It's the weekend and with no shortage of things to do here in Orlando, we've chosen all the fun and FREE EVENTS that are taking place throughout the weekend here in the city beautiful.
Best FREE Things To Do In Orlando This Weekend
FRIDAY AUGUST 18, 2023
Friday Muscle Car Show & Cruise
Weekly, Every Friday
Join the heart pounding excitement of high-performance engines and true horse power for our Muscle Car Show every Friday night at Old Town in Kissimmee. The Friday Muscle Car Show will begin at 3:00pm and the qualifications are show-quality muscle and factory-performance cars from 1964 and newer and classics from 1985 and older. Cars will cruise at 8:30pm and all cars registered can participate.
Winter Garden Friday on the Plaza
Weekly, Every Friday
Come enjoy live music every Friday night on the Plaza in Winter Garden.
Art After Dark at Lake Nona
Weekly, Every Friday
Every Friday night, Art After Dark takes over Lake Nona Town Center from 6 pm, and it's a perfect free night out for the whole family.
Enjoy a stroll through the Town Center as you explore hand crafted artisan products, and tasty cuisine. Be sure to grab a glass a wine, stay a while to enjoy the art displayed on the six story art installation, The Beacon.
Sunset Walk Fired-up Fridays
Weekly, Every Friday
Friday nights, the Promenade at Sunset Walk presents Fired-Up Fridays, a free Car & Truck Show event with all makes, models, and years welcome of show car quality.
Featuring music by DJ Scotty B and Company, plus the very best regional live bands.
The Promenade is home to over 2 dozen restaurants, retail shops, movie theaters, and entertainment options, located just ½ mile from the intersection of State Road 429 and U.S. 192, at 3251 Margaritaville Blvd. FREE admission and parking.
Little Listeners at Altamonte Library
Weekly, Every Friday
Experience stories brought to life at Altamonte Library with fun books, interactive rhymes and craft activities during Little Listeners Storytime every Friday at 11 a.m. Sessions are tailored for ages 3 to 5 to help foster a love of reading.
Sessions run for 30 minutes. Parents must stay with child. Reservations are required.
Free Bingo Night at District Eat and Play Oviedo
Weekly, Every Friday
Free Bingo each Friday night at District Eat and Play Oviedo Mall, Oviedo at 6pm.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2023
Apopka Police Department Cookies & Milk with Cops
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Join the Apopka Police Department at the North Orange Branch Library to meet the local police officers, enjoy a story, arts and crafts, and cookies and milk provided by LCL Food Services (McDonald's). This free event is held on the third Saturday of the month.
YMCA Winter Park's Backyard BBQ
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Get ready for an awesome time at the Winter Park YMCA’s Back-to-School Backyard BBQ, a free community event you won’t want to miss! Enjoy a day packed full of exciting activities and delightful treats.
Bring your whole family for games, crafts, and a blast of a time. This is not only a chance to have a great time but also an opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors in our wonderful community. Rain or shine, we’re making sure this event happens, no matter what!
BLK Joy Festival
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Join the Black Health Commission as they host the 3rd annual BLK JOY Festival at Lake Lorna Doone Park!
The free BLK JOY Festival is an event set for everyone to come together and center mental wellness. They will have community resources and tools, music, wellness activations, performances and more!
Saturday Special at Pioneer Village
Weekly, Every Saturday
Visit Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek 2491 Babb Road, Kissimmee every Saturday morning and enjoy a special activity. All materials will be provided with admission and is great for all ages.
Disney Springs Kids Club
Weekly, Every Saturday
Dance, play and be entertained at engaging shows for kids of all ages at the Disney Springs Kids Club, taking place every Saturday. Free Entertainment and Free Parking.
Live Music on the Lawn in Lake Nona
Weekly, Every Saturday
Live on the Lawn is your Saturday oasis to relax and recharge while listening to live music and playing lawn games with family and friends. Join Lake Nona from 11am – 3pm every Saturday!
Saturday Nite Classic Car Show & Cruise
Weekly, Every Saturday
Join Old Town in Kissimmee every Saturday and take a trip down memory lane. The Old Town Classic Car Show has been a local tradition for over 30 years, it is one of the premier weekly car shows in Central Florida. The Saturday Classic Car Show begins at 1:00pm and welcomes show-quality 1985 and older hot rods, street rods, and antiques. Cars will cruise at 8:30pm and all cars registered can participate.
The Classic Car Show is free for participants and free for the public to attend. It’s the perfect outing for families of every generation, young and old, to enjoy.
Show Car Saturday Night at Promenade at Sunset Walk
Weekly, Every Saturday
Storybook Adventures
Weekly, Every Saturday
Each week, begin your free Storybook Adventures tour at the St Cloud Police substation on 10th street to pick up a map that will lead you on a stroll through downtown St. Cloud. the map will take you to specific locations to glance into the storefronts of participating businesses, reading one page at a time until you complete that week’s story!
On Saturday at 10 am, the host business welcomes you to meet the author and the first 20 families in attendance will receive a free book to have autographed and take photos, plus, there will be an extra treat from the host business.
Orlando Area Saturday Farmers Markets
Weekly, Every Saturday
The Winter Garden Farmers Market is your hometown market open every Saturday from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm. in beautiful Historic Winter Garden.
The Winter Park Farmers’ Market is one of the best produce and plant markets in Central Florida which takes place every Saturday morning from 8 am - 1 pm in Central Park.
The Lake Mary Farmers Market features local vendors of produce, plants, baked goods, and arts and crafts. The market is open every Saturday, from 9 am - 1:30 pm at Lake Mary City Hall.
Visit every Saturday at the City of Longwood Farmers Market at Reiter Park from 9 am - 2 pm, with locally sourced seafood and produce to handmade crafts and more.
Join in every Saturday morning in Lake Nona, the Lake Nona Farmers Market takes place in the beautiful Town Center from 11 am - 3 pm, shop local with the freshest produce and more.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2023
Family Fun Day at Boxi Park
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Join in Family Fun Day at Boxi Park! Bring the whole family & enjoy activities for all ages!
Bouncy Houses, Face Painters, Live Music & More.
Ren Fair at The Renaissance Theatre Company
Weekly, Every Sunday
Renaissance Fair at The Ren, is a unique outdoor and indoor event, featuring drag shows, live music, and more. Diverse and Queer-friendly, 18+.
Shops! Vendors, Artists, Crafts, Food Vendors/Trucks, Plants, Merchandise.
Orlando Area Sunday Farmers Markets
Weekly, Every Sunday
One of the most popular farmers markets in Central Florida, Orlando Farmer’s Market is located in the heart of Orlando at Lake Eola park, and takes place Sundays 10 am - 4 pm.
Every week at Celebration Farmers Market there are multiple vendors here selling everything from fresh food and produce, to local crafted jewelry, and much more, with a beautiful backdrop of Lakeside Park, this is a must go to farmers market on Sundays, 9 am - 2 pm.
The popular East Orlando Farmers Market offers hand selected produce, creative local small business owners, along with botanical varieties to chose from. Every Sunday 11 am - 4 pm.
Clermont Farmer's Market features over 60 vendors selling seafood, organic produce, and other household items, this popular market is the place to go on Sundays 9 am - 2 pm.
Mount Dora’s open-air Mount Dora Village Market in Sunset Park is open Sundays from 9 am – 2 pm offering fresh products from over 50 market vendors.
THIS & EVERY WEEKEND
Disney Springs
Disney Springs is a wonderful place to waste away a few hours or more, and it's free to visit, and parking is free too.
Stroll through Town Center at Disney Springs to view vibrant displays from talented artists at the Art Walk, let the kids enjoy the interactive fountains, while everyone will love checking out a unique collection of stores including The Coca Cola Store, M&M's World, Lego Imagination Center and more.
You can take a break at The Welcome Center with air conditioning, comfy chairs and freeice water.
Enjoy the free entertainment atmultiple locations where individual musicians and bands perform in the evening, plus House of Blues frequently offers free live music at its Front Porch Bar, Raglan Road usually has free live music on their patio, and on a Saturday morning there is even a free kids club with lots of entertainment!
Disney's Boardwalk
Disney’s BoardWalk is gorgeous, built around a lake and is beautifully themed to be reminiscent of Cape May or Coney Island in the 1940s.
It’s free to enter and fun just walking around and enjoying the atmosphere, in the evening you can enjoy street performers (jugglers, comedians, fire-eaters, jazz ensembles, etc.), and at any time of the day or nigh you can take a trip on a friendship boat!
Walt Disney World Monorail Transportation
You can take three different Monorail rides at Walt Disney World, all for FREE.
The inner Monorail circles the three Monorail resorts, Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian. You can get off and explore each resort, or just enjoy the ride and the view, as often as you wish, altho at night you might just want to stop at the Contemporary and enjoy the spectacular view of the fireworks from the balcony, and yes its free.
You can also ride the express Monorail that just goes between the Ticket and Transportation Center and the Magic Kingdom for the same view, but no stops at the resorts, although this can get very busy!
The third option is the longest, and the Monorail from the Ticket and Transportation Center to Epcot is also a nice trip with great views of the resort, and you get to ride through the inside of Epcot for a great view of the park.
Walt Disney World Water Transportation
All of the water transportation options at Walt Disney World are free, and offer a relaxing way to enjoy the resort from the water, and is amazing day or night.
Options include taking a friendship boat and cruising the loop around Crescent Lake, which visits Epcot, Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club, Swan/Dolphin, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios without going into the parks.
Take the boat that visits the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Ft. Wilderness, or the boat that visits the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom.
Or another great option is the Water Taxi from Disney Springs to Port Orleans or Old Key West and back, along the Sassagoula River.
Disney Skyliner Transportation
You can ride the Disney Skyliner cable-car system for free, and this is a great option to get some great views of Walt Disney World from above.
You can get on and off at Art of Animation/Pop Century Resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort, Riviera Resort and at Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
In addition to taking a scenic ride, you can get off at one of the Skyliner resorts and take a stroll and explore for free.
Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk is a lively entertainment complex just before the entrance to Universal Studios and Islands Of Adventure, it’s FREE to enter and there is so much to do.
Parking is costly during the day, but at most times of the year, parking after 6 pm is free.
At CityWalk you can stroll, take in the atmosphere and simply enjoy people watching, or you can ride the free water taxi to the resorts and explore, a must do is the opera filled Italian piazza at Loews’ Portofino Bay Hotel.
Back at CityWalk the kids will enjoy cooling off in the splash pad, and the adults will love the free nightly entertainment including outdoor DJ, stilt walkers and more.
ICON Park Orlando
Located in the heart of Orlando's International Drive, ICON Park offers attractions, dining, shoppings, entertainment and more.
Not only is there a ton to see and do at ICON Park, admission to the complex is always free, plus parking is free too!
It's a great place to stroll or simply sit back, relax and enjoy nightly light shows and people-watching on the central green, all without spending any money.
Parks, Gardens and the Great Outdoors
Orlando is blessed with an abundance of parks, gardens, and the chance to escape the tourists and enjoy the great outdoors where you'll get the chance to become one with nature.
The variety of parks, gardens, nature trails, bike trails and more here in Orlando is breathtaking, get outside and enjoy!
Lake Eola Park
Lake Eola Park is a must visit, located in the heart of Downtown Orlando, with a sidewalk that circles the lake 0.9 miles in length, making it easy for visitors to keep track of their walking or running
Relax amid beautiful flower beds and a spectacular view of Orlando’s skyline and the gorgeous Lake Eola, enjoy the swans and other birds inhabiting the park, or you can check out a free concert, movie or a play in the Walt Disney Amphitheater.
Harry P Leu Gardens
Explore an amazing botanical oasis nearly 50-acres minutes from Downtown Orlando. Harry P Leu Gardens features landscaped grounds and lakes, with walking trails all shaded by 200-year-old oaks and forests of camellias. Free entry days at Leu Gardens are offered on select Mondays throughout the year, check the website for details.
The UCF Arboretum
The Arboretum of the University of Central Florida is located on the main campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, United States. Covering 80 acres, it contains more than 600 species of plants, including more than 100 bromeliads, in cultivated gardens.
Lake Lotus Park
Lake Lotus Park is the City of Altamonte Springs’ nature preserve. The total area is approximately 150 acres, including 120 acres of woods and wetlands. The park is a diverse, natural habitat that provides limitless natural encounters with flora and fauna.
Oakland Nature Preserve
West of Orlando, just 30 minutes from the attractions and nestled between Winter Garden and Clermont in the beautiful Town of Oakland, lies a "hidden gem." Oakland Nature Preserve is a150-acre preserve offering environmental education and ecotourism activities for visitors of all ages.
Mead Botanical Garden
With 47 acres to explore in Winter Park, your senses will come alive with the sights, sounds, and scents of the garden. Mead Botanical Garden offers hiking trails, creek, boardwalk, tall pine trees, greenhouse, butterfly garden, and pond that’s home to turtles, fish and wading birds.
Kraft Azalea Garden
This 5.22-acre public garden is located on the shore of Lake Maitland and is open year round from 8 a.m. until dusk. Kraft Azalea Garden is a beautiful park is shaded by enormous cypress trees that add to the old Florida charm of the 13-acre property
Orlando Urban Trail
The Orlando Urban Trail is located near Downtown Orlando and is considered the spine of Orlando’s trail network.
The trail is approximately three miles long and runs from Lake Highland through Loch Haven Park, to Mead Garden in Winter Park. Highlights include connections to six lakes, Orlando Cultural Park, and the Gaston Edwards Trail.
West Orange Trail
The West Orange Trail is a 22-mile long multi-use rail trail. The paved trail passes through downtown Oakland, Winter Garden, and Apopka with most of its length built on old railroad alignments.
Lake Nona Sculpture Garden
The Lake Nona Sculpture Garden is a 50,000 square-foot outdoor space designed for the exploration and discovery of a distinguished selection of sculptures from one of the world’s largest private art collections, The Lewis Collection.
Orlando Wetlands Park
The Orlando Wetlands Park is a man-made wetland designed to provide advanced treatment for reclaimed water from the City of Orlando and other local cities. The Park is 1650 acres in size and located in Christmas, Florida. Visitors can visit the Park seven days a week, between sunrise and sunset, to enjoy primitive and passive activities including, Photography, Wildlife Viewing, Hiking, Biking, Horseback Riding, and Guided Tours
Cranes Roost Park
Cranes Roost Park is at the heart of Uptown Altamonte surrounding Cranes Roost Lake. The lake is encircled by one mile of continuous walkway with benches and covered seating areas. Within the 45-acre park is a European-style plaza including a choreographed fountain show, a 62-foot picturesque tower and the Eddie Rose Amphitheater which features stadium-style seating and a one-of-a-kind floating stage.
The Seminole Wekiva Trail
The nearly 14 mile Seminole Wekiva Trail is a paved recreational trail that has been designated as one of Seminole County's Showcase Trails because of its length, beauty, and accommodation of many users.
The section of the trail that runs west of the I-4 trail overpass to the County line at the Wekiva River is also a designated part of the Florida National Scenic Trail.
Dr. P. Phillips Community Park
Dr. P. Phillips Community Park provides a range of amenities for the whole family to enjoy, including playgrounds, splash pad, plus sports fields, picnic areas & a dog run
Wekiva Island
Central Florida’s favorite watering hole Wekiva Island. Located just north of Orlando, Wekiva Island offers visitors the chance to experience the incredible natural springs in Florida. Explore the pristine Wekiva River and its fascinating Florida wildlife with more than 2,000 square feet of Island fun.
Artlando
Grab a map from the DT Orlando Information Center and go on a self-guided tour of downtown Orlando's streets to discover the contemporary sculptures which are Art Orlando.
Not only will you get to know Downtown as you walk around, you’ll be seriously impressed by these stunning works of art.
Orlando Murals
Take a walk through downtown Orlando, and you’ll discover art in unexpected places, including larger-than-life butterflies, a vintage Orlando postcard, hanging gardens, even a parking garage covered with murals, and the latest downtown mural, Unbelievable Real!
East End Market
The East End Market is a neighborhood market & food hall in the Audubon Park Garden District of Orlando featuring a vast array of artisanal vendors in one marketplace, from bakers to pasta makers to coffee roasters.
Church Street Station
The unofficial centre of Downtown Orlando, Church Street really is the place to go for first-timers wanting to get to know the city a little better. It’s home to some of the city’s best restaurants, a bustling nightlife scene and the iconic Railroad Depot (that now sits alongside the newly-built ‘SunRail’).
For more than 100 years, Church Street has been the heart of downtown Orlando. The revitalized Church Street Station continues this tradition, offering an eclectic mix of dining, entertainment, retail and business for locals and tourists alike.
Discover several clubs, theatres, shopping dining and more!
Plus, check out the iconic ad historic Railroad Depot, that sits alongside the modern SunRail station.
Celebration Town Center
Travel back in time to find the town of Celebration in Kissimmee, a planned community originally developed by the Walt Disney Company.
This is a pedestrian-friendly, wonderful small town where you can explore the old-fashioned downtown, including Market Street, and Lakeside Promenade, or you can enjoy the miles of walking paths and nature trails.
On Market Street there is various events throughout the year including craft festivals, antique car shows, and a wonderful holiday event where it snows on Market Street every night. Check out the events calendar for more details.
Old Orlando
Mixing architecture and history is a great way to spend the day and learn more about downtown Orlando with a self-guided Historic Districts Walking Tour.
You’ll learn about structures that were designed and built when horses were still clopping along Church Street and see how they’ve been adapted for modern uses.
The Downtown Orlando Historic District Self-Guided Walking Tour gives you the opportunity to experience Orlando history first hand.
This self-guided walking tour is available online.
Thornton Park
Just east of the central Lake Eola, you’ll find this cool and quiet neighbourhood that really feels like you’ve escaped the city for an out-of-town suburb.
This charming neighborhood is home to some of Orlando's best restaurants, hip cafés, cool galleries and a few bistros, all set around some ever-so-quaint old cobbled streets.
Well worth a few hours to stretch your legs and take in the sights and sounds of Thornton Park.
Campus Tour At Rollins College
From the sparkling waters of Lake Virginia to the energy of the residential halls, Rollins College’s 80-acre campus really has to be seen to be believed.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the campus by booking a spot on one of the daily campus tours or by signing up for one of the special on-campus events
Dinky Dock
Spend a day at the beach in Winter Park. Dinky Dock is a 1.56-acre year-round park and offers a fishing pier and boat ram.Yes there is a beach and swimming is permitted.
Winter Park
The Orange County city of Winter Park, situated north of Orlando, was once considered a winter resort. Today, the arts- and culture-filled city of Winter Park includes Rollins College and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of Natural Art.
Winter Park is also is a nature lover's destination. In Winter Park you'ill find more than 70 parks, all home to various events, festivals and celebrations throughout the year, plus don't miss the dining, shopping, the arts and more in the Park Avenue District.
Winter Garden
Nestled on beautiful Lake Apopka about 20 minutes west of Orlando, this former citrus town established in 1908 is known for its many recreational amenities, events and historical assets.
Winter Garden is home to the Garden Theatre, the SoBo Gallery and Art Center, several museums and the Downtown Pavilion, which is home to the Winter Garden Farmers Market that is held every Saturday morning.
Whatever You Do This Weekend, Have An Awesome Time!
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