The City of Altamonte Springs puts on their Independence Day Celebration and fireworks show every…read moreyear on the 3rd of July and the call it Red Hot & Boom. We love that they pick the 3rd because it opens an opportunity to see another show on the 4th, thanks for that! After last years celebration, we were very saddened to hear that 2023 was going to be their last year putting this event on. I guess the public outcry was so great that they decided Red Hot & Boom must go on, and we are so glad it did. In my opinion, it's the best fireworks display in the central Florida region, I can say that because I've been to all the big events several times over the course of my 24 years living in the area. Who else has two identical displays going off simultaneously,with and extended finale, one on the west side and the other on the east side of Cranes Roost Park. Nobody else does this but The City of Altamonte Springs, so Thank You for continuing this tradition!!! As always, there is plenty of food, beer, and merchant vendors on site. There was at least 65 Porto John's available with hand sanitizer stations. There was five bands who kept us entertained all the way up to the moment before the fireworks were launched. Great job City of Altamonte Springs and a big Thank You to all of the sponsors for keeping this show going, us little people truly appreciate it!

Red Hot & Boom in Altamonte Springs on July 3rd, 2022 was seriously the best fireworks celebration…read morein a long time. This was super organized. It is free to get in and free to park. There is tons of space to sit all around Cranes Roost Park. Bring your chairs and blankets. I'd say bring those chairs so you are most comfortable. The sponsors really did a good job including the local radio station bringing some great entertainment and pop singers. It was very fun filled. The fireworks were in so many directions and they were huge and eye popping and had some energetic music with it. This was a blast and really made for a perfect independence celebration. This will definitely be a must do every year now. After seeing these fireworks, other fireworks are very difficult to beat.

We love coming out to the annual Longwood art's and crafts festival. If you don't already know,…read moreTomorrow, 11/24, is the last day, so be sure to check it out. I have to say there are more crafts than paintings, drawings, or photography type media. Regardless, there is still a lot to see and it's worth the stop. It took us a few hours to get through all the vendors, so bring your walking shoes. There are plenty of food vendors on site, there are two small areas where they have live music, and there is a decent sized kids zone available with bounce houses and more. Parking is ample, but get here early because it's more difficult to find a spot after 11am. I'm not too happy with how they positioned the vendors this year. Usually there's a lot more space in the street and walkways. This year it was so cramped it was creating bottlenecks for people with walkers and wheelchairs. My mom was using a walker and struggled to get through. I felt like I was constantly in a way and had to move every time I tried to stop at a tent. My experience this year was more aggravating than enjoyable. Hopefully they fix this issue next time around. All-n-all, I would definitely return again next year and recommend stopping in if your in the area, why not, it's free entry and you just might find something great.

Large craft show with a great selection of gifts and goods. Plenty of food choices. BIG kid zone…read more Entertainment with two singers and guitar players. Lots of parking near event and at hospital. Free

This park is one of my favorites! it can get a bit busy but early morning and late nights are…read morealways so peaceful at the park! There's sometimes food trucks as well.

Crane's Roost Park is such a beautiful space not just for attending fireworks, festivals, concerts…read moreor other events. It's a great place to go for a walk. There were families taking a walk while others were fishing or having a picnic. A pair of photographers were out taking pictures of the wildlife in and around the park. The park grounds are kept and well maintained. There are plenty of parking spaces available with multiple access points to the park. On our walk, we came across a food truck that was stationed near the park. Culinary Concepts by Chef Pierre offers a variety of food options from burgers, fish sandwiches to shrimp and ribs. Chef Pierre can be found on Thursdays and Fridays at different locations/apartment complexes. We ordered the Fried Fish, French Fries and Coleslaw combo. We did, however, opted out of the French Fries. The Fish was fried golden brown and was crispy. The Coleslaw was fresh and delicious. Chef Pierre and his staff were friendly and welcoming. We have been searching for new parks to frequent since we recently moved to the area. Crane's Roost Park is definitely at the top of our list and now our go to park. We will also keep a look out for Culinary Concepts by Chef Pierre next time we visit Crane's Roost Park.

We attended this event to market a mortgage company here. We were able to spend time to enjoy the…read morelocal artwork and I did really like 3 artists. We plan to look them up in the near future to purchase. This event featured not only local art but beer and German food. Many vendors were there to raise money, earn money or just for networking purposes. We tried a few food items, grilled bratwurst with brotchen and sauerkraut. The bratwurst was grilled nice but all was far from authentic. There were other wine vendors there, if only I drank wine, I'd probably enjoy it. The event was descent and it was a great way to bring people together to advertise and network.

We love this event and have been going every since since at least 2015!…read more The event keeps getting better and better each year! There are a ton of GREAT artists showcasing their artwork (everything from paintings to photos to jewelry, sculptures, carvings and more) and a lot more! Some local businesses have booths there, too, which allows for the best of both worlds! The food is pretty good, too, although we don't really go for the food. They DO have some German food trucks, which fit the theme, and other options that are pretty good. Alcohol is also available. But it's a great event with a lot to do. They also seem to have this event on pleasant weekends (weather-wise) which is nice! It's a great family event, or if you're single and ready to mingle, it's good for that, too! I've seen all crowds at this event, which makes it even more fun! If you're looking for something fun and relaxing to do, I'd recommend this event!

It's hard to believe the Maitland Jazz and blues Festival has been going on for 20 years now, where…read moredoes the time go?! We stopped in to check this event out last Saturday and it was a blast. Two days and 12 bands. Unfortunately we were only able to catch the last two bands. There was also two stages which helped with breaking up the crowds. This is in a busy part of Maitland, although parking is available in several locations, it can be tricky finding it since many of the main entrances to the park are blocked. It's free entry to the event. If you plan on staying all day be sure to bring a chair or a blanket to sit on. Also know that pets were not allowed at the event and you could not bring your own drinks or coolers in. There are a lot of food trucks on site along with several other vendors selling goods, jewelry & such, plus several areas for sampling their food/product. If you're not in the mood for any of that you could always opt for Boku sushi, or Kelly's Homemade Ice cream which are also great options. If we planned better we could have spent an entire day here it looked like it was a great time for the community. If you're in the area when this event takes place next year, I recommend checking it out.

Jazz and blues at the park! What more do I need to say? Wonderful event with local and traveling…read morejazz and blues bands playing original tracks and obviously playing some classics. The afternoon was perfect. They had beer stands, food stands/trucks and even a small little artisan market to buy Florida made items. The park is beautiful and was able to host two stages to eliminate down time between bands, and it has plenty of trees to set up your chairs to enjoy the music in the shade. Was definitely kid friendly with a small playground area to keep them entertained. The bands were spectacular which made for such an entertaining and relaxing afternoon. Can't wait for next year's lineup.

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.

What an absolutely fun event here in Maitland! I found this event by accident on purpose. I…read moreregularly search "free things to do near me" & try to do a new event every weekend to shake things up with my friend lol. He's never done a movie in the park, so the actually movie is what sold him on the event. The city of Maitland did such a great job! There was free, fresh popcorn, sodas for $1, & they had a raffle for 4 free tickets to the Orlando Science Museum (we didn't win). There was a dj, plenty of space to sit, & they were able to shut off the park lights during the movie l, but they left the lights on in the trees which created a surreal atmosphere. It was my first time seeing Back to the Future, and I'm glad that it was so memorable! Can't wait to do this again!

An Intellectual Playground for Curious Minds Finding a…read moredestination that manages to be both profoundly educational and genuinely captivating for children is rare, yet the Orlando Science Center, featured in image_2.png, achieves this balance with remarkable success. It is an ideal environment to dedicate an entire day to exploration, offering a depth of engagement that holds the attention of young minds while remaining intellectually stimulating. The facility's approach to hands-on exhibits is sophisticated and well-structured, fostering a genuine interest in scientific inquiry. From the intricacies of the planetarium shows to the immersive nature of the giant-screen and 3-D films, every element of the museum is curated to facilitate active learning. It is an impressive example of how to make complex subjects accessible and exciting for a broad audience. For any family seeking an environment where curiosity is not just encouraged but actively facilitated, this center stands out as a highly rewarding experience.

This has to be the best science museums in Florida. I…read morebecame a member of the Orlando science center over Christmas break because we had so much fun on our first visit and now I get emails all the time about fun new events going on at the museum. One of them happened to be the mess fest that was going on this past weekend. So we decided to head out to Orlando and let me tell you it was so much fun!! They transformed one of their rooms into a fun place for the kids to get messy. You were catapulting scrunchie balls covered in paint onto a canvas sheet. There was another area where they were doing little bottle rockets with paint and Alka-Seltzer. That my kids absolutely LOVED. They also had scribble bots, a raffle painting for canvas paintings but that's not all because they had other stuff going on different floors. We got to make our own slime and we even got to go outside and watch them use liquid nitrogen to cause a bubbly explosion that the kids got to play afterwards. This was a 10 out of 10 experience.