IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

By Riesa Pascal

STYLE EVENTS, NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND ORLANDO

How are we already more than halfway through 2023? Year after year, I never cease to be amazed when the time comes for us to publish our July/ August Summer Double Issue which goes to show that the old adage “time flies when you’re having fun” is more than true when you live in the City Beautiful. In fact, let’s take a look at some of our favorite events from June, just in case you missed it!

June was Bite30 month and foodies across the city were eager to start the celebrations! Bite30 is Orlando's 30+ Day Restaurant Week featuring the best local restaurants and chefs driving Orlando's culinary scene. Participating restaurants offered special prix fixe menus with multi-course dinners at a set price of $35 per person. Diners delighted in the opportunity to try multiple dishes on the restaurant’s menu for the cost of a single entree, and restaurants got to showcase their specialty dishes to the new customers attracted by the Bite30 menu. It was a win-win for all!

From June 10th-11th, retailers at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets hosted several on-site and in-store activations to entertain shoppers all weekend long in honor of National Outlet Shopping Day. Shopping enthusiasts could visit Prada, MCM, Tumi, and Longchamp for luxury in-store experiences, and then stop by Under Armour, Columbia Sportswear, and Haagen-Daz for exclusive offers and fun family activities. Onsite entertainment included a live DJ, a Gif camera selfie booth, face painting, air brush tattoos, lawn games and even the opportunity to build your own floral bouquets.

“The Florida Vintage Market” is a unique outdoor shopping experience in the heart of downtown Orlando with over 30 local vendors. On June 11th, the community pop-up market took over Ivanhoe Park Brewing and invited shoppers to explore their vendor offerings and enjoy a curated variety of vintage clothing, sustainable fashion, street wear, custom clothing, sneakers, makers, artists, food trucks, drinks from the brewery, and so much more!

From June 16th-17th, Harry Potter fans across the city got to see when Harry discovered a mysterious potions book in CineConcerts’ presentation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ in Concert! Projected onto a giant screen at Dr. Phillips Center and accompanied by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, attendees joined in on Harry’s adventures as never before. Nicholas Hooper’s wonderful score and this classic tale combined to deliver all the adventure, humor, and suspense fans expected in an experience that will never be forgotten.

Lake Lily Park was a hub of history, culture and love on June 17th for the Central Florida Juneteenth Celebration! Attendees joined Jo-Jo of Star 94.5 to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States in a fun and engaging atmosphere. The event proved to be a memorable occasion filled with lively music, delicious food and inspiring cultural performances. Visitors of all races were encouraged to come out and learn about the history of Juneteenth and its significance to the African American community. The beautiful family-friendly event brought the Juneteenth celebrations to a close with an epic fireworks show that was a delight for all.

Orlando knows how to do brunch so Orlando Brunchfest aimed to celebrate some of the best local restaurants serving up tasting size portions of the brunch items they do best. On June 24th, the event took over Festival Park featuring bottomless brunch beverages – Bloody Marys, Mimosas, Blue Chair Bay Rum Brunch Punch, and beer. Attendees also got to enjoy live music with an onstage DJ giving away cash prizes, XFL season passes and promotional giveaways from event sponsors. Proceeds from the Orlando Brunchfest were donated to the wedding charity WeddingWish.org.

The highly-anticipated Pineapple Festival returned to Lake Nona Town Center on June 24th! The Puerto Rican-themed street festival inspired by the Festival De La Piña Paradisíaca featured live music, authentic food, incredible entertainment, and a kid’s zone! The vibrant event was open to the public and free for all to enjoy. A variety of artisanal vendors provided attendees with the perfect excuse to do some impromptu shopping with everything from crafts and jewelry to henna tattoos and much more.

Thanks to the generous support of Wawa, Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales was pleased to offer Wawa Summer Fun Days with complimentary admission from June 29th-30th! The partnership began in 2021 and the offer was expanded in 2022 when over 12,000 participants received complimentary admission to the Central Florida park. Summer Fun Days continue July 27th28th, August 24th-25th, and September 28-29 2023 so make sure you pre-register to receive complimentary tickets!