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Entertainment
Guide to Entertainment, Events & Nightlife in Orlando

Despite the city's preoccupation with film and fantasy, there's a surprisingly lively arts scene, along with a wide range of restaurants.

Music

Naturally live music is a staple in the bars, clubs and theatres of the major resorts, but there are some independent venues as well, which provide alternatives to this mainstream and manufactured fare.

Orlando's main venue for top-notch vocalists and groups is the Orange County Convention Center, International Drive (Tel: +1 (1)407-685-9800), while the massive TD Waterhouse Center (formerly known as the Orlando Arena), downtown at West Amelia Street, also attracts big-name artists and doubles up as a major venue for American football and (ice) hockey.

Classical fans should also check out Rollins College, over at Winter Park (Tel: +1 (1)407-646-2000) puts on a free choral concert series during term-time and hosts a Bach Music Festival (Tel: +1 (1)407-646-2182) at the end of February.

Theatre


Again you should check the resorts for musical shows and theatre but the main artsy venue is the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, Orlando Centroplex, 401 West Livingston Street (Tel: +1 (1)407-849-2001), which presents a mixed diet of entertainment, including jolly Broadway/West End musical hits of the Phantom and Les Mis variety. Meanwhile, the three halls which comprise the Orlando Repertory Theatre, 1001 East Princeton Street (Tel: +1 (1)407-896-7365), present a variety of shows, including contemporary and mainstream theatre.

Sports

Being an outdoorsy kind of place, Orlando is a paradise for many kinds of sports fans:

Florida's obsession with golf means there a plethora of courses in and around Orlando. Walt Disney World alone has five championship 18-hole courses, all on the PGA tour route, including Eagle Pines, and Osprey Ridge. Fees charged range from around USD100 to USD160 per day.

Other courses include the Celebration Golf Club, 701 Golf Park Drive (Tel: +1 (1)407-566-4653) and the Winter Park Municipal Course at 761 Old England Avenue, Winter Park (Tel: +1 (1)407-623-3339) where the greens fees are an incredibly low USD10.

There are plenty of freshwater lakes and rivers in the Orlando area, most teeming with blackwater bass, perch, catfish, sunfish and other creatures virtually unheard of in European lakes. Anglers over 16 need a fishing licence, available at fishing tackle shops and sporting goods stores. Among the leading venues are Lake Kissimmee, the Butler and Conway chains of lakes and Lake Tohopekaliga.

Horseback riding is another popular activity. The Fort Wilderness Resort and campground (Tel: +1 (1)407-824-2900) offers trails through woodlands at around USD25 for a 45 minute ride.

Spectator sports include basketball - the NBA's Orlando Magic team plays at the TD Waterhouse Center (formerly known as the Orlando Arena), 600 West Amelia Street (Tel: +1 (1)407-839-3900), while Disney's Wide World of Sports (Tel: +1 (1)407-828-3267) hosts a wide range of sporting activities, from Harlem Globetrotter basketball games to athletics, speedway and is the winter training home of the Atlanta Braves.

Cinema

Orlando is a cinema city. All the theme parks have their own movie theatres and you won't lack for choice no matter where you are staying in the city. The biggest and best of the Orlando theatres is the AMC Pleasure Island 24 - a massive multiscreen temple to the blockbuster movie. All 24 auditoriums feature stadium-style steep seating to ensure the best views of the huge screens, booming sound systems and American sized comfy seating. Massive buckets of popcorn and gargantuous Cokes complete the all-American movie experience. 1500 N Buena Vista Dr. Tel: +1 (1)407-298-4488.

Nightclubs

Despite its family orientation Orlando has a throbbing nightclub scene with literally hundreds of venues to choose from. Resorts and hotels often put on events but if you really want to grab the scene by the throat check out these current top venues:

The Roxy Night Club
740 Bennett Road
Tel: +1 (1)407-898-4004
A good bet for the casual clubber. Three separate dance floors offer enough variety from mainstream charttoppers to hardcore dance.

The Club at Firestone
578 N. Orange Ave
Tel: +1 (1)407-872-0066
Now we're talking. In many people's opinion this is Orlando's top club and is often voted such in surveys that ask about such things. A huge dancefloor and a huge sound system keeps the dancers moving to the latest dance, rap, reggae, house and just about anything. Check out the over-21s "Glass Chamber" if you think you cut the fashion mustard. Check listings for particular club nights, Firestone hosts several different themes each week.

Icon
20 E. Central Blvd
Tel: +1 (1)407-649-6496
For hard house and dance Icon is arguably the best place in town. Local DJs spin the wheels of steel well into the night with the latest tunes from the world of hardcore techno. Absolutely packed wall to wall this is a club for serious dancers, not for chatting to your mates.

Special Events

January
At the beginning of January, The Walt Disney World Marathon runs though all the Disney theme parks, the Wide World of Sports and the Disney Resorts areas. For information Tel: +1 (1)800-444-4097.

In the middle of January, the Orlando Museum of Arts presents the Annual Wine and Arts event. Also in January at downtown Eatonville, the Zora Neal Hurston Festival of Arts & Humanities presents the works of America's most celebrated collectors and interpreters of Southern rural African-American culture through theatrical performances, educational programs and art exhibits. For details Tel: +1 (1)407-647-3307.

March
At Cypress Gardens, the Spring Flower Festival features more than 30,000 brightly coloured plants and flowers, from March to May. Tel: +1 (1)863-324-2111 for information.

April
Mid-April sees The Orlando International Fringe Festival present over 100 acts from the world of the arts, comedy and theatre. Tel: +1 (1)407-648-0077 for details. The Flower Power Concert at the end of the month features live performances from 60s and 70s music legends.

June
The Orlando Film Festival held in mid June includes seminars, student competitions, celebrity tributes and parties. Throughout the month the Disney Pleasure Island presents the annual Black Music Month.

July
Walt Disney World presents fireworks, bands, singers and dancers to celebrate Independence Day on July 4. Other similar celebrations take place throughout the city as they do across America. Tel: +1 (1)407-824-4321 for details.

September
In September, the Magic Kingdom hosts the Night of Joy presenting an array of Christian music.

October
In late October, theme parks celebrate Halloween with plenty of cartoon costumes and themed evenings.

December
Throughout December all the theme parks and attractions present Christmas celebrations. Walt Disney World's New Year's Eve Celebration, at Magic Kingdom, is open until 02h00 for a fantastic firework display.

 

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