April
Fiesta in the Park
April 2-3, 2016, Lake Eola Park, North Eola Drive and East Washington Street, fiestainthepark.com
Wander around Lake Eola and check out food, live music, and arts and crafts from tons of vendors.
Florida Film Festival
April 8-17, 2016, Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, 407-629-1088, floridafilmfestival.com
Whether you're a fan of dramas, comedies, documentaries or shorts, the Florida Film Festival has it all.
Florida Music Festival
April 21-23, 2016, downtown Orlando, multiple venues, floridamusicfestival.com
A downtown music festival geared toward artists looking to break into the major-label industry.
MAY
Orlando Fringe
May 18-30, 2016, Loch Haven Park, 777 E. Princeton St., orlandofringe.org
Thespians from all over the world descend on the theater complex at Loch Haven for two weeks of performances.
MegaCon
May 26-29, 2016, Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, megaconvention.com
Central Florida's largest comic and media convention brings in big names from the worlds of television, film, comics and more for a huge celebration of pop culture.
JUNE
Gay Days
May 31-June 6, 2016, multiple locations, gaydays.com
Organized trips to Walt Disney World Resort during the day, themed parties every night.
JULY
Fireworks at the Fountain
July 4, 2016, Lake Eola Park, North Eola Drive and East Robinson Street, cityoforlando.net
Nothing says patriotism like the "oohs" and "ahhs" elicited by the choreographed firework and light show at Lake Eola each year.
AUGUST
Wizard World Orlando
Aug. 5-7, 2016, Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, wizardworld.com
The traveling comic convention makes its first stop in Orlando this year, and brings celebs and creators for a weekend of panels and events.
SEPTEMBER
Halloween Horror Nights
Sept. 16-Oct. 31, 2016, Universal Studios, 6000 Universal Blvd., halloweenhorrornights.com
More than a month of special haunted houses and scare zones. Bring your heart medication.
OCTOBER
Spooky Empire
Oct. 7-9, 2016, Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, spookyempire.com
This convention for horror fans descends on I-Drive every year, bringing actors, musicians, makeup specialists, tattoo artists and more for a ghoulishly fun weekend.
Come Out With Pride
Oct. 8, 2016, Lake Eola Park, 512 E. Washington St., comeoutwithpride.com
Our favorite downtown parade party celebrates the LGBTQ community.
Central Florida Veg Fest
Oct. 22, 2016, Festival Park, 2911 E. Robinson St., cfvegfest.org
Chow down on some cruelty-free cooking at this event for vegetarians, vegans and open-minded omnivores. Learn about veg living and get an up-close look at some of the animals spared when you opt for a salad instead of a Baconator.
NOVEMBER
Winter Park Harvest Festival
November 2016 (dates TBA), Central Park, North Park Avenue and West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park, alocalfolkus.com/wphf
A festival that focuses on local agriculture and sustainable harvests.
Florida Blue Florida Classic
November 2016 (date TBA), Orlando Citrus Bowl, 1 Citrus Bowl Place, floridaclassic.org
Annual football game between Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M.
DECEMBER
Christmas in the Park
December 2016 (date TBA), Central Park, North Park Avenue and West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park, morsemuseum.org
The Morse Museum decorates Central Park with stained glass windows and the Bach Festival Choir performs a Christmas concert.
Grandma Party
Mid-December 2016 (date TBA), Stardust Video & Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Road, stardustie.com
Handmade crafts from local artisans and live music from local bands make this our favorite stop for holiday shopping.
JANUARY
Zora! Festival
January 2017 (dates TBA), downtown Eatonville, Kennedy Boulevard, Eatonville, zorafestival.org
Eatonville's most famous writer gets a festival in her honor every year featuring live music, arts and educational activities.
FEBRUARY
Lunar New Year Dragon Parade
February 2017 (date TBA), Fashion Square Mall, 3201 E. Colonial Drive, centralfloridadragonparade.org
Formerly taking place in Mills 50, this Lunar New Year celebration got so big that it had to move to the Fashion Square Mall in 2015.
MARCH
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
March 2017 (dates TBA), Central Park, Winter Park, wpsaf.org
Browse through booths from tons of artists and vendors at one of the country's oldest, largest and most prestigious juried art festivals.
Art31
March 2017, multiple locations, art31.org
The Art & History Museums – Maitland sponsors this monthlong celebration featuring internationally acclaimed artists every year.
