Events in Central Florida

Delight in gorgeous gardens, unique exhibits and living sculptures of Disney characters. Stroll around the World Showcase to sample delish dishes, desserts and beverages. Shopping. Attractions.

For more information, visit HERE.

Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs invites you to Mass Mixed Media by A.J. Barbel. An opening reception will be held in the Orange County Multicultural Center Art Gallery at on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the program begins at 5:15 p.m. Admission to the reception is free, but advance registration is requested.

Achille “A.J.” Barbel is a multidisciplinary artist and designer with a passion for visual storytelling. Born in St. Thomas, USVI, and raised in Florida and Chicago, A.J. developed a keen eye for detail early on, using art as both a creative outlet and a means of expression. His work examines how culture, media, and identity intersect. Working in both physical and digital mediums, he explores layered narratives.

With an Associate of Fine Arts from Valencia College and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Media Arts from Southern New Hampshire University, he merges traditional illustration with digital craftsmanship. Inspired by artists like Salvador Dalí, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Pablo Picasso, his work often incorporates symbolism—subtle or bold—to provoke thought and emotion.

A.J. believes that art, like life, is open to interpretation, and his mission is to create work that resonates. As writer Cesar Cruz once said, “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

Barbel shares, “I create work that blends abstraction with Afro-surrealism to explore truth, memory, and cultural identity. Through murals, installations, and animation, I reimagine history and everyday life in ways that spark reflection. My art connects personal storytelling with collective experiences, inviting audiences to see the familiar in new and thought-provoking ways.”

RSVP for Opening Reception HERE.

Delight in gorgeous gardens, unique exhibits and living sculptures of Disney characters. Stroll around the World Showcase to sample delish dishes, desserts and beverages. Shopping. Attractions.

For more information, visit HERE.

Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs invites you to Mass Mixed Media by A.J. Barbel. An opening reception will be held in the Orange County Multicultural Center Art Gallery at on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the program begins at 5:15 p.m. Admission to the reception is free, but advance registration is requested.

Achille “A.J.” Barbel is a multidisciplinary artist and designer with a passion for visual storytelling. Born in St. Thomas, USVI, and raised in Florida and Chicago, A.J. developed a keen eye for detail early on, using art as both a creative outlet and a means of expression. His work examines how culture, media, and identity intersect. Working in both physical and digital mediums, he explores layered narratives.

With an Associate of Fine Arts from Valencia College and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Media Arts from Southern New Hampshire University, he merges traditional illustration with digital craftsmanship. Inspired by artists like Salvador Dalí, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Pablo Picasso, his work often incorporates symbolism—subtle or bold—to provoke thought and emotion.

A.J. believes that art, like life, is open to interpretation, and his mission is to create work that resonates. As writer Cesar Cruz once said, “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

Barbel shares, “I create work that blends abstraction with Afro-surrealism to explore truth, memory, and cultural identity. Through murals, installations, and animation, I reimagine history and everyday life in ways that spark reflection. My art connects personal storytelling with collective experiences, inviting audiences to see the familiar in new and thought-provoking ways.”

RSVP for Opening Reception HERE.

Firefighters from across the country will converge on Seminole County, Florida April 1-4 at Seminole State in Sanford for the inaugural All American Challenge and Training Camp, a preseason event in the Firefighter Challenge Championship Series. Deemed by ESPN as “the toughest two minutes in sports,” the Firefighter Challenge tests the strength, endurance and technical skills required in real-life emergency response.

The course simulates real-world firefighting demands, including:
• climbing a five-story tower
• hose hoists
• forcible entry
• hose drags
• rescuing a 165-pound mannequin

Seminole County is hosting and the Seminole County Fire Department has nearly 30 personnel participating in the events. One of the teams is made of our Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Shift Commander, Assistant Chief of Special Ops and Assistant Chief of EMS. If you’d like any other information or angles, I’ll be happy to provide.

Event is free for all spectators.

For more information, visit HERE.

Bring a flashlight and a basket to this adults-only party. Have fun hunting for more than 5,000 eggs hidden around the venue grounds after dark, each holding a special prize such as gift certificates, coupons, adult beverages, lotto tickets, treats, and cash. This is a competitive event; the harder you hunt, the more you find. Activations such as photo ops, food trucks, live DJ, cash bar & more.

It’s not just a hunt… IT’S A PARTY.

Proceeds from the Adult Easter Egg Hunt are donated to the wedding charity WeddingWish.org

This is a 21 and up event, no exceptions, no kids, no babies, no pets. Rain or Shine, no refunds.

For more information/tickets, visit HERE.

The hiss of freshly opened soda returns to downtown Sebring April 11–12 for the Sebring Soda Festival’s eighth edition. This year’s event will bring more than 200 craft sodas, dock-jumping dogs,
and a full weekend of family activities to the city’s historic downtown circle.

Visitors can sample sodas ranging from nostalgic classics like root beer, cream
soda, ginger ale and cola to unusual flavors such as Avery Monster Mucus, Sioux
City Birch Beer and Jackson Hole Snake River Sarsaparilla. Tasting ticket cards start
at $8 and can be purchased online or at the event. Admission to the festival itself
is free.

New this year, the festival will feature DockDogs, the canine dock-jumping
competition series, bringing the sport to Sebring for the first time. The
competitions will take place throughout the weekend.

• April 11th at10a.m. – 5 p.m. & April 12th at 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• 200+ Craft Sodas to Sample
• Festive Food Trucks
• Live Music
• Family Fun
• Soda-Caddy Race
• All Happening in Downtown Sebring!
• Home of HGTV’s Hometown Takeover Season 3

For more information, visit HERE.

The 24th annual Spring Fever in the Garden festival, hosted by the Bloom & Grow Garden Society, will take place in Downtown Winter Garden on April 11-12. 

Plant Street will be transformed into a delightful celebration of spring and all things gardening. We invite you to experience the festival firsthand by strolling along Plant Street and indulging in all it has to offer. 

Enjoy the charm of historic downtown Winter Garden with its brick-lined streets, unique shops, great restaurants, the city clock tower, lush hanging flower baskets, and enjoy the swings and listen to the fountain under the vine-covered gazebo. Be sure to visit Butterfly Park (right next to the kid’s splash pad) and marvel at Flora, our copper Monarch sculpture. Join us for a wonderful ode to spring!

For more information, visit HERE.

Breakthrough T1D Northern Florida, formerly JDRF, will host the 2026 Breakthrough
T1D Walk Orlando on April 25. The event brings together the community and those
impacted by type 1 diabetes (T1D) to celebrate, educate, and fundraise for T1D
research. Breakthrough T1D has hosted the Orlando Walk for over 30 years. This 1-
mile walk around Cranes Roost will also have activities for all ages including mini
golf, face painting, spirit stations, and more. Refreshments are provided by Wawa.
The walk site dons an impressive resource row for those impacted by type 1
diabetes including ways to get involve with advocacy efforts, support groups,
Brevard county support, and resources in Spanish.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit HERE.

Delight in gorgeous gardens, unique exhibits and living sculptures of Disney characters. Stroll around the World Showcase to sample delish dishes, desserts and beverages. Shopping. Attractions.

For more information, visit HERE.

Located at the Mall at Millenia’s Kendra Scott, VIP Ticket Holder Attendees of Bloom: a Celebration of Motherhood will be able to enjoy the event activities, shop the pop up, explore vendors, engage with local moms, meet new people and have fun!

• Bloom VIP Ticket (extremely limited tickets) $45

You do not need a physical ticket to attend. Once you register and secure your ticket, your name will be added to the list!

By purchasing a ticket to this event, you acknowledge that:

• your photo may be taken and used on the Orlando Mom platform
• you will be subscribed to the Orlando Mom Insider weekly email
• event tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE
• if you cannot attend, you forfeit your swag bag

TICKETS HERE.

Delight in gorgeous gardens, unique exhibits and living sculptures of Disney characters. Stroll around the World Showcase to sample delish dishes, desserts and beverages. Shopping. Attractions.

For more information, visit HERE.