Welcome to Thursday Morning, Orlando!
On a forum, I ran into a post with someone was asking for the best Thanksgiving dinner catering recommendation. Then I realized, Thanksgiving is a few months away. What the actual h-e-l-l???
- All Aboard for Joy
- 5th Annual Fall Fest
- Sugoi Expo
- + lots of weekend recs
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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 ⏲️
Festival of Trees Opens Its “Ticket Window“ for a 39th Year of Wonder
While autumn leaves are thinking about falling, Orlando's most beloved holiday tradition stirs to life, and tickets are on sale now!
The Orlando Museum of Art transforms into a winter wonderland November 15th through 23rd for the 39th annual Festival of Trees.
This year's "A Season of Celebration" theme, orchestrated by the Council of 101, promises more than 50 designer-decorated trees standing like glittering sentinels alongside festive wreaths, gingerbread creations, and holiday vignettes.
Weekend visitors meet Santa from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., while new creative workshops and a Holiday Home Tour join returning favorites like Breakfast with Santa and the Ugly Sweater Party.
For nearly four decades, this extraordinary event has served as Orlando's official herald of the holiday season.
🎄 Check out this year’s Festival of Trees, right here.
All Aboard for Joy: Young Patients Traded Hospital Beds for Train Conductor Seats
Choo-choo-chose adventure!
At Brightline's "Base Camp," young Arnold Palmer Hospital patients swapped hospital gowns for conductor caps last Saturday in the most delightful partnership ever.
Families beamed watching their children, many hospital homebound due to serious medical conditions, prepared for their big conductor debuts.
Parents pictured mile-deep dimples as their kids took charge of the rails, trading medical routines for railroad excitement. Hospital staff knew these magical moments were pure gold for families dealing with compromised immune systems, who rarely got typical Orlando adventures.
This event was all about transforming sick kids into railway royalty for a day, proving that sometimes the best medicine came with a whistle, a wave, and the chance to yell "All aboard!"
(Learn more about this awesome partnership with Emily McLeod, right here)
Orlando's Oktoberfest Party Starts This Weekend. Prost to That!
Grab your lederhosen and polish those steins, Orlando's Oktoberfest festivities are kicking off this weekend!
The fun begins with Hollerbach's ceremonial keg tapping featuring former WWE wrestler Matt Morgan as tap meister, while À La Cart brings authentic Von Trapp family brews to the Milk District. Ivanhoe Park Lager House challenges your endurance with stein-holding contests, and the three-day Oviedo Oktoberfest promises non-stop entertainment at Center Lake Park.
From traditional German fare to creative local brews, Orlando proves that the best parties happen when strangers become friends over flowing taps.
Time to practice your "Prost!" because this weekend, we're all honorary Germans! Zum Wohl!
Amber Brooke Farms - 5th Annual Fall Fest
Source: Amber Brook Farms
📍Amber Brooke Farms. 36111 N CR 44A, Eustis FL 32736. Map to this location.
🕐 Weekends & Select Dates from September 20th to November 2nd | 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Fairly close to Orlando, making this a great weekend activity as golden sunflowers dance and pumpkins scatter like treasures across Amber Brooke Farms as Eustis, FL transforms for the 5th Annual Fall Festival: "Harvest on the Hill."
Every Saturday and Sunday, discover magic in flower fields, live music, archery, gel blasters, train rides, corn mazes, and petting zoos.
With 15+ family activities, local food trucks, and endless photo ops, this isn't just autumn, it's where memories take root and unforgettable seasons begin.
👉 Check It Out
TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
The Florida Vintage Market
Source: The Florida Vintage Market
📍Goblin Studios. 805 W Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32805. Map to this location.
🕐 Sunday, September 21st, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
The Florida Vintage Market turns Goblin Studios into a wonderland of forgotten gems this Sunday.
Over 50 passionate local vendors showcase curated vintage finds while food trucks fuel your treasure hunt.
Think of this outing as archaeology for the soul! Free for all ages in Downtown Orlando, whether you're a seasoned collector or love discovering the unexpected.
Mark your calendar for an afternoon where every corner holds stories!
👉 Get more info, right here
Virginia Drive Live!
Source: Ivanhoe Village
📍Ivanhoe Village. 1001 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32804. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, September 20, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
One of Orlando's most vibrant marketplace where Ivanhoe Village and Mills50's creative spirits collide.
This beloved street festival stretches from Orange Avenue to Mills Avenue, featuring local artists, food vendors, retailers, and live music.
Grab a $5 wristband at Ten10 Brewing or The Yard at Ivanhoe for exclusive neighborhood deals, with every penny flowing back into Main Street programs supporting these thriving business districts. It's community economics at its finest.
👉 Get the full details
Sugoi Expo
Source: Sugoi Expo
📍Hilton Orlando. 6001 Destination Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32819. Map to this location.
🕐 Friday through Sunday, September 19th-21st
Picture three days where fantasy meets reality at Sugoi Expo's completely reimagined experience.
This is a boutique-style cultural immersion transforming typical expo experiences into something extraordinary. Instead of getting lost in endless vendor rows, attendees join a curated community where exhibitors, special guests, and fans create meaningful connections.
This is where anime appreciation becomes community celebration, delivering those unforgettable "sugoi" moments.
👉 Check it out, right here
MORE WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁
Multi-Day
Bruce Bruce | Fri, Sat, Sun | I-Drive | More
Oil Painting 101 | Sat & Sun | Maitland | More
Enzian Presents: Hong Kong Cinema Classics (1986 - 1992) | Sat & Sun | Maitland | More
Friday - 19th
Hispanic Heritage Month: Mexican Folk Art | 4:30 p.m. | Downtown | More
Vinyl + Art Pop-up Lounge Lake Nona | 7 p.m. | Lake Nona | More
Florida Road Trip Watch Party | 6 p.m. | Downtown | More
U.S. Air Force Band of The West Brass Quintet | 7 p.m. | Lake Eola Amphitheater | More
Night of Champions 12 | 6 p.m. | I-Drive | More
DDRB with Bryan Raymond | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Battle Of The Cover Bands Part 2 | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Girls Night Out | 7 p.m. | South | More
90s Night - Orlando Pride v NC Courage | 7:30 p.m. | Downtown | More
Oak Hill Drifters | 8 p.m. | Winter Park | More
What We Said | 8 p.m. | Milk District | More
Saturday - 20th
🔥 ASL Group Night! | 7:30 p.m. | Downtown | More
🔥 Saturday Laughs | 8 p.m. | South | More
Nature fest at Oakland Nature Preserve | 9 a.m. | Oakland | More
National Walk For Lives | 9 a.m. | Downtown | More
International Food and Drink Festival | 11 a.m. | Milk District | More
Beekeeping for Beginners | 1:30 p.m. | Audubon | More
Unions and You: Meet Your Local Unions | 1 p.m. | South | More
UCF Knights Football vs. University of North Carolina Tar Heels Football | 3:30 p.m. | UCF | More
Wicked For Good-ness Gala Defying Paralysis | 6 p.m. | Downtown | More
Wake Me Up When September Ends: Live band Emo/Pop Punk Night | 6:30 p.m. | Downtown | More
Social Decay Showcase Video Party and Album Release | 7:30 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Video Game Night - Orlando City SC v Nashville SC | 7:30 p.m. | Downtown | More
Sunday - 21st
Stripped for Parts - American Journalism on the Brink | 11 a.m. | Maitland | More
Fall Fiber Festival | 1:30 p.m. | Downtown | More
The Ukulaliens Fall Uke Jam | 2 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Photography Workshop | 1 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
A&H Book Club: September 2025 Meeting | 3 p.m. | Maitland | More
The Tribute to Led Zeppelin | 5 p.m. | Kissimmee | More
Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons | 8:45 p.m. | Downtown | More
Orlando City B vs. Huntsville City FC | 7 p.m. | Kissimmee | More
Raging Nathans and Tides with Petty Thefts and The New Lows | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
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THANKS!
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We’ll see you on Monday.
My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal
