Welcome to Thursday Morning, Orlando!
Mrs. Orlando Signal got one email the other day and is bereft! Apparently, Kroger is shutting down their grocery delivery services across Central FL. 2X CACA!
Now, in today’s issue:
- Inside the Frozen Wonderland
- Ivanhoe Village’s Jingle Eve 2025
- Clermont Celebrates
- + lots of weekend recs
Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Subscribe here.
Let’s roll!
- Philip
P.S. Want some hawt community sourced foodie recommendations? Check out the Orlando Signal Restaurant Guide, right here.
3 QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️
Inside the Frozen Wonderland: Gaylord Palms Brings Rudolph's Story to Life in Ice
As I've mentioned before, I seldomly cover resort attractions, but when 2 million pounds of ice get carved into your childhood Christmas memories, it's worth mentioning.
Gaylord Palms' ICE! exhibition is back, and this year Rudolph takes center stage in a bone-chilling 9-degree wonderland running through January 7th, 2026. The showstopper? A 32-foot Rudolph sculpture with a nose that actually blinks, thanks to some cleverly hidden wiring.
The 1964 TV special comes alive through 6,000 blocks of ice, featuring Yukon Cornelius, Hermey, and yes, even Bumble. Outside, 3 million Christmas lights blanket the Kissimmee resort. Bundle up and bring the family.
🎅 You can check out ICE! and all the Christmas festivities at Gaylord Palms, right here.
91 Seats, 25 Years, and Zero Interest in Staying Quiet
After 25 years of flying under the radar, Orlando's Timucua Arts Foundation is ready to ditch its "hidden gem" status and just be a gem, period.
What kicked off in a living room on in September of 2000, has exploded into a scrappy nonprofit that packed over 22,000 people into roughly 150 events last year, all on a shoestring $600,000 budget.
The specially designed White House venue crams world-class acoustics into 91 seats, putting audiences so close they can practically high-five the performers.
With fresh leadership steering the ship, Timucua is mixing up programming and wooing tourists. The organization threw a gala last week to toast a quarter century, and gear up for 25 more.
(Learn lots more about Timucua Art Foundation’s 25 anniversary ambitions with Matthew J. Palm, right here)
Solar Panels Take a Swim in Orlando
Drive along Conway Road in south Orlando, and you'll spot something you don't see every day: more than 3,400 solar panels bobbing on a utility reservoir.
OUC has flipped the switch on what it calls the nation's largest floating solar installation and Florida's biggest. This 2-megawatt system pumps electricity straight into the grid.
One array faces south while another splits between east and west, a solar showdown to determine the winner for future projects. Solar now generates over 10% of OUC's energy, enough to power roughly 50,000 homes.
D3Energy handled the build through a partnership with Florida's Department of Transportation, which gave the green light for site access.
☀️ If you’re considering or interested in solar, OUC has a bunch of info, right here.
WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
Ivanhoe Village’s Jingle Eve 2025
Source: Ivanhoe Village
📍Ivanhoe Village. 1236 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32804. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, November 22nd, 4:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
For more than 20 years, Jingle Eve has kicked off Orlando's holiday season with an evening that draws thousands to Ivanhoe Village.
The free celebration takes over Orange Avenue, Virginia Drive, and Gaston Edwards Park with beer gardens, food trucks, live music, and local artisans.
Kids enjoy the Children's Holiday Village featuring bounce houses, craft tables, and the Bubble Bus.
The night ends with fireworks over Lake Ivanhoe. Only the "12 Wines of Christmas" walk requires a ticket.
👉 Check It Out
TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Florida Coffee Festival
Source: Florida Coffee Culture
📍Festival Park. 2911 E Robinson St, Orlando, FL 32803. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, November 22nd, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
There's something electric about watching skilled baristas pour the perfect rosetta. This Saturday, that magic fills Festival Park.
The Florida Coffee Festival brings over 150 vendors, unlimited samples from 60+ cafes, latte art competitions, and live music to thousands of coffee lovers.
Paid tickets include specialty matcha and chai tastings, workshop access, and vendor activities.
Free entry lets you walk the grounds. It's where community meets caffeine in Florida's biggest coffee celebration.
👉 Get more info, right here
Clermont Celebrates
Source: Clermont Main Street
📍Clermont Main Streets. 752 W Montrose St, Clermont, FL 34711. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, November 22nd, 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Clermont's downtown streets will host Clermont Celebrates, where actual snow falls on palm-lined walkways, Santa greets excited children, and local vendors showcase their wares.
Live music fills the air while kids dash through a dedicated activity zone.
It's proof you don't need subfreezing temperatures to capture holiday magic, just a community coming together for an evening that turns an ordinary November day into lasting family memories.
👉 Get the full details
Tom and Dan's Bad at Business Beerfest 2025
Source: A Mediocre Time and Thomas Vann
📍Historic Downtown Sanford. 120 W 2nd St, Sanford, FL 32771. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, November 22nd, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Sanford's famous "L" becomes ground zero for suds and celebration (translation: a day of fun, music, food trucks, and plenty of gratis beer).
This 100% free, family-friendly festival kicks off at noon with sample cups and DJ Sharpe spinning beats until 2:00 PM, then Silver Linings takes the stage. ‼️ To get a beer wristband, guests must be 21+ with valid photo ID, obviously.
Dozens of local breweries pour their finest, from Deviant Wolfe to Funky Buddha, Wicked Weed to BearCat THC Seltzer.
Yellow Brick Road offers 200 full pour cups for $20 donations. Food trucks, vendors, and community vibes included. Arrive early, bring your thirst.
👉 Check it out, right here
MORE WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁
Multi-Day
The Orlando Pottery Festival Holiday Market | Sat & Sun | Fern Creek | More
Damon Wayans Jr. | Fri & Sat | I-Drive | More
A Christmas Nutcracker Tale | Fri & Sat | Downtown | More
Friday - 21st
Holiday Mixer | 5 p.m. | Milk District | More
Florida Blue Battle of the Bands | 7 p.m. | Downtown | More
KinRay Art Café: A Creative Night Out | 6 p.m. | College Park | More
Festival of Trees: Reindeer Romp Children’s Holiday Party | 5:30 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
WEFiT HYROX: Under the Lights | 5:30 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Completely Unchained: Van Halen Tribute | 7 p.m. | Clermont | More
152 Productions Presents: Bogues in Orlando | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Noel Miller: Live! | 7 p.m. | Milk District | More
Gimme Gimme Disco | 8 p.m. | Downtown | More
HAPCO Presents: Josephine Swing | 8 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Rocket 88, The Tremolords, and Lauris Vidal | 8 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Saturday - 22nd
🔥Lake Nona Sketch Walk | 9 a.m. | Lake Nona | More
Off the Rack X Florida Vintage Market | 5 p.m. | Ocoee | More
1st Annual Baldwin Park Baker’s Bazaar | 4 p.m. | Baldwin Park | More
Florida Blue Florida Classic | 3:30 p.m. | Downtown | More
Jingle Eve “12 Wines of Christmas” 2025 Wine Walk Tickets | 4:30 p.m. | Ivanhoe Village | More
Orlando Magic vs. New York Knicks | 5 p.m. | Downtown | More
Simon Grossmann | 6 p.m. | Downtown | More
Boldy James | 7 p.m. | Downtown | More
Greyhaven, Fox Lake, Commoner | 7 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Cult Body with Fortune Teller | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Sunday - 23rd
🔥Santa Claus - Pet Photos | 2 p.m. | OBT | More
Sunday Run at The Salty | 8 a.m. | Audubon Park | More
Coffee and Beats | 10 a.m. | Alafaya | More
November Conway Community Market and Basket Brigade! | 10 a.m. | Conway | More
Orlando Ballet School at Rosen JCC | 2 p.m. | Apopka | More
Stockings of Joy | 3 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Francisco Ramos | 6 p.m. | I-Drive | More
Jeezy & Friends | 7 p.m. | Downtown | More
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THANKS!
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We’ll see you on Monday.
My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal
