encased in chainmail, which took her 90 hours to make. It was so cool, and her silver and aluminum necklace for $60 was an amazing deal. There was even a moonshine and rum tasting area, which definitely made me consider a future purchase. The food vendors were plentiful, offering a variety of diverse and delicious options--something for everyone! One downside, though, were the drink prices. At $8 for a beer and $9+ for mixed drinks, it felt a bit steep. However, the VIP concert tickets were very reasonably priced. General VIP tickets were only $16.50, which gave you access to seating anywhere in the coliseum area. For just $4 more, you could sit closer to the stage in a fold-up chair. Either way, it was a great deal to see some amazing local bands up close. Just make sure to buy your tickets in advance because prices go up on the day of the show. If you don't want to buy VIP tickets, you can still enjoy the concert from the general seating area on the left side of the stage, though the view can be a bit obstructed. The bands this year were incredible: Skin Deep (one of the best bands in Orlando), Night Snake (a fantastic Whitesnake tribute), Absolute Queen (playing all the greatest Queen hits), and Slippery When Wet (a Bon Jovi tribute band that never disappoints). All in all, the Uptown Art Expo is a perfect way to spend the day with family and friends. You can enjoy exceptional art, great food, drinks, and some of the best live music in the area. If you haven't experienced the Art Expo yet, I highly recommend marking it on your calendar for next year!

March 2025. This event goes on Friday Saturday and Sunday…read more But they only have the art show on Saturday and Sunday. They have 3 days of music that's what we come for. Friday night was u Ultimate Queen tribute band and they were pretty good. You can sit on the left for free or you can pay $15 to sit in the bleachers in the front of the band Saturday was the art show so we came early and looked at all the art and crafts very unique stuff. We bought a few small items and some warm caramel pecans that were delicious. The second night was a Whitesnake and Bon Jovi tribute band both were awesome! We lucked out this year with having good weather and a breeze not too hot. Sunday is going to bring rain so if you go get out there early. Plenty of parking in the mall parking lot over by Dillard's. Also make sure you check out the chalk art and the Butterfly Man! These people are so talented.

I came as a guest to their wine club dinner once again and was again taken aback by the extreme…read morehigh quality of the food and service. Their new Chef is fantastic!

Food quantity: 9/10 Food quality: 8/10…read moreService: 9/10 Ambience: 9/10 Overall rating: 8.5/10 Decent food, good for corporate events, parking can be difficult to find.

Another amazing evening listening to Jerrod Armstrong play the sax ! We are frequent guest and…read moresince tonight was the last night of magical dining and my aunts birthday, we partied with Jerrod and enjoyed our dinner and cocktails ! See you next Wednesday!

I came for the first time tonight for Magical Dining with a large group and we had a great time. It…read morewas a Wednesday night so they had a live band and painter and the place was packed. When we were seated, they let us know we only had 2 hours at our table as they had another reservation afterwards but they were more lenient with the actual time. The music was loud but lovely and the band knew how to engage the crowd playing R&B hits. The food was tasty and we especially loved the wings, short rib, and honestly all the desserts. The brownie is more of a souffle and was massive. Our server made some great recommendations and was very friendly. We saw him running around like crazy to all his tables and it seemed like he could've used some more help as we had to wait at times on our water being refilled, getting leftovers packed up to go, and closing out our checks. The vibe was great and we will definitely be back!

What a great time! This annual event, sponsored by Crisco, is reminiscent of a small town's fair…read more Friendly people abound here, and Pie Pride oozes from every single booth. There are markets, bakeries, and restaurants galore here, all keen to have you taste either their take on a traditional, or point you with special glee towards their own creations. The weather cooperated, the band was great, people struck up conversations with strangers, and everyone got a little sun. I'm awfully glad that Yelp made this a Yelp Event. I didn't see any other Yelpistas, but then again, my eyes were looking at all that deliciousness..... So, come tomorrow- or next year. And, keep you eyes on the pies!!!

One of the best events we have each year is the Great American Pie Festival over at Celebration! I…read morehave gone to this even for the past 4 years in a row and it always is worth the drive. This year, I was lucky enough to get free entry into the never ending pie buffet from our friends at Yelp! Thanks Colleen for the pie! Since parking can be a nightmare even without events at Celebration, we always park by a friends house over by the high school and walk over. It only takes about 10 min to walk over and besides, it is a nice walk back to the car to walk off some of the pie we just inhaled. We arrived on Saturday around 1 pm and found the crowds this year to be a bit lighter than in the past. After checking in with the info booth and getting our wrist bands, we enjoyed checking out all the vendors and seeing if their was any arts and crafts we might want. There is a large booth that sells t-shirts, cookbooks and of course pies! This year, there were also a larger amount of food vendors selling the normal fair type foods. We did not indulge since we were saving room for pie. They also had a zip line contraption that looked like fun. We made our way over to the pie buffet entry. You must have a wrist band or you cant get in! The pie police are watching you. Once inside, we armed ourselves with plastic forks ( I suggest bringing your own metal one if you like) and then started to check out all the booths. There seemed to be less vendors than in the past. Publix and Winn Dixie were there as well as Kroger's and the Village inn. All make great pies but the ones I enjoy most are from some of the more independent pie companies that make unusual combinations of flavors. Bakers Square, Bonerts, Legendary Baking, and Wicks pies are these types of vendors. Yet this year, they only seemed to have a few flavors to try while in the past, they might have 10 or more types. My favorite of all time was a chocolate coated frozen cheesecake on a stick.... but alas, it was not there this year. Sniff Sniff... All in all, it was still a great feast! I will say that most people can eat about 5 or 6 slices before they are done but one friend of mine ate 10 slices! Oink! Some people like to eat one slice at a time while others stop at each booth, grab the ones they want, and then find a place to spread them all out and eat them one by one. After our pig out, we continued to check out many of the other booths that circle the stage. Crisco is the main sponsor but there are also booths for Duncan Hines, Smuckers, and Dunkin Donuts. Duncan was having a bit of a scavenger hunt with their new stir in flavors of frosting. You had to collect all 12 of the flavors and then visit their booth to be in a drawing for prizes. I collected them all, got my ticket for the hourly drawing but never got back to see if I won... oh well... There was also the appearance of Poppin Fresh! and Pie man! Always popular and sometimes a line to get a photo with them. The main stage had an assortment of entertainment including comedian Kirk Marsh, singer Dean Daniels and guest chefs David Sloan and Brian Ehrenholm. If you want something fun to do and love pie, I do recommend checking out the pie festival. The normal entry for adults is $10 and if you eat enough pie, it pays for itself. Our best tip would be go in... eat pie... walk around and enjoy the booths and sights... then go back again for more pie! (Then take a really long walk back to your car!) Enjoy!

I've been attending Porchfest since its inception, and it continues to grow each year. What started…read morewith just a handful of porches and a few bands has blossomed into a vibrant event featuring 18 porches and 72 bands--it's truly amazing to see how much it's expanded! In the early days, you could easily hop between porches to catch all the bands, including the main headliner, but now, with so many bands and multiple headliners, planning ahead is key. I recommend checking the band schedule in advance, watching their YouTube videos, and deciding who you want to see. However, if you're attending with a group, you might have to adjust your plans on the fly. The event runs all day, starting at 11 a.m. with bands kicking off at noon and the last set finishing around 7:45 p.m. To avoid traffic, plan to arrive by 10 a.m., as parking can be a challenge. We live in Sanford and typically use our bicycles or golf cart to get there. This year, we took the golf cart and parked about a 5-minute walk away at 11th Street and Magnolia Avenue. Keep in mind, the event spans Myrtle, Magnolia, Park, and Oak Streets between 5th and 12th Streets, so expect plenty of walking. Comfortable shoes, sun gear, and a light jacket are essential, and bringing your own cooler with drinks, food, and chairs will make your day more enjoyable. Food trucks are plentiful at the event, but since it's a family-friendly gathering, alcohol is not sold on-site. You're welcome to bring your own beverages, but remember to drink responsibly to keep the atmosphere fun and respectful. There's a strong police presence, and streets are blocked off to ensure everyone's safety. Two areas for improvement: There were long lines at the Porto-lets, especially in high-traffic spots, and they weren't consistently maintained by staff like you might see at larger events. While not a deal breaker, having more attention in this area would enhance the experience, particularly for families. Additionally, some trash receptacles weren't being emptied regularly, which affected cleanliness. Overall, Porchfest is a must-see event. It's the largest outdoor gathering in Sanford and a fantastic way to spend a day--exploring historic homes, enjoying great music, and making memories with friends and family.

The Sanford Porch Festival is free. They have a perimeter with the streets closed to traffic…read more There were 19 bands with a variety of music. For food they had food trucks. They had Porta Potties but they should have had more of them for the number of people attending. Also, parking was hard to find. Some people brought lawn chairs to watch the bands. Other people brought their dogs with them.

Enjoyed the festival, great crowd, wonderful arts and crafts. We had a meal at Bistro.read more

This is perhaps one of the largest street festivals in the Orlando area. Many out of town visitors…read morecome not only to sell their art, but also to purchase art. There are kids activities, plus a food truck row, so if art is not your thing, or collecting, maybe eating will entice you to visit. There is space for parking (at a fee), and live entertainment. It is a great time/place to visit.

Really like Avalon Park in Orlando. They have great festivities, pretty easy parking, and we have…read morebeen for their drone show and now their fireworks. They happened right at 9 pm and they were great at the beginning but super smokey towards the end. There's lots of vendors and food trucks and you can also check out the local vendors in their shops. We like to go to the bakery Colombia, & the Marketplace which is their food hall. Everything is very walkable in this area and it is quite festive. Fireworks are around the lake. People bring their chairs and their blankets.

This was my first year attending this delightful little celebration. It is held in Downtown Avalon…read morePark from 4pm-9pm. Initially, I thought that it would be a bust due to the rain, however, the rain only lasted about 20-30 minutes and then it was back to sunshine time. Once the sun was shining again, the streets began to quickly fill up with people out to enjoy the Holiday. The various vendors were lined up along Avalon Lake Drive and Avalon Park E. Blvd. The Avalon Town Park hosted live music in the amphitheater. In Founder's Square there was a split between a DJ and live music along with the excitement of the Gyro-x-treme ride. There was a decent number of food trucks and food stands to select from. Many of the prices ranged from $3-12. Also, there were plenty of samples and flyers being handed out. I tried a pineapple-mango smoothie, beef skirt steak with seasoned fried (Lahteeno), a cheese steak empanada, kettle corn and cake (Sweeter Than The Rest). All of it was pretty good, although if I ventured out for Lahteeno again, I would try something different. About 5 minutes to 9 pm. a short show of fireworks started at Avalon Lake and then promptly at 9 pm the main fireworks show began in the field (on Avalon Park W Blvd between Tanja King Blvd and Avalon Lake Dr). The show lasted about 20 minutes and ended with a great sparkling finale. Afterwards, all who were either not ready to go home or didn't want to be involved in the out-rushing traffic jam continued on with vendors that decided not to close up at 9 pm or headed over the the Mulberry Street Bar and Grill. Overall, it was a pretty cool experience and I would attend again.