Welcome to Thursday Morning, Orlando!
With summer in full swing, this is one of those issues stretched to email limits. It’s like stuffing 10lbs of fun into a 5lb bag. Enjoy!
Now onto today’s Orlando Signal (weekend fun) issue:
- Magical Bike Camp
- Summer Sidewalk Sale
- Daycation for Locals
- + lots of weekend recs
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Let’s roll!
- Philip
Orlando's About to Get Its Mind Blown by the Ultimate Guitar Takeover!
Get ready for musical mayhem!
The Timucua Arts International Guitar Festival is turning Orlando into a six-string paradise from August 1st through the 23rd, with four weekends of absolutely incredible performances that'll knock your socks off.
Starting tomorrow (Friday), guitar wizards from the US, Germany, Haiti, Japan, India, and the U.K. are descending on the city with serious skills.
We're talking everything from jaw-dropping fingerpicking masters, to wild jazz fusion artists who'll make you question everything you thought you knew about guitars!
Each weekend brings fresh surprises. Acoustic storytellers who'll give you chills, electric innovators pushing every boundary imaginable, and experimental composers creating sounds you never knew were possible.
This is a full-blown musical adventure that celebrates the coolest traditions from around the globe!
🎸 Get more info about all-access, individual shows, or weekend passes, right here.
Weekend SunRail Dreams Hit a $26 Million Reality Check
Ever fantasized about hopping a SunRail train for Saturday adventures? Join the club!
Central Florida commuters have been begging for weekend service since forever, but Chief Operations Officer Charles M Heffinger Jr. last week delivered some wallet-crushing news to the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission. Weekend trains would gobble up $26,265,000 yearly, plus a whopping $61,800,000 for shiny new locomotives and cab cars.
The good news? People actually want this! Nearly 5,000 eager riders packed SunRail during July 4th madness, catching trains to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at Camping World Stadium and Lake Eola Park fireworks spectacular. Officials predict 4,600 to 9,500 weekend passengers.
Seminole County Commissioner Amy Lockhart insists weekend service is crucial for the future Sunshine Corridor linking Orlando's airport and theme parks. Until then, keep those weekend train fantasies alive!
🚊 Peep the full presentation, right here.
Brazil Just Crashed Lake Nona's Party (And We're Here for It!)
Get ready to samba your way to Emporium Brazil Market, the delicious new market and cafe bringing serious Brazilian vibes to Lake Nona.
This is a flavor-packed adventure where golden bags of farofa and fizzy guaraná sodas practically dance off the shelves. The cozy café whips up mouthwatering savory and sweet treats that'll make you think you've teleported straight to Rio's coolest corner bakery.
Whether you're a homesick Brazilian hunting for comfort food or a curious local ready to fall head-over-heels for pão de queijo and brigadeiro, this little slice of South American paradise is about to become your new obsession.
Pedaling Toward Freedom: Orlando's Magical Bike Camp Makes Dreams Come True
Songs and cheers filled the Orange County Convention Center last week as riders zoomed around on colorful bikes, proving that magic really does happen on two wheels! The iCan! Bike Camp, hosted by the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida, is flipping the script on a tough reality: only 10-12 percent of Americans with Down syndrome typically learn to ride bikes.
But who says typical applies here? Forty amazing participants, ages 8-33, dove into a week-long adventure featuring clever "roller" bikes with special support systems and enthusiastic volunteers cheering them on. From wobbly first attempts on Monday to triumphant outdoor rides by Thursday, each day brought pure joy and incredible breakthroughs.
This fantastic camp turns "impossible" into "I did it!" one thrilling pedal at a time.
👉 Check out the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida, right here.
(Learn more about the iCan! Bike Camp with Kairi Lowery, right here)
WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
Downtown Winter Garden’s Summer Sidewalk Sale & Live Music
Image courtesy of Downtown Winter Garden
📍Historic Downtown Winter Garden. 320 Windford Ct, Winter Garden, FL 34787. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, August 2nd, All Day
Downtown Winter Garden transforms into a shopper's paradise where live melodies float through historic streets during this beloved annual tradition.
Hunt for end-of-season treasures along West Plant Street from Woodland to Central Avenue, plus Main and Boyd Streets. The Absent Trio (Allie Sawicki & Noel Kunz) performs 11am-2:30pm, followed by L&G LIVE 3:30-7pm at Centennial Plaza Gazebo.
Kids 12 & under enjoy free Bryan's Lemonade treats on South Main Street. Free parking throughout Downtown Winter Garden, always!
👉 Check It Out
TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Docent-led Tours of Albin Polasek’s Historic Home
Image courtesy of the Polasek Museum
📍Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. 633 Osceola Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday or Sunday, August 2nd (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.) & 3rd (1 p.m. - 4 p.m.)
Step into sculptor Albin Polasek's creative sanctuary, where stone and bronze came to life. Indoors = A/C!
Founded in 1961, this distinguished museum, one of only 55 National Trust Historic Artists' Homes and Studios, offers docent-led tours through Polasek's intimate residence, working studio, and chapel.
Wander the three-acre sculpture garden at your own pace, explore rotating exhibits, and discover Winter Park's artistic soul within the historic Capen-Showalter House.
👉 Get more info, right here
Daycation for Locals: Amazing Pools, Water Slides, and Lazy River Access
Image courtesy of ResortPass
📍Resorts all over Orlando
🕐 Anytime
I rarely talk about “resorts,” but consider this a PSA for NEW and old Orlando locals given this hellish heat and so many fresh faces joining the Orlando Signal crew, here's some intel worth sharing (or reminding).
ResortPass unlocks luxury resort amenities for day use: access amazing pools, lazy rivers, waterfalls, the works. No room commitment required.
Browse their app, pick your Orlando paradise (starting at $20/day depending on location), show up with confirmation and ID, then dive into weekend indulgence.
Perfect for escaping scorching weekends in Orlando while sleeping in your own bed.
👉 Get the full details & check out these Orlando amenities
Summer Fridays at The Plaza Live
Image courtesy of The Plaza Live
📍The Plaza Live. 425 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL, 32803. Map to this location.
🕐 Every Friday night in August (except the 22nd), 7 p.m.
Forget staying out until 3 AM and regretting it Saturday! The Plaza Live just cracked the code with Summer Fridays - No cost 21+ parties that pack maximum fun into 7:00-10:00 PM.
Hit up tomorrow (Friday) August 1st, 8th, 15th, and 29th for live DJ beats, drool-worthy food trucks, local vendor treasures, and flowing drinks, all while your energy levels are still firing on all cylinders.
This Milk District hotspot figured out what we all secretly want: epic Friday vibes without the Sunday scaries.
👉 Check it out, right here
MORE WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁
Multi-Day
🔥 FAVO Art Stroll and School Backpack Drive | Fri & Sat | Highland | More
Savannah Banana's Watch Party! | Fri & Sat | Sanford | More
152 Productions Presents: Days of Summer | Fri & Sat | Winter Park | More
Friday - 1st
Pizza & Paint @ Lazy Moon Pizza UCF | 2 p.m. | UCF | More
Faire of the Dog Vintage & Makers Market | 6 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Mo Amer: El Oso Palestino Tour | 8 p.m. | I-Drive | More
Hive Hard Honey Drink Launch Party | 8 p.m. | Winter Park | More
MOLD! with Sally Wants, Warm Frames, and Uber Crunch | 8 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Joe Eckert Quartet | 8 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Saturday - 2nd
🔥 Saturday Laughs | 8 p.m. | South | More
Tacos and Tequila | 1 p.m. | Downtown | More
Fiesta Mo Sa USA | 10 a.m. | Kissimmee | More
Bloom in Abstraction: Painting Abstract Flowers | 9:30 p.m. | Maitland | More
History Alive: Highlights of the Museum | 10 a.m. | Downtown | More
BodyBox @ Wall Street Plaza | 6 p.m. | Downtown | More
2025 Leagues Cup Phase 1: Orlando City v Atlas FC & Pumas v Atl United | 6 p.m. | Downtown | More
Morgan Jay | 7 p.m. | Milk District | More
International Guitar Festival: Shankh Lahiri & Hindol Deb | 7:30 p.m. | Wadeview Park | More
Thomas Milovac Quartet | 8 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Soulshake with DJ Smilin Dan | 10 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Sunday - 3rd
🔥 Support Small Businesses Expo | 10:30 a.m. | Sanford | More
Summer Matsuri | 4 p.m. | Audubon | More
Pools in the Park with Pups | 11 a.m. | Mills 50 | More
Men's Closet 2025 Back 2 School | 11 a.m. | Concord | More
Americans and the Holocaust: Uncovering the Past | 2 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Cigano Swing | 3 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Summer Slumber Soiree | 5 p.m. | More
Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals FC | 6 p.m. | Downtown | More
Back 2 School Night | 6 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Orlando City B vs. New York City FC II | 7 p.m. | Kissimmee | More
The Rottens, Send All, Othalan, Grave Filth | 7 p.m. | Winter Park | More
THANKS!
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We’ll see you on Monday.
My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal
