Weekend Preview December 6th - 8th , 2013: Things to Do in Orlando

If you can't tell by this weekend's events, the holiday season is well underway already. In case you're having a Grinch-moment, we tried to squeeze in a few non-Christmas events as well. 

Weekend Events

The University of Central Florida's annual Light up UCF is in full swing with events throughout the weekend. Check out open-air movies, ice skating, lights, attractions, and more on their complete calendar.

Friday and Saturday, come to The Orange Studio (1121 N Mills Ave) for TheDailyCity's Big Box of Orlando Holiday Pop-up Shop, where you'll feel good about spending too much on cute stuff for your holiday gifts because it's all by local artisans and shops. Get first dibs on everything and enjoy a live DJ and drinks on Friday at the Preview Party (7:00pm to 12:00am, $10), or stop by Saturday for some serious shopping (10:00am to 10:00pm, $5).

OBSESSED with Brendan Oconnor's art for the event!
Can't wait to see his interior design and curated goods by
Other People's Properties' Dana Marie Roquemore

Friday, December 6th

It's time for another Date Night outdoor movie at Leu Gardens. Tonight's movie is Christmas in Connecticut. The park opens at 6:00pm and the movie starts at 7:30pm. Don't forget your blankets, snacks, and wine!

When a  food writer who has lied about being the perfect housewife-
Hilarity ensues!

Winter Park's Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is tonight at 5:15pm in Central Park, complete with choir performances, kids' activities, and movies (The Grinch stars at 7:00pm, followed by White Christmas). 

Don't miss the Downtown Orlando tree lighting counterpart, tonight from 4:00 to 10:00pm, complete with a Food Truck Bazaar, choirs, plays, and a showing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Not to be left out, Sanford is doing Christmas in the Square from 6:00 to 8:00pm tonight, along with a holiday-related events throughout the weekend.

Shop. Stroll. Sip.  That's the motto of Baldwin Park's First Friday Festival & Art Stroll, happening tonight from 5:30 to 9:30pm.

If you're kind of over the whole "holidays" thing, check out Big Daddy's dive-bar Karaoke, Independent Bar's college indie night, or Oblivion Taproom's Quentin Tarantino Night.

Saturday, December 7th

I'm just gonna put these in one paragraph, so if you're looking for Saturday's holiday-related events, read on if you're looking for...

• a place to buy cute holiday presents: Big Bang Bazaar, 11:00am to 6:00pm (also on Sunday!)
• a place to see a parade: 61st Winter Park Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade, 9:00am
• a place to explore local history and Christmas: Cracker Christmas at Fort Christmas Park, 10:00am to 4:00pm (also on Sunday!)
• a place to celebrate the holidays drunk: Santa Stumble on Church Street, 7:00pm
• a place to hear classical music performed live (by kid-geniuses): Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra's Holiday Concert at Lake Eola, 4:00pm
• an excuse to interact with beautiful ballerinas *coughcough* I mean storytime for the kids... - meet the Orlando Ballet Nutcracker cast at the Public Library, 11:00am

The Orlando Pottery Festival is this Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the Loch Haven Neighborhood Center, so come check out over 50 different artists.

Grab your fedora and pack your meal worms, it's time for ReptiCon at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, going on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00am to 4:00pm.  

This Saturday is the 3rd Annual Hysterical Tour of Gnomes (srsly, this is a thing). Apparently it's part of the Downtown pub crawl ($10) and features characters like this lady on the right...

Sunday, December 8th

Stop by Dandelion Communitea Cafe for Orlando's crunchiest favorite Local & Handmade Holiday Market, this Sunday from 11:00am to 5:00pm. 

Bring your kids to the Orange County Regional History Center for Drop and Shop for holiday movies, crafts, snacks, and more, from 2:00 to 6:00pm.

Don't forget about all the other events going on through Sunday, including ReptiCon, Big Bang Bazaar, Light up UCF, and more.

What are you doing this weekend, Orlando? Leave a comment below!