Dragons & Fairies at Leu Gardens

Dragons & Fairies at Leu Gardens

“Dragons & Fairies” debuting at Harry P. Leu Gardens from January 28 through March 6, 2022.  A moving story centering around an adolescent fairy and her dragon friend unfolds as live actors in beautiful costumes take audiences on a ¾ mile theatrical journey. 

Along the way, large-scale lighting installations, lots of surprises, and nine animatronic dragons await. 

Dragons & Fairies at Leu Gardens

Presented by Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies and the creators of “Dazzling Nights”, “Down the Rabbit Hole” and the annual IMMERSE festival in Orlando comes to another fantastical, family-friendly journey that will inspire audiences with wonder, awe, friendship, and adventure.

“‘Dragons & Fairies’ is a journey, unlike anything audiences, have seen before,” says Creative City Project Executive Director Cole NeSmith.  “It has been our goal to continually create safe, memorable, inspiring, spectacular events for audiences of all ages amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.  Following the massive success of ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ earlier this year, we are excited to now transform Leu Gardens from the winter wonderland it is now with ‘Dazzling Nights’ to a fantastical world of adventure with ‘Dragons & Fairies’, which we promise to be an immersive, theatrical experience not to be missed.”

Dragons & Fairies at Leu Gardens

Dragons & Fairies at Leu Gardens

LOCATION:  Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 North Forest Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803

DATES:  January 28 – March 6, 2022 (Wednesday through Sunday)

TICKETS:  Tickets are $22 per person on Wednesday and Thursday and $25 per person Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Purchase at www.dragonsorlando.com.

PARKING:  On-site parking is available for $12.

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Orlando SlingShot and Orlando FreeFall Now Open

Orlando Slingshot Orlando Freefall ICON Park

The Orlando SlingShot and Orlando FreeFall are now open at ICON Park, making the entertainment complex the “Land of the Giants” with three world’s tallest attractions.

“The SlingShot Group now has three world-record-setting attractions at ICON Park – The Orlando StarFlyer, SlingShot and FreeFall,” said Ritchie Armstrong, owner. “We’re extremely excited to welcome guests from all over the world and give them the thrill of a lifetime!”

The Orlando SlingShot at ICON Park stands at 300 feet, making it the world’s tallest slingshot. The two-tower attraction launches two riders out of an “exploding volcano” approximately 450 feet straight up into the sky, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph.

The Orlando FreeFall™ at ICON Park stands at 430 feet, making it the world’s tallest free-standing drop tower.

Thirty riders at a time can embrace the beautiful sites of ICON Park and I-Drive as the ride vehicle rotates around the gigantic tower and rises high into the skyline.

Once the ride vehicle reaches the top, it’ll tilt forward 30 degrees and face the ground before free-falling nearly 400 feet at speeds reaching over 75 mph.

“ICON Park is devoted to creating unforgettable experiences for our guests. The world’s tallest slingshot and drop tower make great additions to our world-class line-up,” said Chris Jaskiewicz, ICON Park president and CEO. “Between The SlingShot Group’s three towering attractions and The Wheel, the tallest observation wheel on the East Coast, ICON Park truly is the ‘Land of the Giants’.

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On the Go in the Parks: New in 2022

2022 will be an amazing year On the Go in the Parks as new thrills, immersive experiences, interactive technology, beautiful venues, and out-of-this-world fun joins the return of fan favorites.

On the Go in the Parks: New in 2022

Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary celebration will continue in 2022, with new and returning experiences coming to all of the theme parks and beyond.

On the Go in the Parks New in 2022 Cosmic Rewind Poster

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, EPCOT’s first “other-world” showcase pavilion opening in the summer, will feature a new storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will debut the all-new “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond,” which will be a reimagined stage show set in the timeline of the Finding Dory film.

On the Go in the Parks New in 2022 Connections Cafe

A new quick-service restaurant, Connections Café and Eatery, debuting in the World Celebration neighborhood of EPCOT as part of the park’s ongoing transformation.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Walt Disney World’s immersive Star Wars-themed hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, will open on March 1, 2022, inviting guests aboard the starship Halcyon for an all-inclusive experience that puts them into the immersive world of Star Wars.

MagicBand+

MagicBand+ will be available for purchase beginning this year, retaining existing MagicBand features, like park and guest room entry, retail, dining, and Disney PhotoPass, while adding new functionality to interact with experiences in the parks and beyond.

“Fantasmic!” will be returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2022 with an all-new sequence featuring live performers, stunts, special effects, and more!

At the Magic Kingdom Park, your favorite Disney friends will continue to make their return with enhanced experiences!

“Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” will return to the Cinderella Castle Forecourt stage with favorite scenes from the previous version of the show plus a new opening and a new finale with Mickey Mouse and all his friends in their 50th Anniversary EARidescent fashions. The show will also include an all-new, original song entitled “Where the Magic Feels Like Home.”

Festival of Fantasy

The streets of the Magic Kingdom will once again be filled with beloved Disney characters and stories with the return of the Disney “Festival of Fantasy” Parade and the addition of a vibrant cavalcade.

SeaWorld Orlando Parks & Entertainment

SeaWorld Orlando Ice Breaker February 2022

Ice Breaker, SeaWorld Orlando’s first launch coaster, will open on February 18, 2022, with family-friendly thrills, including four backward and forward launches that culminate in a reverse launch with a 93-foot-tall spike with a 100-degree angle, the steepest vertical drop in Florida.

At Aquatica Orlando, Reef Plunge will zoom into Spring with a vibrant array of marine life, Commerson’s dolphins, leopard sharks, and a variety of other cold-water fish.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island Water Park

Iron Gwazi, North America’s tallest, fastest, and steepest hybrid coaster in the world, will open in March 2022, taking thrills to new heights, plunging from a 206-foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop, a dozen airtime moments, and three inversions while reaching top speeds of 76 miles per hour.

Rapids Racer at Adventure Island water park is an experience built for two as riders race through nearly 600 feet of slide, complete with low walls to encounter your opponents throughout this side-by-side experience and the world’s first dueling saucers.

Wahoo Remix will be Adventure Island’s first waterslide to feature synchronized light and sound elements, delivering an all-new, high-energy, family raft ride experience with ultimate party vibes. Enclosed tunnels that were once dark will now glow and groove as riders zoom through over 600 feet of fun.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort

On the Go in the Parks Peppa Pig Theme Park LEGOLAND Florida

The world’s first Peppa Pig Theme Park will open on February 24, 2022, at the LEGOLAND Florida Resort. This all-new standalone park will be filled with multiple rides, interactive attractions, fun live shows, themed playscapes, and water play areas for even the youngest fans.

On the Go in the Parks New in 2022 LEGOLAND Florida Pirate River Quest

Pirate River Quest, LEGOLAND Florida Resort will launch a family-friendly treasure hunt adventure through the legendary Cypress Gardens to discover the secrets protecting its canals as this all-new story unfolds brick by brick.

Beyond the Theme Parks

Steinmetz Hall

Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts has opened in the heart of downtown Orlando, and what makes this facility so special is that it achieves an N1 sound rating – the lowest level at which humans can detect sound.

Icon Park 2021 Attraction - ICON Park Slingshot

The Orlando Slingshot and Orlando Free Fall – two world-record-setting attractions – opened in early January at ICON Park on International Drive. The Orlando Slingshot, the world’s tallest slingshot, stands at 300 feet, launching riders at speeds up to 100 mph. The Orlando Free Fall at ICON Park stands at 430 feet, making it the world’s tallest free-standing drop tower.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Cosmic Quest Rendering

At Kennedy Space Center Visitor, the 50,000 square-foot, multi-level Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex will open in March 2022, featuring a showcase of NASA and commercial spacecraft hardware with immersive displays, as well as a “journey” through space, unique launch viewing opportunities, and more.

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SeaWorld Inside Look Weekends Return in 2022

Inside Look Weekends at SeaWorld Orlando take visitors behind the scenes giving them a look at what it takes to provide daily animal care from the people who do it every day.

Inside Look Weekends happen, January 8–16, plus Monday, January 17, and is included with park admission.

SeaWorld Orlando Inside Look Weekends January 2022

SeaWorld Orlando Inside Look Weekends 2022
Experiences & Tours
SeaWorld Orlando Inside Look Weekends 2022

1 – New! Inside Marine Mammal Care

Ever wonder how you prepare a feast for a pod of dolphins and care for them throughout the day? Step behind the scenes and get a glimpse of what it takes at SeaWorld, from feeding at the fish house to a poolside experience at Dolphin Cove led by our animal care specialists.
Experience available between 11a.m. – 12:30p.m. & 2p.m. – 4:30p.m.

SeaWorld Orlando Inside Look Weekends 2022

2 – Returning! Inside SeaWorld Rescue Center

Visit the home base of the SeaWorld Rescue Team to meet and hear from the dedicated filtration experts, animal care personnel, lab technicians, and veterinarians who work around the clock to deliver life-saving care to animals in need.

SeaWorld Orlando Inside Look Weekends 2022

3 – Returning! Inside Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin

Venture beyond the ice and snow of SeaWorld’s penguin habitat and learn what goes into caring for these beloved birds who hail from some of the coldest environments in the world. Enjoy Inside Look-exclusive views and learn from our animal care specialists how we feed and care for an entire colony of penguins.

SeaWorld Orlando Inside Look Weekends 2022

4 – Returning! Inside Pacific Point Preserve

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the home of our California sea lions and harbor seals. Hear stories and gain insights from the animal care specialists who care for them every day and learn what it takes to maintain a thriving sea lion social group. This location is not ADA accessible.

SeaWorld Orlando Inside Look Weekends 2022

5 – Returning! Inside Shark Encounter

Get a topside view at Shark Encounter and unlock the mysteries of caring for the sharks and sawfish in SeaWorld’s 700,000-gallon shark habitat. Visit the medical pool and learn how we give annual physicals. See the moving walkway that temporarily divides the exhibit for cleaning and discover how we feed our sharks. This location is not ADA accessible.

SeaWorld Orlando Inside Look Weekends 2022

6 – Returning! Inside Orca Encounter

See more and learn more with exclusive backstage access at Orca Encounter. Meet and hear from the dedicated animal care specialists who safeguard the health and well-being of our killer whales. See where hundreds of pounds of fish are prepared each day, check out our larger-than-life whale toys, and visit our medical pool and system of habitat pools to better understand the dynamics of caring for SeaWorld’s largest residents.
Experience available between 12p.m. – 2p.m. & 3p.m. – 6p.m.

SeaWorld Orlando Inside Look Weekends 2022

7 – Returning! Inside Wild Arctic

Step behind the scenes into the maze of back hallways that provide service access to the beluga whales and harbor seals that call Wild Arctic home. Plus, meet the team members who spend their days caring for these incredible animals.

You can find even more Inside Look Weekends fun, check out their official website!

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Busch Gardens Mardi Gras 2022

Let the Good Times Roll with Busch Gardens Mardi Gras, select dates from January 8 through March 6.

Get jazzed up with Mardi Gras-style live music and New Orleans-inspired entertainment. Catch some festival beads from strolling performers throughout the day, and get caught up in the fun as you dance through spacious walkways. Feast like kings and queens on classic Cajun cuisine as Busch Gardens brings the “Big Easy” to Tampa Bay.

Busch Gardens Mardi Gras 2022

Mardi Gras Dining Locations  

LIVE MUSIC, PARADE AND BEADS

MARDI GRAS PARADE – The Bird Gardens come to life as entertainers, stilt walkers and musicians bring the Mardi Gras spirit to Tampa Bay during this lively parade.

BEAD GARDEN – What’s Mardi Gras without beads? Stop by the Bead Garden for an opportunity to catch beads with your party.
Select times during event hours. Limited quantity of beads available.

BRASS BAND – Enjoy Bourbon street beats and jazz classics as the Brass Band gets the party started in the Bird Gardens.

LIVE LOCAL MUSIC – Immerse yourself in the music of New Orleans as local musical groups bring zest to this flavorful event.
See the daily schedule for showtimes.

Tastes of Mardi Gras

Tempt your taste buds with a signature shrimp po’ boy, hearty jambalaya and gumbo, or specialty sweets like iconic beignets. Handcrafted cocktail classics like Hurricanes join new signature drinks for a perfect pairing with the park’s carefully crafted culinary offering. Try them all with a Mardi Gras Sampler Lanyard!

Cupcakes during Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens Tampa

XCURSIONS

  • Mardi Gras Cupcakes (2 or 4 Packs)
  • Rum Tastings
  • Artisan Crafts

Beignets during Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens Tampa

SWEET BEIGNETS

  • Beignets: Traditional Powdered SugarWoodford Reserve Chocolate DrizzleBanana Foster
  • Smoked Bourbon Peach Sour Cocktail: Woodford Reserve, Peach Sour, Club Soda

Jambalya during Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens Tampa

JACKSON SQUARE

  • NEW! IMPOSSIBLE™ Dirty Rice: Spices of New Orleans, Green Onions, IMPOSSIBLE™ Meat  
  • REIMAGINED! Shrimp & Grits: Cajun Garlic Shrimp, Smoked Cheddar, Tasso Ham, Stone Ground Grits 
  • Creole-Style Jambalaya: Chicken, Andouille Sausage, Tomatoes, Green Onions
  • Spiced Vanilla Old-Fashioned Cocktail: Woodford Reserve, Vanilla, Bitters

Hurricanes

HURRICANES

  • Traditional Hurricane: Served Frozen or Iced Spike DAT! +$3.50

Shrimp Po'boy during Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens Tampa

ESPLANADE STREET BITES

  • NEW! Smoked Peppered Brisket: Chipotle Cream, New Orleans Kettle Chip, Green Onions
  • NEW! Smoked Chicken Po’boy: Bourbon BBQ, Crisp Lettuce, Pickles
  • Shrimp Po’boy: Crispy Shrimp, Creole Remoulade, Crisp cabbage, PicklesSmoked Bloody Mary Cocktail: Tito’s Vodka, Hickory, Fresh Lemon

Guesting enjoying drinks from the giraffe bar

GIRAFFE BAR

  • Hurricanes
  • Select Draft Beers
  • Frozen Cocktails
  • Cocktails on Tap

NOLA CREAMERY

  • NEW! French Quarter Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake Waffle Cone: Chocolate Drizzle, Mardi Gras Sprinkles
  • REIMAGINED! The Mardi Gras Waffle Cone Sundae: Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Popcorn, Chocolate Drizzle, Whipped Topping, Wild Morello Cherries
  • REIMAGINED! Bourbon Street Cream and Cookie: Choice of Ice Cream, Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie, Chocolate Drizzle

BAYOU BEVERAGE

  • (GARDEN GATE CAFE)Draft Beer
  • Frozen Cocktails: Strawberry Daiquri, Piña Colada, Tampa ViceGold Coin Mojito, and Green Fairy Margarita
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Country Thunder Florida Returns in 2022

Country Thunder Florida 2022

Country Thunder Florida will return to Kissimmee with all-new fall dates in 2022.
 
Country music’s hottest new superstar joins one of the biggest-selling artists in country music history for a one-two festival punch like no other. Jason Aldean joins previously announced showstopper, Morgan Wallen, along with hit machine Chris Young for the Sunshine State’s hottest fall party of ‘22!

“Country Thunder Florida has become the biggest country music event in Central Florida and we have these fans to thank,” says Country Thunder Music Festivals CEO, Troy Vollhoffer. “We had an amazing festival last fall with Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and Old Dominion. We knew we had to up the ante and deliver the biggest and best artist roster possible.
 
“This is the line-up those fans have asked for, and we’re thrilled to give it to them.”
 


Let’s start with the biggest musical entity in the world right now, shall we?

Country Thunder Florida Morgan Wallen

Every once in a while an artist comes along who transcends the country music genre and, in fact, changes the entire game. Morgan Wallen is that artist right now, for the immediate future, and well beyond.
 
The numbers and the fan hysteria speak for itself.        
 
With over seven billion (yes, you read that number correctly) on-demand streams, numerous multi-market, multi-platinum certifications and four consecutive chart-toppers, Wallen’s widely-praised sophomore effort, Dangerous: The Double Album, reigned #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart for a whopping 10 consecutive weeks upon its release.
 
The blockbuster remained in the top 10 for 33 weeks, plus earned the biggest streaming week for a Country album in music history. It includes another record-breaking achievement with one of Time magazine’s Top 10 Songs of 2020, “7 Summers,” and “Wasted On You” – both debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and inside the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10, not to mention the 4x platinum Diplo collaboration, “Heartless,” and another platinum chart-topper, “More Than My Hometown.”
 
His limited Fall headlining gigs in the U.S. sold between 30 and 50,000 tickets per venue in minutes, causing pandemonium in each market. Wallen’s headline performance at Country Thunder Bristol has been called the “Country Music Event Of The Year” in America for 2021.   
 
CT Nation in Florida is in for a treat!
 
And the long-awaited return of Jason Aldean to OHP will be a welcome one.

Country Thunder Florida Jason Aldean


One of the most sought-after headliners in country music today, Aldean has amassed a staggering resume since releasing his self-titled debut in 2005.
 
Nine best-selling albums (including four No. 1s), 35 top-10 singles, including a staggering 20 No. 1s, every industry award imaginable (and, frankly, too many to list here), to go along with a brand-new two-part album set,Macon, Georgia.
 
Part one (Macon) came out on November 12 and yielded the No.2 smash, “If I Didn’t Love You” – a stunning duet with Carrie Underwood. Part-two (Georgia) will be released in April 2022.
 
Expect yet another batch of hits by the time Aldean hits the stage and electrifies the CT Florida throng in Kissimmee!    
 
For his part, Chris Young has enjoyed a banner year in 2021. His album, Famous Friends has already yielded four hit singles, including the No. 1 title track which was recorded with 2021 CT Iowa headliner, Kane Brown.
 
It was followed up with three more hits: “Raised On Country”, “Drowning” and the outstanding Mitchell Tenpenny duet, “At The End Of A Bar.”
 
A consummate live performer and fan-favorite, any one of Young’s ten No. 1 hits from his eight best-selling albums, are sure to ignite the Country Thunder Florida faithful!

Country Thunder Florida Chris Young

As if all that wasn’t enough, organizers also announced that red-hot Ashley McBryde as well as Chase Rice, Granger Smith feat. Earl Dibbles Jr., Clay Walker, Tracy Lawrence, Lindsay Ell, Kameron Marlowe, Laney WilsonJames Barker Band, and many more will fill out this incredibly stacked lineup!
 
Country Thunder Florida 2022 is rolling in – see you all next fall!
 
Three-day passes, reserved seating, Platinum Experience, Rockin’ Range, Camping and all the extras are available now. Visit countrythunder.com to purchase, or order by phone at 1-866-388-0007.

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Steinmetz Hall Opening Weekend Celebration

Steinmetz Hall

The opening weekend community celebration of Steinmetz Hall, an acoustically remarkable theater that completes the original design of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, is going to be amazing!

The celebration will begin with an opening ceremony press event on Friday, January 14 at 11 a.m., followed by two open houses for the community. Guests are invited to experience the world’s newest cultural and architectural achievement, right in the heart of downtown Orlando, on Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, January 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A dream decades in the making finally comes to life with an incredible lineup that will bring the Dr. Phillips Center vision, Arts For Every Life, to the stage for the first performance at Steinmetz Hall with Rise & Shine—a one-of-a-kind, two-day showcase of diverse talents from across Central Florida on Friday and Sunday, January 14 and 16.

Steinmetz Hall
Cole NeSmith

More than 250 artists will perform under the leadership of creative director Cole NeSmith, music director Eric Jacobsen and Orlando’s top visionaries—including artists from the Asian Cultural Association, Bach Festival Choir, Central Florida Community Arts, City of Orlando Poet Laureate Shawn Welcome, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, Gospel Liturgical Dance team from Inez Patricia School of Dance, Matthew Fowler & Prado Sisters, Orlando Choral Society, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Raymi Dance, Rico Monaco, SAK Comedy Lab, The 502’s, United Ballet Theater and Wynn Family.

“We are incredibly proud to open Steinmetz Hall with a moving, heart-warming performance that celebrates our city’s unity, individual diversity and creative spirit on one stage,” said NeSmith, the creative director for the Dr. Phillips Center Presents Rise & Shine. “It will be a seamless blend of art forms with orchestral and choir arrangements, modern dance, spoken word, musical fusion of hip-hop, opera and jazz, ballet, improv comedy, folk and Asian-Latin gospel fusion coming together for 90 minutes.”

Steinmetz Hall
Michael Feinstein

Michael Feinstein will also bring Orlando Broadway stars­ and regional legends Davis Gaines, Norm Lewis, and Sofia Deler back home­ to perform the greatest hits from Broadway and the Great American Songbook on Saturday, January 15.

The Grand Opening Celebration of Steinmetz Hall will continue for more than two weeks with performances from international, national, and regional artists, including The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Royal Ballet, Jennifer Hudson, Leon Bridges, Lyle Lovett, and the world premiere of Duke Ellington’s Black, Brown & Beige, the only full-length orchestration, and Sacred Music.

Steinmetz Hall

Named after philanthropists Chuck and Margery Pabst Steinmetz, Steinmetz Hall will be one of the world’s most acoustically remarkable spaces designed to reach the lowest levels at which humans can detect sound in a modern building. The multi-form venue is one of the few in the world that can also transform in shape, seating, and sound to accommodate a variety of art forms and events.

The Grand Opening Celebration is supported by Dr. Phillips Charities, Ravago Americas, and Korbin Family Foundation. Also supported by Chuck & Margery Pabst Steinmetz, Anonymous, Joyce T. Green, Lynn & Joe Conte, Orosz Family, and Bob VanderWeide & Shelby Norwich. The Grand Celebration Season is supported by AdventHealth and Massey Services, Inc.

To purchase tickets to Steinmetz Hall visit their official website.

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