Welcome to Thursday Morning, Orlando!
Each year Orlando Signal Jr. asks me if we’re going to do something funny or outlandish for April Fools’ day in the newsletter. And each year my response is the same. “No, dude.” YOU’RE WELCOME!!!
Now, in today’s issue:
- Art's the Spark
- Spring Fiesta
- Dish Rack Comedy
- + lots of weekend recs
Did a neighbor forward this 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.
P.P.S. Check out tons of open Orlando area jobs at the Orlando Signal Job Board, right here.
3 QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️
Where Art Meets Memory
Kicking off this Saturday, April 4th, the Orlando Museum of Art opens its doors early for something quietly remarkable.
Before the public arrives, a small group, people living with early-stage Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurological conditions, alongside their caregivers, are invited to gather in the galleries to stand before paintings, talk, remember, and imagine.
Called Art's the Spark, the program runs 10:30 a.m. to noon on select Saturdays through October, inspired by a beloved Museum of Modern Art initiative and the only program of its kind in Central Florida.
It's free, it's meaningful, but pre-registration is required.
Because losing your memory doesn't mean losing your imagination.
❤️ Learn more about this wonderful program, right here.
Where 3,000 Stars Meet 3,000 Artists
Somewhere in the Orion Nebula, more than 3,000 young stars are forming, pulled together from drifting clouds of gas and dust, captured in a single two-minute snapshot by UCF's very own Robinson Observatory telescope.
Dramatic? Absolutely. But also the perfect metaphor for what's happening on the ground in Central Florida.
UCF Celebrates the Arts 2026 brings together roughly 3,000 students, faculty, performers, and technicians each year for a multi-day explosion of performances, exhibitions, and hands-on experiences. The festival kicked off Tuesday and runs through April 12th.
✨ Check out the full schedule and don't miss your chance to be part of something luminous, right here.
No Apron Required: Orlando's Best Easter Eats for 2026
Some years, you want the full home spread: the ham, the chaos, the relatives crowding the kitchen. Other years, you just want someone to bring you a mimosa.
Greater Orlando’s restaurant scene is happy to oblige either way. From Italian bottomless brunches to lakeside Easter Bunny encounters, the options this year lean into the spirit of the holiday without asking you to lift a spatula.
Here's a handful of spots to point the family.
- Otto's High Dive is ready with Easter catering packages for the at-home crowd, plus dine-in reservations.
- Café Tu Tu Tango keeps the mimosas flowing through Bottomless Brunch until 3 p.m. — with tiered drink upgrades and kids ten and under eating free.
- Canvas in Lake Nona (one of my faves) brings the Easter vibes April 3–5 with a specialty brunch the whole family will love.
- Mia's Italian Kitchen goes full feast mode: pastas, Meatball Benedict, brick-oven pizza, and bottomless drinks until 3 p.m.
These spots fill up fast. Reserve your table now: you'll thank yourself Sunday morning.
⁉️ Need more suggestions? Amy Drew Thompson has an exceptional list, right here!
WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
37th Annual Spring Fiesta in the Park
Source: Fiesta in the Park
📍Lake Eola Park. 195 N Rosalind Ave. Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, April 4th, and Sunday, April 5th, 10 a.m. through 5 p.m.
Spring Fiesta in the Park is back, and it's bringing the whole family, the dog, and a whole lot of good music.
Stroll Lake Eola, browse hundreds of artist, crafter, and food booths, then catch STAR 94.5's Daytime House Music Party on Saturday or School of Rock Oviedo rocking the amphitheater on Easter Sunday.
Oh, and admission is free. See you there!
👉 Check It Out
TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Easter Egg Hunt at Boxi Park Lake Nona
Source: Lake Nona Social
📍Boxi Park. 6877 Lake Nona Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, April 4th, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Thousands of Easter eggs are hiding across Boxi Park and The Lawn at Boxi Park, and your kids (or grandkids) are invited to find them at the Lake Nona Easter Eggstravaganza.
Age-grouped hunts keep things fair for Tiny Tots, Little Explorers, and the Golden Hunt crew. Tickets also include crafts, games, an Easter character meet-and-greet, and a photobooth.
Arrive at 10:00 a.m. sharp, the eggs won't wait!
👉 Get more info, right here
The Dish Rack Comedy Show!
Source: Broken Strings Taproom
📍Broken Strings Brewery. 1012 W Church St, Orlando, FL 32805. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, April 4th, 6 p.m.
Some nights, you just need to laugh until something comes out of your nose.
The Dish Rack Comedy Show, created and hosted by Gregory Metts, brings together Florida's funniest stand-up comedians for a night of witty, relatable humor about the beautiful chaos of everyday life.
Free parking on-site and street-side. Arrive early and come ready to cackle.
👉 Get the full details
Royal Boil Crawfish & Shrimp Boil & Music Festival
Source: Celery City Craft
📍Celery City Craft. 114 S. Palmetto Ave, Sanford, FL 32771. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, April 4th, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Celery City Craft is hosting the Royal Boil Crawfish & Shrimp Boil & Music Festival, an afternoon of heaping seafood, cold beer, and live music from the Supervillains (acoustic) and O-Town Brass.
Think cracked shells, full drinks, and a group chat that ends with "we have to do this again."
Free to attend, but seating is limited. Show up hungry.
👉 Check it out, right here
THIS WEEKENDS HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁
Multi-Day
Kountry Wayne | Fri & Sat | I-Drive | More
FAVO Monthly Art Stroll | Sat & Sun | East Colonial Drive | More
The Jazz Room: A Journey to the Heart of New Orleans | Fri & Sat | City District | More
Friday
First Friday at East End Market | 4 p.m. | Audubon Park | More
Morse Museum Easter Weekend Celebration | 9:30 a.m. | Winter Park | More
Lunch & Learn: Tales of the RMS Titanic | 12 p.m. | City District | More
Leonid & Friends | 8 p.m. | Milk District | More
NateWantsToBattle | 7 p.m. | City District | More
DJ BMF | 10 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Saturday
History Alive: Animation & Art in Florida | 10 a.m. | City District | More
Clementine, Ben Katzman, Walking Blue, Kitty Kitty Meow Meow, Default Friends | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Alyk, No One Road, Secret Keeper, Spirit Leaves, Elizabeth Rose | 7 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Zarna Garg: Million Dollar Excuses | 7 p.m | Milk District | More
Gladys Knight | 7 p.m. | I-Drive | More
Soulshake with DJ Smilin Dan | 10 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Sunday
🔥 Easter Sunrise Service | 6:30 a.m. | SeaWorld Orlando | More
Sunday Punk Brunch | 12 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Orlando Pirates vs. Quad City Steamwheelers | 4 p.m. | City District | More
Timothy Eerie, Katara, John Dorney | 8 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
🎭 Have an event to share?Submit it here.
THANKS!
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🌟 Know a community superstar? Tell me about them, right here.
We’ll see you on Monday.
My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal
