April brings warmer weather and many fun activities to the ORO area. Thanks to Dee Sordillo, we have the following list of local activities to explore:
- Thru April 3: Bloody Murder (Lake Wales)
- A group of British murder-mystery types gather for a weekend retreat. Suddenly, one of them dies, but her Ladyship refuses to summon the police. Agatha Christie meets Pirandello, as characters rebel against their author.
- Thru April 10: The Spider or the Fly
- In this thriller, two stories unfold simultaneously in the same space, but in different time frames. One couple meets while serving on a jury, and get romantically involved. At the same time, another couple weaves through their unusual relationship that has ties to the jury case.
- Thru April 17: Suds, The Rocking 60s Soap Opera
- This musical tells the story of a down-on-her-luck laundress and the guardian angels who come to teach her about finding true love. Suds is loaded with more than 50 well-known songs that topped the charts in the 1960s, including Please Mr. Postman, Johnny Angel, Chapel of Love, Walk on By, and Respect.
- April 5-16: UCF Celebrates the Arts
- UCF brings many artists to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate the things that make our world more interesting and beautiful. This multi-day celebration offers award-winning concerts in the new Steinmetz Hall, lectures and discussions, multimedia events, chamber music, and much more.
- April 8-17: Enzian Film Festival
- This festival showcases current, independent, and international cinema. More than 180 films and many events allow you to mingle with filmmakers and celebrities over hand-crafted cocktails and a delicious menu at Eden Bar and inside the theater.
- April 9: Cirque Goes Broadway
- Cirque de la Symphonie returns with memorable Broadway show tunes from Wicked, Chicago, Cats, West Side Story, and more. The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is joined on stage by aerialists and acrobats.
- April 9-10: Cedar Key Celebration of the Arts
- The festival is now recognized as one of the top small-town art fairs in the nation. About 100 high-quality artists and 15-18,000 visitors each year enjoy a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
- April 15-17: Coquina Beach Crab & Music Festival
- This new festival has the most to offer on Saturday and Sunday. Friday starts in the early evening once setup is complete.
- April 23-24: Elation and Dissent
- Works of Nathanial Dett, Joel Thompson, and Florence Price are explored by the Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra and guest soloists.
Ongoing Architecture & Arts Opportunities
Our area offers opportunities to explore architecture:
- Florida Heritage Trail Downtown Tour
- Frank Lloyd Wright (Florida Southern College)
- Gene Leedy Audio Driving Tour
- Polk County Citrus Label Tour
- Polk County History and Heritage Trail
Our area also offers opportunities to enjoy the arts:
- Florida Wildflower Studios
- Lake Wales Arts Council
- Lakeland Art Guild
- Mennello Museum
- Polk Museum of Art
- Ridge Art Association
Ongoing Activities
- Kissimmee Parks and Recreation
- Kissimmee offers many recreational areas including the Lakefront Park and many trails and bike paths.
- Flat Island Preserve
- This botanical area south of Leesburg offers may hiking, biking, and paddling opportunities.
- West Orange Trail
- Enjoy more than 22 miles of paved trails from the Orange/Lake County line through downtown Apopka to Welch Road. Stop and enjoy the butterfly garden at the Tildenville outpost.
- Enzian Theater
- This single-screen cinema café strives to entertain, inspire, educate, and connect the community through film.
- Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
- The orchestra includes creative musicians and artists from around the world and annually presents many captivating performances. The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s vision is to enrich, inspire, and serve the Central Florida community through the transformative power of live music.
- Hamburger Mary’s
- Located in downtown Orlando, Hamburger Mary’s is a great place to eat, drink, and enjoy one of their weekly events, such as female impersonators.
- Wonder House (Bartow, FL)
- The Wonder House is a private residence in Bartow that offers historic tours by online, advance reservation.
- Historic Mount Dora Walking Tour
- The unique architecture of the historic homes and buildings provide insight into the development of downtown Mount Dora since the late 1800s. The walking tour is available on the free Distrx Mobile App and guides you through downtown with a narrated tour and a number of stops.
- Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team
- The ski team provides a FREE performance the third Saturday of each month.
- Albin Polasek Sculpture Garden & Museum
- By reservation only, explore the inspired world of internationally-acclaimed Czech sculptor Albin Polasek. You can tour his home, galleries, and sculpture gardens located in Winter Park on Lake Osceola.
- Scenic Boat Tour
- These tours use an 18-passenger boat to explore the pristine Winter Park chain of Lakes.
- Charles Hosmer Morse Museum
- This museum has the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933), including jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass lamps and windows, and more.
- Jacaranda Hotel (Avon Park)
- This historic hotel is available all week and the Grand Buffet is available on Sundays.
- Historic Tours at the Howey Mansion
- Enjoy these 1-hour tours to see the progress as they work tirelessly to restore William J. Howey’s prized mansion to its original grandeur! Reservations are required for these $20 tours.
- Lake Griffin Kayak & Canoe Tours
- These tours provide kayaks and canoes as part of their most popular program. Join them for a great paddle and an educational experience on the water!
- City of Clermont Senior Programs
- Clermont offers social activities, fitness classes, games, discussion groups, guest lectures, field trips, and more through its Champions for a Lifetime programming.
- Lunch with the Mayor (Clermont, FL)
- This lunch is offered on the first Monday of each month. For other opportunities and activities, see Clermont Events.
- Lake County Historical Society
- Enjoy an interactive tour from city to city to learn about the citrus history.
- Lake County Trails (Mt Pleasant)
- The trails connect to the Wekiva Trail System for multi-use with bathhouses and covered picnic areas.
- Lake Apopka Trail and Drive Guide
- This 11 mile wildlife and historic tour has an audio recording available for use.