Something is buzzing in Tampa! Giant larger-than-life BUGS are coming to ZooTampa, with a family-friendly event that will feature 13 species of animatronic bugs that will amaze and educate guests in fun and unique ways. Bugtopia is taking place from February 25 - April 30, 2023, and is included with the price of admission to Zoo Tampa. For ticket info click here. You will shrink down and be immersed in BUGTOPIA, the fantastic world of animals that skitter, crawl, and fly. Join professor Mo Alexander and his research assistants as they explore the important and fascinating role these tiny creatures have on the preservation of the world we share. Learn about the amazing insects we share our world with and how they benefit our ecosystem, from tiny ladybugs to dazzling dragonflies. See these larger-than-life creatures in a new and unique way. Giant Bugs Featured: Black Ant Blue-Eyed Darner Bombardier Beetle Devil's Flower Mantis Emperor Scorpion Grasshopper Madagascar Sunset Moth Mexican Redknee Tarantula Orb Web Spider - Cross Orb Weaver Red-Tailed Bumblebee Say's Firefly Seven Spotted Ladybug Stag Beetle ZooTampa at Lowry Park is one of the most popular zoos in the southeastern US, with close to 1 million visitors annually. The Zoo originated in the 1930’s as a municipal department with a small number of Florida native species. It grew gradually throughout the next four decades, but struggled to meet the developing professional standards of modern zoos. In 1982, community leaders created the Lowry Park Zoo Association to take over management of the Zoo for the City of Tampa with the goal of creating a world-class zoo through a public-private partnership. The Association then became the Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, Inc., as it remains today. Working with a national zoo designer, the Society was able to create a modern, 24-acre facility that opened to the public in 1988 and shortly after earned Accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). ZooTampa has now grown to what now encompasses 56 acres of naturalistic animal exhibits in a lush, tropical garden setting. The Zoo offers popular educational programming, fun recreational amenities, up-close animal encounters and engaging seasonal events for which it has won accolades as one of the country’s most family-friendly zoos. The Zoo emphasizes endangered, threatened and vulnerable species from climates similar to that of the Tampa Bay region, with park areas devoted to Asia, Africa, Australia and Florida.

Old Town celebrates the 33rd Anniversary of the Saturday Nite Classic Car Show/Cruise on Saturday, March 18. Visiting the Saturday night Cruise is something our family have enjoyed so many time over the years, and we know it's the same for many residents and visitors too. It's a unique event, watching the cars drive down Main street, with the smell of the gasoline, and the odd roar of an engine, it's a unique night out, that's got to be experienced at least once in a lifetime! Can you believe it's been 33 years since Old Town invited classic cars to drive down the brick-paved main street and the beginning of a Saturday tradition that still draws huge crowds every week, 33 years later. Recognized as America’s longest running weekly car show and cruise, Old Town is inviting car cruisers, enthusiasts, and admirers to come and celebrate a drive down memory lane. The anniversary show will feature show-quality 1985 and older hot rods, street rods, and antiques. The all-day celebration on Saturday, March 18 begins at 11 am and includes live entertainment, giveaways, and more, until 11 pm. Live Music will feature ,The Dukes from 1 pm – 5 pm, and Johnny Wild and The Delights from 7 pm – 11 pm. Just don't forget your 25c Pepsi from the Old Town General Store!

This year the City of Kissimmee is celebrating its 140th birthday, and everyone is invited to help celebrate the special milestone with a birthday bash that's big enough for a whole City! Celebrate the City’s birthday at the 2023 Kowtown Festival at Kissimmee Lakefront Park on Saturday, March 18, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. There will be plenty of vendors, food trucks, and live music. Bring your family and enjoy the Kids Zone as well as fun games and activities. The City of Kissimmee was originally a small trading post on the northern bank of Lake Tohopekaliga known as the community of Allendale. After the Civil War, this area was included in a purchase of four million acres of marshland and plains by Hamilton Disston, the owner of Disston Saw Company in Philadelphia. The sale price for the land totaled $1 million at 25 cents an acre! The infusion of $1 million to the state of Florida reportedly rescued the State from financial disaster. In January 1881, Disston contracted to drain the area and deepen the Kissimmee River, so products could be shipped into the Gulf of Mexico and points beyond. Many steamboat captains navigated the chain of lakes leading from Kissimmee to the Gulf with cargoes of cypress lumber and sugar cane. By 1920 the population of Kissimmee increased to more than 2,700 people as a result of the Florida land boom. In the 1930s the cattle industry began to flourish in the area. However, citrus and other crops remained as the predominant industry. The construction of the Kissimmee Airport in the 1940s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in preparation for the U.S. involvement in World War II caused Kissimmee's population to increase by 38% to 3,700 residents. City leaders wanting to continue Kissimmee's prosperous history, encouraged growth by attracting retirees to the area during the 1950s. This effort stimulated growth nearly 60%. The next period of growth came in the 1970s with the development of Walt Disney World and other tourist attractions. Since Walt Disney World's debut in 1971, the City's population doubled from 7,500 to 15,000 in 1980. The population doubled again in the 1980s to 30,000.

Every year, downtown Tampa transforms into one giant outdoor museum when hundreds of artists gather for the Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts. The 53rd Annual Festival will be held this year on the weekend of March 4 - 5, 2023, and will includes some of the world’s preeminent artists, hand-selected from over 1,000 submissions, all in one place. The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is recognized as one of the top-rated outdoor fine art festivals in the country, taking place at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in downtown Tampa. Each year, up to 235 artists are selected through a juried process to exhibit their work for art enthusiasts and vie for $80,000 in award money, including the $15,000 Raymond James Best of Show Award and an additional 38 awards. The March 2023 Festival will showcase artists and their work to include ceramic, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood. This event will also feature the works of local young artists and a weekend full of live entertainment including live music, a chalk walk, food trucks, children entertainment, and more. The Festival is free to the public and attracts an estimated 75,000 visitors.

Last Saturday, February 4, R&B singer, songwriter, and all round superstar Patii LaBelle kicked off the 2023 concerts at Universal Orlando's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval. Patti LaBelle, also known as the Godmother of Soul, worked her way through her back catalogue of greatest hits, including Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is), On My Own, and If Only You Knew, before ending with the classic Lady Marmalade, working the crown into a frenzy. But although it was Universal that brought Labelle to Orlando, she spent her downtime at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, where the Godmother of Soul met up with the Fairy Godmother and her apprentices at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Cast members were all smiles (and even shed some happy tears) as the Grammy award-winning singer spread a little pixie dust of her own on their magical moment together. After fronting the trailblazing vocal group LaBelle—they of “Lady Marmalade” fame, legendary singer Patti LaBelle embarked on a solo career that would earn her the nickname “the Godmother of Soul”. The Philadelphia native began singing in church at age 14. She later became the lead singer of Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles. The group scored Top 40 hits with 1963’s “Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)” and 1964’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. On the advice of manager Vicki Wickham, the group (now a trio) shortened its name to Labelle in the early ’70s and switched to an earthier, grittier sound informed by funk, soul and gospel. LaBelle broke through with 1974’s Nightbirds. Their album features the classic single “Lady Marmalade”, which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s pop and R&B charts. Patti LaBelle released her self-titled solo debut album in 1977. She broke into the mainstream with the gold-certified 1983 album I’m in Love Again. The single “If Only You Knew” marked her first No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. LaBelle picked up a pair of Grammy nominations for her platinum-certified 1986 album Winner in You. The LP features the Michael McDonald duet “On My Own”, which reached No. 1 on the pop and R&B charts. She kicked off the ’90s with a recurring role as Dwayne Wayne’s mother on the sitcom A Different World, appearing in eight episodes between 1990 and 1993. The 1991 album Burnin’ earned LaBelle her first Grammy, for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female. Her album 1998’s Live! One Night Only snagged her a second Grammy before the end of the decade. LaBelle was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2017, LaBelle reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Traditional Jazz Albums chart with Bel Hommage, her first jazz album.

The wonderful city of St Augustine has been nominated as having the Best Small Town Food Scene in North America. by USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Now ok, St Augustine is sure not a small town, but whatever, St Augustine deserves to win! You really can’t go wrong with St. Augustine's local seafood restaurants, like the New Orleans-inspired Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille or Catch 27. Given its Spanish history, other popular spots are Columbia Restaurant, and Sangrias Wine and Tapas Bar. St Augustine is in a shortlist of 20 locations across the country, with the overall winner being determined by a public vote. Voting is open now and you can help St Augustine to win by voting once per day through Monday, February 20 by voting here. The winner will be announced on Friday, March 3. We love a road trip to St Augustine, it's a comfortable 2 hour drive from Orlando, and it makes for a great weekend away, with so much to see, do, and of course eat in this historic city! (not a town!!)

Meet Kima and Twon – two Disney Springs culinary cast members who created delightful dishes for Celebrate Soulfully to honor Black History Month. Inspired by dishes their grandmas prepared for them as children, Kima created the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Poutine at The Daily Poutine and Twon the Chicken Jambalaya Dog at B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. Try their delicious creations now, they are only available until February 28. This February with Celebrate Soulfully, Walt Disney are commemorating Black History Month with experiences that honor Black heritage and culture through music, food, art and more. Kima and Twon, are both Disney Springs culinary cast members who are sharing a piece of their heritage with dishes they have created for this celebration. Growing up in Colorado Springs, Kima always looked forward to her family gatherings on Sundays, when Grandma took over the kitchen with the spices of her Jamaican and Puerto Rican roots. Kima’s favorite was the jerk chicken and that’s what inspired her to create the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Frites at The Daily Poutine. Made of sweet ‘n’ hot jerk marinated chicken, pineapple salsa, scotch bonnet aioli and fries, the dish is a nod to her grandma – a tribute to the person that shaped her love for food. “I started cooking when I was about 5 years old,” remembers Kima. “The first thing I learned how to cook was mac and cheese and collard greens and I’ve been cooking ever since.” Food has always been an important part of her life and her culture, and that’s what drove her to pursue a career in the culinary arts. Being an only child, Kima appreciates her Disney family, who have contributed to her growth over the past 14 years of her Disney career and celebrate her accomplishments. And this is only the beginning for Kima, who has many more goals to conquer here at Disney! As the oldest of 12 siblings growing up in Orlando, Florida, Twon spent a lot of time in the kitchen. With so many siblings, his parents worked, sending Twon to the kitchen at the young age of 10 to cook for his family. One of those family dishes of his youth inspired the Chicken Jambalaya Dog he created for B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. “As I got older, I added my own flair to it, and I found out that it’s a generational thing. My grandmother made it for my mom, then my mom made it for us, and now I’m so excited that guests at Disney Springs get to try a piece of my heritage.” His version of the dish is a combination of smoked sausage, roasted corn and lemon caper aioli served on a Tuscan roll. One of the things Twon enjoys the most about cooking is watching people’s reactions when taking that first bite of a dish he has prepared. And serving his food to guests who visit Disney Springs from around the world, has given him the perfect stage to hone his craft. “To be honest, Disney refined me in the culinary field. I’ve learned how to be organized, make sure that my flavors are on properly and how to build new flavors. I’ve grown so much with this company, and I feel my skills are at a place I never thought they would be.”

The popular fast-casual chicken chain Pollo Campero, founded and based in Guatemala, really can't decide if it wants to stay in Orlando or not, we write this article with the famous song by The Clash in our heads "Should I Stay or Should I Go" News has reached us that Pollo Campero are planning to open a new restaurant on East Colonial Dr. But this is definitely dajayu, became the chicken restaurant announced last year that is was moving into a store on Orange Avenue, that sadly never materialised, but lets go back further... Once upon a time in Walt Disney World, Pollo Campero really did open in Orlando, although it did have to take over the space that was home to our favourite McDonalds of all time sadly! Pollo Campero opened in the Marketplace in late 2010, in what is now Disney Springs, although back then it was Downtown Disney. The restaurant only lasted until March, 2014, when the restaurant closed permanently as part of the project to remake Downtown Disney into Disney Springs. Pollo Campero did make a return to the area in 2021, opening a ghost kitchen in Dollins Food Hall at 18 N. Dollins Ave. in Orlando, with customers only able to order food online for delivery, but then that too closed down. Then Pollo Campero announced last year in June, that the company was opening a new restaurant complete with drive-thru in SoDo at 2520 S. Orange Ave in the home of a former Five Guys. The company also announced at the same time that the new SoDo restaurant would be one of twenty new locations it hopes to open in Central Florida over the next five years. The store never materialised sadly, or any more until now! The new restaurant will, hopefully be opening in a former Olive Garden restaurant at 3665 East Colonial Drive. No more details are available right now, but we will be watching closely for updates, and will let you know!

MegaCon Orlando organizers just keep on announcing celebrity after celebrity for this year's star studded event at the Orange County Convention Center, and yes, they have announced yet another big name today! It's none other than Zachary Levi! Best known for Shazam!, and the follow up, Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, More recently, after a brief Twitter controversy, it was only days ago that it was announced that Levi has signed on for the true survival story Not Without Hope directed by Joe Carnahan. You can meet Levi when he comes to MegaCon Orlando, with the event running March 30 to April 2, 2023. Keep scrolling for a full rundown on all the celebrities appearing at this year's MegaCon Orlando. It was only yesterday that MegaCon Orlando announced that the most powerful Jedi, Anakin Skywalker will be bringing the Force to Orlando as Star Wars legend Hayden Christensen will be appearing at this year's event. Hayden first appeared in the prequel trilogy films, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), and later reprised his role with a voice cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), and as the main antagonist in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). He will also reprise his role in the upcoming Disney+ series Ahsoka (2023). Rosario Dawson, star of amazing shows & movies like Daredevil, Clerks 3, Rent, Sin City, and Unstoppable will also be at this year's MegaCon Orlando. Dawson is also known for her role as the fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano in season 2 of The Mandalorian, and will headline her own show later this year, Star Wars: Ahsoka. Another huge name heading to this year's MegaCon Orlando is Scottish actor and Hollywood superstar James McAvoy. McAvoy is currently starring in the HBO fantasy series His Dark Materials, and will be known to many as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men series. Also confirmed for this year's event is familiar faces from Wes Craven slasher-horror classic Scream. Neve Campbell Campbell rose to international prominence for starring as Sidney Prescott in Wes Craven's slasher filmScream (1996), which emerged as a critical and commercial success—becoming the highest grossing slasher film for over 20 years—and obtained a cult following. The success of the film spawned the Scream franchise, for which she reprised the role in the series' second (1997), third (2000), fourth (2011) and fifth(2022) installments, playing the role for 25 years. Also announced from the Scream franchise are: Jamie Kennedy Jamie came to prominence in the late 1990s for playing Randy Meeks in the Scream film series Matthew Lillard Matthew is know for his role as Stu Macher in the horror film Scream. Skeet Ulrich iSkeet played the character Billy Loomis in Scream (1996), and then he reprised his Scream role in the sequel. Star of the comedy classic movie series National Lampoon, Chevy Chase is coming on a vacation to Orlando! Chase also been a staple of Saturday Night Live, where his recurring Weekend Update segment became a highlight of the show. Chase has earned three Primetime Emmy Awards out of five nominations and two Golden Globe Award nominations. Chase has starred in some of the best loved comedies of our generation, including portraying Clark W. Griswold in five National Lampoon's Vacation films including Vacation , European Vacation, Christmas Vacation, and Vegas Vacation. He also played Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher in Fletch and its sequel Fletch Lives. He also starred in Caddyshack, Spies Like Us, Three Amigos!, and Hot Tub Time Machine. This year's MegaCon Orlando has a growing list of celebrities all coming to this year's event at the Orange County Convention Center. Charlie Hunnam is well known for his roles as Jackson "Jax" Teller in the FX drama series Sons of Anarchy for which he was twice nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series is coming! He has also had roles include Green Street, Undeclared, the title role in Nicholas Nickleby, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, The Lost City of Z, and in the title role of Guy Ritchie's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Also announced for this year's MegaCon Orlando is Golden Globe, SAG, and Emmy nominee Christina Ricci. Ricci is currently starring in Netflix hit Wednesday, and was seen in the Amazon original series Z: The Beginning of Everything, for which she also served as a producer. she also played the title character in the television series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, for which she earned a SAG Award nomination. She has also starred in many films including Mermaids, The Addams Family, Casper, The Smurfs 2, Speed Racer and more. Another guest is Vincent D’Onofrio, well known for his roles in both film and television. His credits include Full Metal Jacket, Men in Black, The Cell, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Jurassic World. D’Onofrio is well know for his portrayal of Kingpin across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Henry Winkler is also attending this years MegaCon, Winkler is an American actor, comedian, author, executive producer, and director, although of course he is best known for his portrayal of Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the American television series Happy Days. Also announced is Harry Power star Matthew Lewis, best known for portraying Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, best know to fans of Saved by the Bell as Zack Morris will also be in attendance at this years convention. Gates McFadden best known for playing Dr. Beverly Crusher in the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series and in the four subsequent films will also be attending this years MegaCon. Another big name coming to Orlando for MegaCon this year is Sean Gunn, best know for playing Kraglin Obfonteri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this role, he has been in the films Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder , the television film The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and the upcoming film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 . He also played Weasel and Calendar Man in the Warner Bros./DCEU film The Suicide Squad. Brec Bassinger has also announced for this years MegaCon! Bassinger is best know for playing the titular role in the series Stargirl from DC Universe and The CW. Legendary director Sam Raimi is also appearing at this year's MegaCon Orlando. Raimi is the man behind your fave films, known for directing the Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007) and the Evil Dead franchise (1981–present). He also directed the 1990 superhero film Darkman, the 1995 revisionist western The Quick and the Dead, the 1998 neo-noir crime-thriller A Simple Plan, the 2000 supernatural thriller film The Gift, the 2009 supernatural horror film Drag Me to Hell, and the 2013 Disney fantasy film Oz the Great and Powerful. Raimi has also produced several successful television series, including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess. He founded the production company Renaissance Pictures in 1979 and Ghost House Pictures in 2002. His latest film, the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, was released on May 6, 2022, becoming his highest grossing film at the box office. Also announced for this years convention is a bounty of six Star Wars legends. Carl Weathers (Greef Karga), Giancarlo Esposito (Moff Gideon), Katee Sackhoff (Bo-Katan Kryze) and Emily Swallow (The Armorer) from The Mandalorian, Vivien Lyra Blair, who played young Princess Leia in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ashley Eckstein, who played Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars animated series. MegaCon Orlando have also announced that the original and much loved host of Blues Clues, Steve Burns is heading to Orlando for this year's MegaCon. He is best known as the original host of the long-running children's preschool television program Blue's Clues from 1996 until 2002, for which he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2001. With tickets now on sale, Anson Mount (Captain Christopher Pike) and Ethan Peck (Spock) from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, are coming to this years MegaCon Orlando Anson Mount is an American actor known for his television roles as fictional character Cullen Bohannon in the AMC western drama series Hell on Wheels, Jim Steele on NBC series Conviction, the Marvel Comics superhero Black Bolt in Marvel's Inhumans, and Captain Christopher Pike in season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery. Ethan Peck is an American actor currently playing Spock in the second season of Star Trek: Discovery. He is the grandson of a Hollywood legend, Gregory Peck. More recently he accepted the role of Herman Ackermann on the series Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels. MEGACON Orlando is one of North America's largest largest comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event that attracts hundreds of thousands of people across four BIG days. Every year, MEGACON Orlando offers exciting family-friendly attractions, events, and world-renowned Celebrities! Everyone is a fan of something, and MEGACON Orlando is the place to celebrate all things pop culture. Get an autograph or a photo with your favorite guest, and then get the inside scoop about your favorite movies and TV shows at our celebrity panels! Watch professional comic artists battle it out in our popular Sketch Duels, learn from our “How To” workshops, and take photos with your favorite costumed characters! It’s also a great place to buy a unique gift (or treat yourself!) with a huge show floor for shopping madness. HIGHLIGHTS: CELEBRITY PHOTO OPS Don’t miss out on the chance of a lifetime to meet you favorite celebrity and have the moment captured by a professional photographer. This is the only way to get a beautiful 8x10 glossy photo of you with one of our guests in an intimate setting. AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS An autograph is the perfect opportunity to get that special something signed by your favorite celebrity. Be sure to check out the full schedule so you don’t miss out on any of your faves! ARTIST ALLEY Indie meets pro in this special area where you will find all your favorite pencillers, inkers and writers. This is a ”must experience" area for anyone interested in meeting rising stars and those who work the front lines of the industry! Here you’ll find it all – comics, graphic novels, limited edition prints and best of all, original art and sketches. You’ll also find crafters and makers, all with a nerdy slant to their designs and creations. COSPLAY RED CARPET Get ready for the Cosplay Red Carpet! There's no pre-registration, no competition & no stress! Walk the red carpet and show off your costume in front of adoring fans. Every participant will get a free photo taken by Jeff Jenkins Photography, MEGACON’s official Cosplay Red Carpet Photographer. OVER 400,000 SQ FT OF SHOPPING MADNESS! More than 1,000 retailers join MEGACON Orlando to make your experience an unforgettable one! Specializing in everything comics, anime, gaming, science fiction and horror, these retailers are guaranteed to have what you need. FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! Our event prides itself on having so many amazing activities and attractions that are family oriented. Spend the day with the whole family as you meet your favorite Superheroes, Princesses and voice actors. You can even enter the Cosplay Costume Contest as a family! COMMUNITY ZONE Whether you're a Whovian or Jedi, a cosplayer or crafter, the Community Zone is where you find people who share your fandom! Find out about local clubs, get up close to movie props, test your trivia, and snap photos galore with fans who are excited as you are to get together. PANELS, WORKSHOPS & SEMINAR From Celebrity Q&A’s, fan club presentations, hands-on workshops and screening rooms, there’s hundreds of hours of programming available for every fandom. The best part? It’s free with your admission ticket. Check the daily schedule to find out when and where the fun happens. COSTUMES! COSTUMES! COSTUMES! Fans dressing up in costumes (also known as cosplay) is a huge part of the show! Literally thousands of amazing costumes are available for your viewing pleasure throughout the weekend. Don’t be shy: ask for a photo with your favorite characters or come dressed up yourself. MEET LEGENDARY COMIC BOOK CREATORS Comics Legends, Professional Comic Book artists, and writers will be with us all weekend. Be sure to drop by the Artist Alley to meet them and see their amazing work! MEET YOUR FAVORITE VOICE ACTORS The actors that voice your favorite animated characters will be at our show to sign autographs, pose for photos and meet with their fans. They have developed a well-deserved reputation for being super-friendly and enthusiastic! COSPLAY PHOTO PARK Snap the best shot with the coolest background at our Photo Park. From outer space to enchanted lands, there’s a setting for everyone. COSPLAY MEET UPS Meet like-minded fans and get a picture to remember at a themed cosplay meet up. Watch for a schedule of specific fandom meet-ups closer to show time.

If you've ever seen Parks and Recreation, you already know Leslie Knope has established February 13 as Galentine's Day - a day for girl friends to feel empowered, loved, and celebrated. So this Galentine's Day, Monday, February 13, indulge in a night full of drinks, giggles, and some good-old-fashioned girl talk. So grab your girl friends and head to Brewlando, located just minutes from Orlando International Airport at 6820 Hoffner Ave, for an evening of charcuterie, mimosas, craft beer, waffles, live music, and more Brewlando have got all kinds of activities planned, so come ready to let your hair down, from the latest tunes to games and prizes, you won't want to miss out on this opportunity to have a fun night out with the girls. Buy your tickets in advance for $20, which includes unlimited charcuterie & waffle bar, or for an extra $20 bottomless mimosas! At the door, ticket prices will be raised to $25 each. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT: Photo Ops: Capture memories with your friends in front of our backdrops and decorations. Live DJ: Sing (or dance!) along with our live DJ, Caldero! Games & Activities: Board games, drinking games, and table games will be available for you to borrow for the duration of the event. A friendship bracelet making station will also be available for anyone feeling crafty. Raffle: Raffle tickets will be available for purchase. Half of all proceeds from the raffle will be donated to local Orlando women's shelters. Items will be raffled off at 8:15 P.M. Freebies: Take home a hand-made gift or any of the Galentine's accessories to commemorate the event! Full Tap Room: Mimosas not your thing? Not a problem! Brewlando has a variety of delectable craft beers, all made in-house.

ICON Park have today, Friday, February 10, shared the good news that the entertainment district's iconic attraction The Wheel at ICON Park has now reopened! “The Wheel has been successfully run for days now to assure that all systems are ‘Go!’ and it has passed all inspections to allow the safe and fun operation of this spectacular attraction” The Wheel has been closed since New Year's Eve, December 31, when that the lights went out high above I-Drive as the The Wheel lost power, sparking dramatic scenes as firefighters climbed the massive structure to rescue stranded passengers. Now, after weeks, when crews have spend endless hours repairing The Wheel, and inspecting thousands of components on the 400-foot observation wheel, and with state inspectors giving approval for the attraction to reopen, The Wheel is now turning again. ICON Park released a statement, commenting “We’d like to thank the technical team and our outside engineering partners who have worked hundreds of additional hours to help complete repairs and the meticulous inspections required by our internal safety protocols.” ICON Park president Chris Jaskiewicz has especially appreciated the support of the local community during The Wheel's downtime, saying “We especially appreciate the community’s support as we have through this process, and we are pleased that Orlando’s most visible ‘welcome to the world’ is open.” ICON Park on International Drive was hosting a New Year's Eve party, December 31, when the entertainment centres observation wheel, known simply as The Wheel lost power, resulting in a multi hour rescue operation by Orange County Fire Rescue to safely bring dozens of passengers back down to the ground. At the time of the power failure there were 20 pods occupied on the ride, with Orange County Fire Rescue confirming that they had to rescue 62 people left trapped inside the pods during the incident. Officials said no one was hurt, and ICON Park confirmed in a statement at the time saying, “The Wheel lost power Saturday night and we’re working with the Orange County Fire Department to safely evacuate guests.”

Earlier today we brought you the news that The Wheel at ICON Park has now reopened, and the best news is that it's reopened just in time for Valentines Weekend, so now the sky really is the limit! We are so happy that The Wheel is back open for Valentines, especially as ICON Park is celebrating Love Month, with the areas restaurants and bars providing a variety of special experiences for couples to enjoy throughout February. Read on for all the Valentine's offers below! Tapa Toro Couples can enjoy a special evening out with the Valentine’s Day Dinner for Two at Tapa Toro. For just $95 per couple (plus tax and gratuity), guests can treat themselves to a delicious, four-course dinner of contemporary, Spanish cuisine and Flamengo dancing entertainment. The prix fixe menu features a match made in heaven – surf & turf. FIRST COURSE: Tomato-Rubbed Bread with Iberico SECOND COURSE: Shrimp Cocktail MAIN COURSE: Surf & Turf Platter with filet medallions, 7 oz. lobster tail, grilled asparagus, manchego truffle whipped potatoes DESSERT: Basque Cheesecake This special is valid Feb. 10 to 14. Click here to make a reservation. Sloppy Joe’s Always the perfect date night restaurant, Sloppy Joe’s is celebrating love month with a Valentine’s Day-themed drink available throughout February. The Love Berry Martini is the epitome of romance with its chocolate-covered strawberry flavor. On Feb. 13, Sloppy Joe’s is also offering a special Be My Galentine Margarita. Ole Red Orlando Blake Shelton’s Ole Red is more than a venue and more than a restaurant – It’s the full country experience for you and your sweetheart! This place is for music-lovers, food-lovers, drink-lovers and a helluva-lot-of-fun-lovers. Guests can enjoy 100-proof live music, scratch-made dishes and signature drinks… all inspired by the boss man himself. On Feb. 10, Ole Red Orlando will be launching a dinner for two give away on its Facebook page. ICON Park Bars The Wheelhouse Bar and The Lawn Bar will be serving up romance in February with three themed drinks: Cupid’s Crush – Strawberry Tequila Sunrise Blueberry Love Bug – Blueberry Mule Red Devil – Tropical Margarita ICON Park is a 20-acre, open-air, gate-free entertainment destination with plenty of fun adventures for the whole family. The perfect place to ride, dine, drink, and explore. Located in the heart of the Orlando Entertainment District, ICON Park offers more than 50 amazing restaurants, funky bars, boutique shops, and can’t-miss attractions, all anchored by The Wheel, a jaw-dropping observation wheel that stands 400 feet – 40 stories – in the air. Visit other attractions including SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, Madame Tussauds Orlando and Museum of Illusions Orlando. ICON Park also offers a diverse mix of restaurants for lunch, dinner and late-night bites that satisfy a wide variety of flavors and cuisine. Enjoy free parking and park admission. Learn more at ICONParkOrlando.com. ICON Park on International Drive was hosting a New Year's Eve party, December 31, when the entertainment centres observation wheel, known simply as The Wheel lost power, resulting in a multi hour rescue operation by Orange County Fire Rescue to safely bring dozens of passengers back down to the ground. At the time of the power failure there were 20 pods occupied on the ride, with Orange County Fire Rescue confirming that they had to rescue 62 people left trapped inside the pods during the incident. Officials said no one was hurt, and ICON Park confirmed in a statement at the time saying, “The Wheel lost power Saturday night and we’re working with the Orange County Fire Department to safely evacuate guests.”