Weekend Preview November 22nd - 24th, 2013: Things to Do in Orlando

It's the weekend before Thanksgiving, meaning there are tons of X-mas events going on. (Obvs?)

All Weekend

DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts: Two-day outdoor event featuring a juried art displays by more than 180 national artists, including paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, and jewelry. FREE

Longwood Arts & Crafts Festival: 300 exhibitors, 250 vendor booths, need we say more? Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Another free art festival! (Man, we've got every corner of Central FL covered with art this weekend!) The Winter Garden Art Festival, now in its 12th year will be held Saturday 11:00am - 8:00pm and Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm. Over a hundred artists of all mediums will be showing and selling their work.

Southern Pinball Festival: Three-day event with classic pinball machines, a pinball tournament, art displays and more; through Nov. 24. $20 one-day pass, OR anyone who brings in their Pinball machine for people to play on receives one free weekend pass to the festival (details here).

The 22nd Annual Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase has become known for screening locally produced films and videos, and the best work from film schools statewide. $5 per program, or a $10 Showcase Pass which covers all 4 programs over both days. Admission is FREE for Enzian Film Society members and participating filmmakers.

Friday, November 22nd

Functionally Literate's next literary function is at The Gallery at Avalon Island and features readings by Portuguese author Jacinto Lucas Pires, Caroline Walker of the Kerouac Project and poet Terri Witek. Smiling Bison Food Cart will be parked next to the gallery. Functionally Literate is Burrow Press' quarterly-ish reading series that aims to connect, entertain, and possibly intoxicate, Orlando's larger community of writers, bookworms, lit nerds, and the intellectually curious. Head over early at 6:00pm for drinks and music, and stay for the reading at 8:00pm.

Ivanhoe Happy Holidays Sign Lighting - Join Mayor Buddy Dyer as he throws the switch re-lighting the Happy Holidays/Happy New Year neon sign on top of the the historic Ivanhoe building. It will be the first time the sign has been lit in two decades! A celebratory reception will follow at The Hammered Lamb.

Feeling brave? The Geek Easy is hosting its Friday night Nerdy Karaoke. It's exactly what it sounds like, so feel free to wear a nerdy costume! No cover, 9:00pm to midnight.

Saturday, November 23rd

You know you're going to the 4th Annual Winter Park Harvest Festival from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, right? It's an annual showcase of local farmers and artisans with a producer-only market, mobile community garden, crafts and gardening activities, live music, cooking demos and a beer garden. Oh yeah- and it's brought to you by the East End Market folks. Find a parking spot (pro-tip: park at Rollins and walk over) and take a stroll to North Park Avenue and West Morse Boulevard in Winter Park.

10th Annual Compassionate Thanksgiving Potluck. Join the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida and the Vegetarians of Central Florida for a vegan meal in the gardens (Mead Gardens). $5 with a dish, $12 without

Don't miss the wine stroll or the boat parade on Lake Ivanhoe at this year's Jingle Eve! The wine stroll runs from 6:00pm -11:00pm and is $10 in advance/$15 day of event. Buy tix here. There will also be a beer garden, food trucks, and plenty of local vendors. (Plus, watching fellow Orlandoan's stumbling around Ivanhoe with their wine glasses and bought art is priceless)

The Florida Classic is this weekend! Tix for the game and the parties start at $15, but if you happen to live downtown- walk to Orange Ave to see a killer parade of cars! Pro-tip: Don't try to drive- the traffic is crazy.

10:00am - 8:00pm is the family-friendly A Christmas Invasion: Doctor Who Holiday Art Event - with 50th Anniversary Doctor Who holiday episodes screening at 2:50pm on ACME Superstore's 11ft projector screen, plus tons of other fun Who-themed activities.

For the adults- ditch the kiddies and head to Acme After Hours: Doctor Who Holiday Art Party- 7:00pm-12:00am 18+ pay $10: 21+ w/ID Free Beer & Sangria. Watch the 50th Anniversary episode screening again at 7:00 pm and then check out cosplay burlesque by Grotesque Burlesque, a Doctor Who art show, costume contest and music by DJ Math(ew)Matics.

Bet you didn't think they could make a TARDIS sexy.
You just lost that bet.

Sunday, November 24th

Sunday Beer School With Shipyard Brewing Co.: Sample four beers and appetizers and learn about the beer from brewmaster Bobby Baker. Wall Street Plaza,  $10, RSVP required

How about some Holiday Wine and Cheese among the flowers at Palmers this Sunday? 6:00pm - 9:00pm, They'll have their lovely twinkle lights on and it's sure to be a good time!

Bored and looking to do some good around this town (while looking fabulously silly)? It's time for another Super Joy Riders: Do-Gooder Bike Ride! They'll be meeting in the parking lot next to TheGreekCorner in Ivanhoe Village at 10:00am. The night before is Jingle Eve so they're predicting a bunch of littler to help clean up ("what says Christmas more than old cups of hot chocolate tossed in a bush?!"). So grab a cape, your bike, and a friend and join these super heroes!

Don't forget a food donation for Fern Creek Elementary. We'll be collecting for their food pantry and dropping it off on Monday with a couple hundred granola bars from KIND

Finally, let's remember that there are countless people struggling with hunger this holiday season. Take an hour to grab some canned goods, or even a frozen turkey from your local grocer, and take it to one of our many food banks in Central Florida. We're donating to Community Food and Outreach this year. Drop off your goods all weekend at 150 W. Michigan Street.

Did we miss anything? What're you doing this weekend?