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The Orlando Pottery Festival & Holiday Arts Market is Central Florida’s largest annual winter celebration and market of ceramic art. The Orlando Pottery Festival presents the Orlando Pottery Festival & Holiday Arts Market, Central Florida’s largest winter celebration and market of ceramic art—featuring unique handmade items perfect for the home, garden, and gift giving! The event returns on Saturday December 2, 2023, from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, December 3, 2023, from 10 am to 4 pm, at the Florida Army National Guard Armory, 2809 South Ferncreek Ave., Orlando, 32806. Meet 50+ talented local artists, including highly regarded professional potters who exhibit in galleries and juried art festivals throughout the South; mid-career artists whose distinctive designs and signature items are fast becoming contemporary collectibles; longtime “hobby potters” who are channeling their creativity while mastering their craft in local pottery studios; and younger and emerging ceramic artists, some of whom are selling to the public for the first time. This year, the Orlando Pottery Festival & Holiday Arts Market features artist vendors from coast to coast—Tampa to New Smyrna Beach, and as far north as Jacksonville—in addition to all our many potters living and working in the greater Orlando area! Shop the diverse range of these artists’ original functional and decorative work, such as handmade everyday dishware, elegant ceramic jewelry, sculptural and figurative work inspired by Florida’s flora and fauna, whimsical and practical home and garden decor, and much more—all created on the pottery wheel or using hand-built and slip-cast techniques. Returning visitors know that the Orlando Pottery Festival’s twice-annual events—typically held in the spring and during the winter holiday season—are the best way to get “first dibs” on recent work from favorite local potters, and to meet the new artist vendors added to each festival. The Orlando Pottery Festival’s growth and diversity of artistic work makes for events that reflect the vibrancy and diversity of handmade ceramics. The Orlando Pottery Festival & Holiday Arts Market is a family-friendly event for all ages; free admission, free parking. For more information about the Orlando Pottery Festival, please visit www.orlandopotteryfestival.org. For the latest news and events from throughout Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you updated throughout the day, every day. You can also stay updated with the latest news and events on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, you should subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel!

Celebrate the start of the holiday season on International Drive at the annual I-Drive District Holiday Tree Lighting at ICON Park! Kick off the Holiday season with a memorable evening of family fun courtesy of the International Drive Improvement District and ICON Park this Friday, December 1 at 6 pm. Taking place at ICON Park, enjoy an evening of family fun including the glittering lighting ceremony of a 50 ft Holiday Tree sponsored by the . Dine, shop, explore, enjoy special performances, singing and dancing, Free 3D-holiday glasses, and so much more during this cherished holiday tradition in Orlando! Enjoy special performances, singing and dancing, free 3D holiday glasses and much more! Come dine, shop, explore and be merry on I-Drive. Check out I-Drive District for more information. For the latest news and events from throughout Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you updated throughout the day, every day. You can also stay updated with the latest news and events on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, you should subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel!

Get Ready for the Back to the Classics Car Show: Holiday Edition at Waterford Lakes Town Center. Hosted by Waterford Lakes Town Center and music by DJ Don from Cruisin Orlando, Back to the Classics Car Show: Holiday Edition rolls into Waterford Lakes Town Center this weekend. Taking place on Saturday, December 1, 2023, the car show is open to all years, makes, and models. 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place Trophies for Classics and Modern Muscle! Take a trip down memory lane during the Back to the Classics car show with a holiday twist, including Santa Claus photo op and more for participating car owners. This free event is perfect for car owners and enthusiasts alike when classics, hot rods, antiques, and muscle cars show off their polish and shine. Cars will begin lining up at 3:00pm and on display from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. For the latest news and events from throughout Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you updated throughout the day, every day. You can also stay updated with the latest news and events on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, you should subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel!

The multi-talented Darren Criss whose career spans television, film, music and stage is celebrating "Crissmas" this year, including a stop in Orlando on Wednesday. Since bursting onto the pop-culture landscape from Fox’s hit show Glee over a decade ago, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss has embodied the kind of kaleidoscopic artistry that’s entirely uninhibited by form or genre. The multi-hyphenates illustrious career spans television, film, music and stage. Kicking off the Christmas season Criss will perform songs from his recent holiday album, A Very Darren Crissmas. His first ever full length project includes a wildly eclectic collection of songs from big band Christmas classics to novelty tunes to modern-day folk-pop ballads. Made with Ron Fair, multi-Grammy nominee and producer of numerous GRAMMY-winning hits, A Very Darren Crissmas showcases his artistry delivering both thrillingly unpredictable moments and a timeless sense of Christmas magic. Darren will take to the stage at Dr Phillips Center's Steinmetz Hall on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Tickets for the show are still available. Criss is widely known for FOX’s massively successful musical series Glee, from which many of his performances of popular songs would lead to several Billboard-topping records. In 2015 his songwriting also landed an Emmy nomination for Best Original Music and Lyrics, from penning the song “This Time” for the show’s series finale. As an actor, Criss is a veteran of the stage whose Broadway credits include the titular role of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2015), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (2012), and the most recent 2022 revival of David Mamet’s seminal play American Buffalo alongside Laurence Fishburne and Sam Rockwell. In 2018 his work in Ryan Murphy’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story received wide critical acclaim, earning him a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics’ Choice Award. He was also recently seen starring in Netflix’s hit series Hollywood, for which he also served as executive producer. For the latest news and information from throughout Central Florida, here at Gotta Go Orlando we keep you informed throughout the day, every day. You can also keep up to date with us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel, for the best of Orlando.

Orlando’s oldest and largest professional artist collective, McRae Art Studios is opening its doors this weekend, as it hosts its annual Holiday Open House. Don’t miss out on Art & Starlight, the McRae Art Studios 2023 Holiday Open House taking place this weekend at McRae Art Studios, Arlington Arts Building, 1000 Arlington Street Orlando. On Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2, from 6 - 9 pm each night, you’ll get to see works like this from John Whipple and tour the studio where he paints, builds sculptures, and dreams up quirky projects that tickle his creative funny-bone. John is one of the founding members of McRae. Along with the other 21 artists who are part of this collective, he hopes you’ll attend our Holiday Open House to tour the Main Gallery, visit artist studios, and add your sparkle to the festivities. You can take a chance on a fabulous raffle prize — a gallery wall of over 20 4”x4” pieces created by our Member Artists. Plus we’ll have a donation bar, a wishing tree, holiday ornaments, and more! McRae Art Studios, Central Florida’s largest artist collective, was founded 31 years ago by George and Marty Whipple in 1987 in Orlando to provide affordable studio space for fine artists. After three moves in Orlando and an 18-year stay in Winter Park, the group has returned to its roots in Orlando, at 1000 Arlington Street. McRae’s new facility is a freshly renovated 10,000-square-foot building with studios for 23 working artists, plus space for classes, workshops, exhibitions, and rental for meetings and special functions. McRae has partnered with ArtReach Orlando, which will use a small area for art programs for under-served children. McRae artists admit new members through a jury process, ensuring high artistic quality and diversity. Its members regularly win top awards in competitions and art festivals and are featured in group exhibitions at Orlando City Hall, Crealde School of Art, and museums and galleries in Florida and beyond. McRae artists work in painting, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics and photography. Their subjects include landscape, portraiture, still life, abstraction, fantasy and surrealism. Throughout the year the group also hosts open houses where thousands of visitors and art collectors stroll through McRae’s studios, meet the artists and purchase art. As a collective, McRae has produced shows with Leesburg Center for the Arts, Brevard Museum of Art, Orlando Museum of Art (First Thursday Show), Casselberry City Hall (Artists Program), Maitland Art Center, and Winter Park Public Library, and more. We are always open to new venues for group showings. McRae Art Studios is a front door to the careers and businesses of a diverse group of talented artists. Our true light shines from the work each of us creates. We encourage you to contact us individually or as a group. Private showings of the studio are available by appointment. For the latest news and events from throughout Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you updated throughout the day, every day. You can also stay updated with the latest news and events on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, you should subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel!

Get ready to party once again with the Renaissance Theater Company as they present The Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza Show! Plus, new this year, keep the party going with The Winter Late Night Drag Extravaganza Show. With new original songs and a comedic cast of characters pulled straight from your neighboring cubicles, The Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza Show returns for a third year with drinks, mingling, scripted gift-exchanges, and a little bit of that good ol’-fashioned holiday spirit. The zany holiday favorite returns from November 30 - December 23, 2023 to the Ren in Orlando. In The Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza Show, audience members join all their 'co-workers' for the annual holiday party at Gripp and Pfister, where new characters join all the usual suspects for a show that's quickly become a holiday tradition for adults in Orlando. "This is the 3rd year of The Office Holiday Party... and of course fans of the show can expect new characters and new skits, mixed with favorites from years before," says Donald Rupe, the show's creator. "Our audience loves when our shows tie in to nightlife and drag entertainment, so we've added a second show that is really just a wonderfully tacky holiday show; we think adults should get into the spirit too, sans kiddos." "People who haven't seen the show yet can expect a cross between The Office meets Parks and Recreation meets a classic musical, but not like a corny one," says Kendall Leamy, one of the show's original cast members who is returning this year. "The audience comes in like they're coming to their own office party. Everyone gets a name tag with a fake name, and then the actors just go crazy–Debra is the bitter loud one who drinks too much, there's the office romance, and so many surprises. It's not too interactive, so shy people shouldn't be scared. It's a really fun and unique experience." Plus, this year, Renaissance Theatre Company has added a new holiday tradition, The Winter Late Night Drag Extravaganza Show which takes directly follows The Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza Show. The Winter Late Night Drag Extravaganza Show will feature local drag queen stars join an energetic cast of dancers for a late night show featuring all of your favorite holiday songs (yes, *that* Mariah song is a must-have). Plus, enjoy the new "Winter Wonderland" space and take advantage of the holiday photo ops to get your season's cutest pics. To purchase tickets and for more information, click here. For the latest news and events from throughout Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you updated throughout the day, every day. You can also stay updated with the latest news and events on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, you should subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel!

Following the closure of Orlando's Water Parks at Thanksgiving due to cold temperatures, another drop in temps will once again force the closure of the water parks. Forget the flip-flops and t-shirts, its time to wrap up warm Orlando ass the coldest air of the season is on the way! A massive plunge in temperatures tonight, will see temperatures drop to the mid - to upper 40s overnight. The cold air has forced Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando to all close their water parks. Disney's Blizzard Beach, Universal's Volcano Bay, and SeaWorld's Aquatica will all be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, November 28, with Disney's Blizzard Beach and Universal's Volcano Bay also closed on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Although you should expect Aquatica to also be closed on Wednesday as temperatures remain very cold! So how cold can we expect it to be? It's going to feel very cold, with wake-up temperatures tomorrow morning in the mid to upper 40s. Afternoon highs Tuesday, will only reach the mid 60s, before dropping again overnight with wake-up temps on Wednesday morning in the mid 40s. By the afternoon, temperatures will gradually warm into the upper 70s. Currently, the three water parks are all scheduled to be open on Thursday, November 30, but this of course is entirely depend on temperatures improving. For the latest news and events from throughout Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you updated throughout the day, every day. You can also stay updated with the latest news and events on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, you should subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel!

IT’S OFFICIAL! Santa has again voted the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin his all-time favorite resort, and together with Mrs. Claus, they have returned to Orlando for a holiday vacation, enjoying some downtime before Christmas Eve! It’s been a busy year for Santa and his elves preparing for the upcoming holiday season, so he and Mrs. Claus have decided to take a little vacation during the month of December and chill out at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin! Of course, they are looking forward to making some special guest appearances while here! Local guests as well as guests from anywhere around the Walt Disney World Resort are invited to join Mrs. Claus and her special Elf Kandy Kane on select nights in their special Santa’s Holiday Hangout by the Swan pool, as they wait for Santa to arrive. There’s going to be lots of photo opportunities that you won’t find anywhere else, so bring your cameras and get ready to party Florida style with Santa and Mrs. Claus!!!! Along with Mrs.Claus and Kandy Kane the Elf, Santa’s Favorite Resort is full of holiday fun and surprises. Take photos with Santa, decorate cookies, round up the presents in our scavenger hunt activity, enjoy festive beverages, and more! Holiday Activities Include: Santa And Mrs. Claus Santa and Mrs. Claus along with their special Elf, Kandy Kane, will entertain guests at Santa’s Holiday Hangout by the Swan pool 6pm – 8pm on select nights (dates coming soon!). Be on the lookout for some special holiday entertainment as well on select nights during our Santa Show! Get ready for big laughs and photo opportunities you will not see anywhere else! Pastry Decorating Children can create their own masterpiece as our cast members help them decorate and create festive holiday cookies. Located at Santa’s Holiday Hangout area at the Swan pool on select nights from 6pm – 8pm (dates coming soon!). Complimentary. One cookie per guest while supplies last. Santa's Dancing Lights Spectacular Join us on the causeway located between the hotels as dancing lighted palms come alive every 10 minutes after dusk in a musical & light display designed to delight! Santa's Magic Key How is Santa going to be able to deliver presents for your children? Easy! Just stop by the Concierge desk on Christmas Eve (December 24) and pick up a copy of Santa’s magic key to hang on your hotel room door on Christmas Eve. (Don’t worry – it only works for Santa!) Supplies are limited. Deck The Halls Our elves are filled with holiday spirit and want to add some North Pole magic to your stay. Whether it’s a Christmas story with cookies and milk or a Christmas tree and some special Holiday gifts to celebrate with. They will be spreading joy and cheer throughout the resort this year. Reservations required. Fees apply. Chocolate Santa Display Stop by the entrance to the Swan near Il Mulino New York Trattoria to marvel at a spectacular chocolate Santa sculpture hand-crafted by our two-time World Pastry Chef, Laurent Branlard. Everything you see is made from chocolate! Holiday Deals Book a stay now to relax in the Florida sun and meet Santa in person – along with special holiday activities, our giant tree-lighting, and more! Rates start at $239/night. Be sure to use code SANTA when booking. Call now for the best available rate! 888.828.8850 or 407.934.4000 For the latest news and events from throughout Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you updated throughout the day, every day. You can also stay updated with the latest news and events on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, you should subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel!

After a break of over five years, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has made a spectacular return, with the greatest show on earth back on the road. Sarasota based Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey has made comeback after a break of just over 5 years, the circus remains a traditional three-ring circus, but the performing animals are now gone, confined to a bookmark in history, with the reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey relying on the spectacle of superhuman feats now. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is owned by Feld Entertainment, a worldwide production company headquartered in Palmetto, Florida. Feld produce and present live touring family entertainment experiences throughout their world, including Monster Jam, Monster Energy Supercross, Disney On Ice, Marvel Universe LIVE!, and Jurassic World LiveTour. Across the brand portfolio, the numbers are impressive, with Feld Entertainment having entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. The reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is returning to Orlando's Amway Center from January 12 - 15, 2024, with tickets on sale now. Tickets are available with up to 35% off tickets. To receive the discount, you must enter code STGV23 before selecting seat(s) to see if offer applies. Savings offer will vary based on performance and seat location. Savings offer is not available on all seats. Tickets are subject to availability. Valid on up to 8 tickets per order. Offer expires 11:59 pm, on December 3, 2023. The new show has been in rehearsals for months now, with Feld Entertainment saying that the audience will get closer to the action than ever before at the reimagined circus. using an immersive, 360-degree environment and new technology. Guests will witness daring and never-before-seen acts on the high wire, trapeze, bicycle, and much, much more. Let's check out a sneak peek of just some of the amazing performers from around the globe who will now perform in the greatest Show On Earth! Double Wheel of Destiny Acts include the jaw-dropping, high-speed Double Wheel of Destiny act, a rarely-attempted twist on a circus favorite, featuring Ray Navas and his team of acrobats performing daring back-and-forth jumps between both wheels at crazy heights up to 30 feet above the ground. The Black Diamond Trio The Black Diamond Trio is an all-female acrobatic hand-to-hand balance trio hailing from Ethiopia. The award-winning trio has performed across the world at the International Circus Festival of Nikulin in Moscow; Afrika! Afrika!, The André Heller circus show in Germany; the International Circus Festival of Italy; the Circus Harlekin in Uetendorf, Switzerland; and more. The High-Flying Troupe Brother Imagine the ultimate playground, where seesaws flip and send you floating high in the sky. Add to the scene the high-flying Troupe Brothers from Mongolia, a specialized teeterboard troupe composed exclusively of Polish acrobats who have performed for audiences across the country. The Tic Tac Trio The Tic Tac Trio is joining Ringling as the featured acrobatic troupe using the Korean Teeterboard apparatus. Their backgrounds include experience in martial arts, parkour, and dance. They have previously performed around the world on stages such as the Flic Flac Circus, Circ Raluy Legacy, Monte Carlo Circus, and much much more! Yab Brothers Sisay Abebe and Yabu, better known as Yab Brothers, are a two-man Ethiopian Risley performance act. After first meeting at Circus Ethiopia where Abebe had been training, they discovered their destiny and formed a partnership, performing spectacular single, double, and twisting flips. Human Rocket Act featuring Skyler Miser Eighteen-year-old Skyler Miser has been an entertainer since childhood, and you’re guaranteed to have a blast once she takes the stage in The Greatest Show On Earth® as Ringling’s very own Human Rocket. Or maybe it’s more Skyler that’s having a blast — quite literally. You could say performance is in her DNA— Skyler’s parents, Tina and Brian Miser, starred as Human Cannon Balls in previous Ringling shows dating back to 1999. They passed their passion on to Skyler, who first made her way to the Ringling stage at the age of 13 after attending circus school and appearing in the Peru Amateur Circus. Troupe Ethio Salem Hailing from Ethiopia, meet Troupe Ethio Salem – 6 young men perform amazing acts, including hoop diving, Chinese pole, club juggling, and a solo cyr wheel act. They have been performing together since they were young, working hard to perfect their skills. They have previously performed at the International Golden Elephant Circus Festival in Spain. The Flying Caceres The Flying Caceres was created by Miguel Caceres in 1982 for the 112th Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, which then became the featured attraction of the 140th edition in 2010. With spectacular experience as a flying trapeze artist since the age of 4, Miguel Caceres is the first flyer ever to present both a triple and a triple-and-a-half somersault in the same act. Since then, the Flying Caceres has performed throughout the United States with both the Red and Blue units of Ringling at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, the Big Apple Circus, Bentley Bros. Circus, the Royal Hanneford Circus, Tarzan Zerbini Circus, Hamid Circus Royale, and more. Wesley Williams “The One Wheel Wonder” World-renowned unicyclist Wesley Williams “The One Wheel Wonder” is joining The Greatest Show On Earth! Wesley is a Guinness World Record holder for the tallest rideable unicycle (30 feet!) and is in the “see it to believe it” realm of talent that makes up the fabric of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. For the latest news and information from throughout Central Florida, here at Gotta Go Orlando we keep you informed throughout the day, every day. You can also keep up to date with us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel, for the best of Orlando.

Which team will make history by taking the first bite of the giant toaster pastry mascot at Pop-Tarts debut bowl game? The winning team of the upcoming Pop-Tarts Bowl will go home with far more than just bragging rights and a Championship Trophy, they can also expect a belly full of the first-ever Edible Mascot!! "For sixty years, Pop-Tarts has sacrificed everythingin the name of Crazy Good flavor, so why wouldn't that include our beloved Football Mascot, too?" said Heidi Ray, Senior Director of Marketing, Pop-Tarts. "Since we announced our title sponsorship of the Pop-Tarts Bowl, fans have been speculating on the larger-than-life game day experiences we will be tackling, and this is the first of many traditions that fans can expect Pop-Tarts to upend on game day." Stay tuned next week, following the Bowl Matchup Announcements, for additional Crazy Good moments Pop-Tarts has in store for the first-ever Pop-Tarts Bowl, from concessions and Fan Fest to the entertainment on and off the field. The Pop-Tarts Bowl, will take place on Thursday, December 28 at 5:45 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast live on ESPN. The post-season showdown will unfold as representatives from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 conferences face off at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. This year's Pop-Tarts Bowl will be the 34th edition of the game, with Pop-Tarts sponsoring the NCAA college football bowl for the first time. The fully integrated, multi-year partnership between Pop-Tarts and Florida Citrus Sports includes exclusive naming rights, digital and social media content, in-stadium exposure, product sampling and on-site activation at the game and other organization events. Most recently known as the Cheez-It Bowl, it has become must-see TV as one of America's favorite post-season contests since relocating to Central Florida in 2001. "We're excited to partner with Pop-Tarts and look forward to welcoming another one of America's most beloved brands to Orlando," Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan said. "The best bowl trip in college football only gets better with the Most Valuable Pastry on your team, so get ready for unforgettable experiences at the Pop-Tarts Bowl debut this December." The 2022 bowl game, a 35-32 Florida State University victory over University of Oklahoma, drew an announced crowd of 61,520 and boasted a total live audience of 5.4 million viewers, making it last year's second-most-watched postseason game outside of the New Year's Six. Cheez-It will remain the cheeziest sponsor of college football's postseason at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, also organized by Florida Citrus Sports and held at Camping World Stadium. The 78th Cheez-It Citrus Bowl will kick off at 1 p.m. on New Year's Day and airs on ABC. Tickets to both games are available through Florida Citrus Sports now and will go on sale to the public after teams are selected on Sunday, December 3. For the very latest news and information from Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you informed throughout the day, every day. You can also keep up to date on our socials, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel, your free guide to Orlando.

The Morse Museum will launch the holidays in Winter Park when it lights up beautiful Tiffany windows in Central Park and presents the Bach Festival Society Choir, Youth Choir, and Brass Ensemble in concert. Each year, the Morse Museum helps launch the holiday season in Winter Park when it lights up Tiffany windows in Central Park and presents the Bach Festival Choir and Brass Ensemble in a free concert. This November is the 45th annual celebration of Christmas in the Park and will take place on Thursday, November 30, 2023. The event begins at 6:15 p.m. when the signal is given to turn on the window lights. The concert concludes around 8:00 p.m., and the windows remain lighted until 8:30 p.m. The event is held in the northern section of Central Park—about a block from the Museum—near the intersection of Garfield and Park avenues. Christmas in the Park was started by Hugh and Jeannette McKean, the Morse Museum’s benefactors, in 1979 as a way to share a part of their rare Tiffany collection with the public in an informal setting. The seven leaded-glass windows on view are memorials, with religious themes, produced by Tiffany Studios for the chapel at the Association for the Relief of Respectable Aged Indigent Females in New York City (1814–1974). The Association was founded in 1814 by a group of wealthy New Yorkers as a genteel private charity for elderly, indigent women, including widows of soldiers who fought in the War of 1812 and the Revolution. The first residence, constructed in 1838, was an alternative to the common almshouse. An expanded building was designed later by Richard Morris Hunt (1827–95), architect to the rich and famous of the late 19th century. The historic building at 891 Amsterdam Avenue is now home to Hosteling International New York City. When the residence was threatened with demolition in 1974, Hugh and Jeannette McKean bought its Tiffany chapel windows at the request of the Association board. The windows are memorials to prominent women who served on the volunteer Board of Managers during the planning and construction of the Hunt building from 1881 to 1883. For the latest news and events from throughout Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you updated throughout the day, every day. You can also stay updated with the latest news and events on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, you should subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel!

The Love Boat gets ready to set sail from Central Florida to the Caribbean in November 2024. One year from today, Princess Cruises will homeport the Caribbean Princess at Port Canaveral, establishing a new homeport in Central Florida for the first time. The ship will cast off on Nov. 27, 2024, embarking on its maiden journey from Port Canaveral to Turks & Caicos, offering a four-day Thanksgiving getaway cruise, as Princess Cruises brings the magic of "The Love Boat" to this convenient new departure point. On sale now, the November 2024 through April 2025 season features 20 cruise departures to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, ranging in length from four to eight days, including: Thanksgiving four-day getaway voyage to Turks & Caicos (Nov. 27, 2024) Eastern Caribbean six-day cruises to Nassau, Grand Turk and either Amber Cove or San Juan(Dec. 9, 23, 2024; Jan. 6, 20, Feb. 3, 17, March 3, 17, 31, 2025) Eastern Caribbean eight-day cruises with St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan and Grand Turk (Dec. 1, 29, 2024; Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 23, 2025) Western Caribbean eight-day voyages to Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize City and Roatan for Mahogany Bay (Dec. 15, 2024; Jan. 12, Feb. 9, March 9, April 6, 2025) Cruisers may opt to combine any six- or eight-day itineraries for a longer 14-day vacation. "With Port Canaveral being introduced as new home port for us in just one year, our presence in North America expands and provides another major drive market with convenient access, as well as a multitude of flight options in and out of Orlando," said Terry Thornton, chief commercial officer for Princess Cruises. "Plus, we hope many of our guests from Port Canaveral will experience Princess for the first time and discover why our cruise line is so unique, from the Princess MedallionClass experience which offers unparalleled service and personalization, to world-class dining, casual eateries, Broadway-inspired entertainment and incredible family offerings." Guests booking can take advantage of inclusive packages like Princess Plus and Princess Premier which add popular amenities like WiFi, beverages, desserts, fitness classes, crew gratuities and more at an even greater savings of up 65% when the inclusive package amenities are purchased separately. Caribbean Princess also offers a wide variety of staterooms that accommodate up to four guests and interconnecting staterooms for families, a Youth and Teen Center for ages 3-17, an outdoor Movies Under the Stars screen to enjoy films, live sports games and more, plus quieter spaces like The Sanctuary for adult guests to relax with the ocean breeze. Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting the company's website at ww.princess.com. For the latest news and events from throughout Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you updated throughout the day, every day. You can also stay updated with the latest news and events on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Plus, you should subscribe to the Gotta Go Orlando YouTube Channel!