Get ready for outdoor fun, festivals, and great food. Check out our curated list of things to do in Orlando this week!
Updated multiple times each week by Kelly Lamano Diaz and Zoe Joiner.
Featured Events
Giving an extra shoutout to the following events, which help us to bring this guide to you for FREE!
Orlando Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty accompanied by Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
- Dates: October 15-18, 2026, at 2:00pm and 7:30pm
- Location: Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
- Cost: Tickets start at $39
Step into the enchanted world of Christopher Stowell’s The Sleeping Beauty. Featuring storybook set design, breathtaking ballet and a sweeping score performed live by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, this iconic fairy tale comes to life at Dr. Phillips Center. Take your experience to the next level with a VIP package featuring premium orchestra seating, a signed poster and a beverage with a snack to enjoy during the performance. Get tickets here!
House of Hearts: Wonderland Cabaret
- Dates: Friday, October 9, 2026, showtime at 7 pm
- Location: AKA Cabaret at Midnight Lounge
Looking for a date night with a little more fun? Step into House of Hearts Wonderland Cabaret, a wildly entertaining 21+ cabaret on International Drive. Hosted by the Queen of Hearts, this playful live experience brings together circus, comedy, music, dance, and larger-than-life characters in a grown-up Wonderland. Grab a drink, get close to the action, and see where the night takes you. Just one piece of advice: stay on the Queen’s good side.
6th Annual Fall Festival at Amber Brooke Farms
- Dates: Now through November 22, 2026
- Location: 36111 County Road 44A, Eustis, FL
Celebrate the season at Amber Brooke Farms’ 6th Annual Fall Festival! Make unforgettable memories with pumpkin picking, beautiful sunflower and zinnia fields, friendly farm animals, photo opportunities, live music, delicious fall treats and more. Everyone will love the jump pillows, barrel train, tractor ride, playgrounds, bubble barn and other farm-fun activities. Enjoy apple cider donuts, smash burgers, seasonal drinks and tasty food-truck favorites while soaking up a perfect fall day on the farm. Select activities and food are available for an additional fee. Purchase tickets online in advance for the best price!
Fall Romance Awaits at Grande Lakes
- Dates: Now through November 26, 2026
- Location: 4040 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando 32837
Anchored by The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott, this 500-acre oasis sets the stage for unforgettable date nights and weekend retreats. Savor the season through exceptional culinary experiences, from Savor September and Magical Dining to elegant Thanksgiving celebrations, all designed to bring people closer through memorable moments around the table.
This fall, couples can enjoy an exclusive live-fire culinary experience with renowned pitmaster Jack Arnold. As the holidays approach, the beloved Christmas Market returns with enchanting experiences, including ice skating beneath the stars, cozy fireside gatherings, festive cocktails, and twinkling lights that create the perfect setting for romance and seasonal celebration. Whether it’s a spontaneous date night, a weekend getaway, or a cherished holiday tradition, Grande Lakes offers countless ways to savor the season together.
Events This Week: Things to Do October 5 – October 11, 2026
South Asian Film Festival
- Dates: Now through October 5, 2026
- Location: Enzian Theater, 1300 S Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751
- Cost: Free
The South Asian Film Festival, hosted by Enzian and the Asian Cultural Association, returns this October! From October 3-5, go beyond Bollywood with four features and one shorts program that celebrate the best in current and independent South Asian cinema.
Welcome to the NeighBOOhood
- Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 6pm-8pm
- Location: Gnarly Barley, 1407 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32804
- Cost: $43 general admission, free with verified insurance
Enjoy a cozy Halloween craft night where you’ll build, paint, and decorate your own mini spooky houses from scratch. Think tiny haunted homes, ghosts, cobwebs, pumpkins, creepy-cute details, and whatever your imagination decides belongs in the neighBOOhood.
Speed Friending: Writers Edition
- Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 7pm-9pm
- Location: Bynx Coffee, 420 E Church St #118, Orlando, FL 32801
- Cost: FREE admission
Come share what you’ve been writing! Or getting ready to write … as soon as you’ve got all your lore figured out!
Crafts & Queens: Halloween
- Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 7pm-9pm
- Location: BookBurn, 2425 E South St, Orlando, FL 32803
- Cost: $45
Kitana and Dime are hosting this month’s kiki, and between the two of them you will not leave with a subtle hat. The hats? Bare canvas. The queens? Two now — Kitana and Dime, and they do not agree on how much ribbon is enough. The vibe? Spooky chic.
Dancing Through the Decades
- Dates: Thursday – Sunday, October 8 – 11, 2026
- Location: Boxi Park, 6877 Lake Nona Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827
- Cost: FREE admission
Four nights, four decades. Thursday goes back to the 70s, Friday turns up the 80s, Saturday is all 90s, and Sunday closes it out with the 2000s and emo. Live music every night, great food, and cold drinks all weekend long.
Speed Friending: Jam Sesh Music Edition
- Date: Friday, October 9, 2026, 7pm-11pm
- Location: Lucky Straws Boba Tea Cafe, 13750 W Colonial Dr Ste 260, Winter Garden, FL 34787
- Cost: FREE admission
The perfect event to meet new musicians, find new inspirations, or even form a new band! Spend the first half of the night chatting, and for the second half … bring a song to play!
Orlando Spartan Weekend
- Dates: Friday – Sunday, October 9 – 11, 2026
- Location: 6955 Lake Nona Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827
- Cost: Spectators $20, Entrants starting at $119.00
Prepare for the 2026 Spartan Race in Orlando, where the Florida landscape sets the stage for the ultimate test of endurance and strength. Spartans take on Lake Nona and navigate through challenging obstacles, pushing limits, and discovering their true grit. Prove your resilience and finish stronger than you started!
Animayhem Halloween Market
- Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026, 4pm-8pm
- Location: Cranes Roost Boulevard, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
- Cost: FREE admission
Check out mascot photo-ops, anime, Pokémon, & Halloween vendors, DJs, Itashas, yummy food, and you & your favorite peeps!
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
- Dates: Now through November 21, 2026
- Location: EPCOT, 200 Epcot Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
- Cost: (FL Resident) Starting at $119 for general admission, included with your valid EPCOT admission
Embark on a culinary adventure across 6 different continents. Discover an array of Global Marketplaces—festival-exclusive kiosks serving cuisine inspired by countries and cultures around the world.
Next Week: Things to Do October 12 – October 18, 2026
Bedazzling Night
- Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 6pm-8pm
- Location: Messy Craft, 1595 Meeting Place, Orlando, FL 32814
- Cost: $32
Join Messy Craft & Craft Club Orlando for a bedazzling night of crafting and community. We’ll have rhinestones available for bedazzling as well as all the tools you’ll need. Whether you want to make your all-time favorite book a beautiful display piece, give your Kindle some sparkle, or add some twinkle to your favorite journal, join in the studio.
Speed Friending: Hobbyists Edition
- Date: Friday, October 16, 2026, 6pm-8pm
- Location: Lobos Coffee, 3000 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
- Cost: FREE admission
Come make some new friends and talk niche hobbies! Hosted in Audubon Park, just a few minutes away from many of Orlando’s best nighttime hangouts!
Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival and Asian Cultural Expo
- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Location: Turkey Lake – Bill Frederick Park, 3401 S Hiawassee Rd, Orlando, FL 32835
- Cost: FREE admission
Finish the season at one of the largest and most anticipated dragon boat events in Florida! The Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival brings together paddlers from across North America and beyond for a high-energy celebration of sport, culture, and competition in the vibrant city of Orlando.
Oktoberfest Celebration & Car Meet
- Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026, 11am
- Location: Dezerland Park, 5250 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819
- Cost: FREE admission
Celebrate German cars and Oktoberfest in Orlando at the Oktoberfest Car Meet at Dezerland Park! Car enthusiasts and families are invited to explore an impressive lineup of German automobiles while enjoying Oktoberfest-inspired fun, food, beer, entertainment and more throughout the day.
High Tea with the Kitties
- Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026, 11am-1pm
- Location: Orlando Cat Cafe, 532 Cagan Park Ave Ste 201-203, Clermont, FL 34714
- Cost: $55
Sip tea and coffee, enjoy an incredible spread, and spend some quality time with the adorable adoptable kitties. It’s the purr-fect way to celebrate Sweetest Day!
SAVE THE DATE!
Harbor Nights La Dolce Vita at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando
- Date: Friday, October 16, 2026, 6:30pm – 10pm
- Location: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Spend a memorable evening beneath the twinkling lights of the Harbor Piazza at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. Stroll through a picturesque setting while enjoying unlimited tastings from the hotel’s acclaimed restaurants, thoughtfully paired with handpicked wines. As you dine, a live band and a special opera performance fill the piazza with the charm and spirit of Italy. Whether you’re planning a date night or celebrating with loved ones, Harbor Nights La Dolce Vita makes for a perfect evening.
View full menu and purchase tickets here.
One-Night-Only Series: The Men of Motown
- Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026, 7:30pm
- Location: The Winter Park Playhouse, N. Orange Ave
Experience the pulse, power and unmistakable groove of the Motown sound! The Men Of Motown features four powerhouse male vocalists – Quentin Avery Brown, Trevion Ellis, Casey Gulledge, Alantae Jackson – and an outstanding four-piece band that deliver the sounds of the era! This high-energy celebration takes a nostalgic journey through unforgettable classics from The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Jackson Five, The Temptations and more! Whether you grew up with a Motown soundtrack or are just discovering these hits for the first time, enjoy this journey through blockbuster hits like “My Girl,” “Superstition,” “This Magic Moment,” and others.
The One-Night-Only events are very popular and consistently sell out. Tickets $75.
Monster’s Ball
- Date: Friday, October 23, 2026, 7pm – 11pm
- Location: Sanford Civic Center
- Cost: Tickets $35 sanfordculturalguild.org
Step into the shadows and enter a world of gothic glamour and haunting elegance this Halloween. The highly anticipated Monster’s Ball is set to take over the Civic Center in Historic downtown Sanford.
Guests will step through the doors into a breathtaking space transformed with flickering candelabras and dramatic, macabre decor to create classic, romantic horror. Eat, drink, and dance the night away to music provided by DJ Derrick Daniels, of Derrick Daniels Entertainment.
Come dressed to impress…..or terrify. Unleash your creativity and enter the costume contest with a 1st place prize of $2500!
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin 17th Annual Food and Wine Classic
- Dates: Friday – Saturday, November 20-21, 2026
- Location: 1200 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Lake Buena Vista 32830
Savor 40 inspired dishes paired with over 170 beers, wines, and spirits across two days, featuring returning favorites and bold new flavors for a truly memorable culinary experience. Savor more with 10% off when you attend both nights!
Weekly Ongoing Orlando Events
Audubon Park Community Market
- Dates: Mondays, 5pm-8pm
- Location: Stardust Video & Coffee, 1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32803
- Cost: FREE admission
Enjoy a weekly gathering of makers, farmers, gardeners, fishmongers, ranchers, craftsmen, artisans, entrepreneurs, neighbors, and friends.
TPD Night Market
- Dates: Thursdays & Fridays, 6pm-10pm
- Location: Thornton Park District, 23 S Osceola Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801
- Cost: FREE admission
Check out unique local makers and artists at this weekly market in Thornton Park!
Access for All
- Dates: Third Thursday of Every Month, 10am-8pm
- Location: Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave. Orlando, FL 32803
- Cost: FREE admission
Enjoy free admission to the Orlando Museum of Art during Access for All, a monthly free day dedicated to the community featuring extended hours, special programs, and opportunities to connect with art. Guests can take part in drop-in sketching with provided materials and join a docent-led Highlights Tour at 7:00pm. By removing financial barriers, this program ensures that more people can experience the joy and inspiration of art in Orlando. Also, every third Thursday, you can ride SunRail to OMA for FREE. As part of the partnership, SunRail riders can present their ticket at the museum’s Visitor Information desk to receive a pass to ride SunRail for FREE to the next Access for All event. Museum guests must show their free ride pass to the SunRail conductor to receive a complimentary fare to and from the AdventHealth Station, which is a five-minute walk from the museum. The pass will only be valid for specified dates.
Flamingos & Fuel Cruise Night
- Dates: Third Thursday of Every Month, 6pm-8pm
- Location: Parking Lot by Fit 2 Run, 102 Ruby Red Pl Unit B, Winter Garden, FL 34787
- Cost: FREE admission
Horizon West Cars & Coffee comes out at night for Flamingos and Fuel Cruise Night at Flamingo Crossings Town Center. Any make, model, or year of car or truck is welcome. Hang out in this area of Horizon West and enjoy drinks and food at the many restaurants in Flamingo Crossings.
Weekends at the Winery
- Dates: Saturdays and Sundays, 10am-5pm (Sat) & 11am-5pm (Sun)
- Location: Lakeridge Winery
- Cost: FREE admission
Head to this Central Florida winery’s expansive vineyard green each weekend for delicious food, live entertainment, complimentary wine tastings/tours, and Lakeridge wines by the glass at the outdoor bar. Plus, delicious food at the Food Pavilion, as well as live music all weekend long.
Check out multiple Farmers’ Markets around Orlando every weekend.
Saturday Exhibition Highlights Docent-Led Tour
- Dates: Second Saturday and Last Saturday of the Month, 1pm
- Location: Rollins Museum of Art
- Cost: FREE
Docent-led tours of highlighted works from the season’s exhibitions at the Rollins Museum of Art.
Dinks & Drinks
- Dates: Every Saturday, 6:30pm-9:30pm
- Location: ClearOne Sports Centre, 4141 N. John Young Parkway, Suite 3, Orlando
- Cost: $20 per person
Open courts for casual drop-in play. Includes 1 free drink (Beer, High Noon, or Soda). Paddle rentals are available for $5. Tennis shoes required. Different music theme each week. No partner? No experience? No problem. This is the perfect night to bring a friend, meet new people, or just vibe with the community.
Read more: Places to Play Pickleball in Orlando
Tai Chi in the Garden
- Dates: Every Saturday, 10:30am-11:30am
- Location: Mead Botanical Garden, 1300 S. Denning Dr, Winter Park
- Cost: $15
A gentle exercise program that is composed of slow deliberate movements, meditation, and deep breathing to enhance health and well-being.
Cars and Coffee
- Dates: First Sunday of Every Month, 8am-10:30am
- Location: Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Hamlin, 14111 Shoreside Way, Winter Garden, FL 34787
- Cost: FREE admission
Start the morning with Cars and Coffee, every first Sunday of the month!
For even more things to do in Orlando, check out these top stories:
- Best Orlando Spas for Couples
- Orlando’s Most Romantic Restaurants
- New Restaurants and Experiences in Orlando
Looking Ahead 2026
Stay tuned for more events as this page is updated regularly!
Speed Friending: Hobbyists Edition
- Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 7pm-9pm
- Location: Boba Garden, 1184 E State Rd 434, Winter Springs, FL 32708
- Cost: FREE admission
There’s even more Hobbyist Speed Friending! Whether you’re picking what works best for your schedule or double-dipping, go for it!
2026 Florida Coffee Festival
- Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026 , 11am – 4pm
- Location: Festival Park, 2911 East Robinson Street, Orlando, FL 32803
- Cost: $24.69
Celebrate German cars and Oktoberfest in Orlando at the Oktoberfest Car Meet at Dezerland Park! Car enthusiasts and families are invited to explore an impressive lineup of German automobiles while enjoying Oktoberfest-inspired fun, food, beer, entertainment and more throughout the day.
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