Welcome to Thursday Morning, Orlando!
Nothing summons warm weather faster than buying a new jacket. Bought two for Mrs. Orlando Signal and we hit 80° in winter. 🤩
Now, in today’s issue:
- Shock Value
- IMMERSE Fest
- Dragon Parade
- + 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.
P.P.S. Check out tons of open Orlando area jobs at the Orlando Signal Job Board, right here.
⚡ Tired of the same faces? Meet 5 new ones over dinner on Thursday, February 26th.
Orlando Signal Dinner Club Round 4 is taking over College Park on Thursday, February 26th at 6:30 p.m..
Just take our quick quiz. We match you with five Orlando locals based on your vibe and interests. Show up to a great College Park spot you might not have tried otherwise. Small table, real conversation, zero awkwardness.
Whether you're from College Park, Winter Park, or anywhere in Greater Orlando, come explore a great neighborhood and meet some genuinely cool people while you're at it.
🖱️Tap/Click & Reserve Your Spot, Right Here
3 QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️
Attack of the Super Termite
Florida has officially claimed the title nobody wanted, America's most termite-infested state, according to a new Terminix study.
Warm temperatures, suffocating humidity, and dense development have essentially handed termites a year-round all-inclusive resort.
But here's where things get a bit interesting.
Two invasive species, Formosan and Asian subterranean termites, are abandoning their South Florida roots and marching northward, threatening the entire state by mid-century.
Researchers recently discovered the two species have been cross-breeding, producing a hybrid colony in Fort Lauderdale. If their offspring develop a tolerance for cooler climates, neighboring states are next on the menu.
The silver lining? UF/IFAS has a homeowner checklist that makes prevention straightforward: fix leaks, clear wood debris, maintain a 6-inch inspection gap along your foundation, and bring in a licensed pro annually. Small steps now beat a five-figure repair bill later."
(Learn lots more about hybrid termites threatening Florida with Anthony Talcott, right here)
Shock Value: Orange County Is Serious About Keeping Hearts Beating
Nobody plans to have a heart attack in a government building, but Orange County has plans anyway.
Through the Office of the EMS Medical Director, the county manages 329 automated external defibrillators across more than 70 facilities. No law requires it. They just did it.
Recent upgrades swapped out old units for remotely monitored devices that send automatic maintenance alerts and ping staff the moment one gets used.
The American Heart Association confirms what common sense already suggests: faster defibrillation means better survival odds.
Officials are also nudging residents to get CPR certified, because knowing what to do is half the battle.
Four Years, One Direction: Orlando's Economy Keeps Climbing
Caution: get ready for some nerdy economic data forthcoming because it turns out Orlando isn't just the happiest place on Earth, it might be one of the fastest-growing, too.
Federal estimates released recently confirmed the metro area added $15 billion to its economy in 2024, pushing total GDP past $233 billion, bigger than 18 American states. That's four consecutive years of outpacing the national economy, with inflation-adjusted growth hitting 3.5% against the U.S. rate of 2.8%.
Construction boomed, JPMorgan and Charles Schwab set up shop, and a record 75 million visitors kept the tourism machine churning.
The streak is undeniably impressive. But Orlando's productivity still trails most major metros, and that's the number that actually determines what residents take home.
(Learn lots more about Orlando’s growth facts and figures with Neil Hamilton, right here)
WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
IMMERSE Fest 2026
Source: IMMERSE Fest
📍Downtown Orlando. Orange Ave between Central and Anderson.
🕐 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 5-11 p.m.
For three days, 10 city blocks of Downtown Orlando stop being a place you pass through and start being a place that passes through you.
IMMERSE Fest pulls you in rather than performing at you. Stand inside a 100-piece orchestra. Watch acrobats swing from cranes. Lie beneath a dome of shifting projections. Swing from an illuminated cloud.
Hundreds of artists. Every genre. Zero distance between you and the art.
👉 Check It Out
TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Lake Nona Art Festival
Source: Lake Nona Art Festival
📍Lake Nona Town Center. 6877 Lake Nona Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
There's a particular energy that settles over a space when artists and art lovers occupy the same ground.
For two days, Lake Nona Town Center becomes exactly that place.
The Lake Nona Art Festival brings together a curated roster of local and national artists showcasing paintings, sculptures, photography, and handcrafted jewelry, all available for purchase.
Whether you're a seasoned collector or simply know what stops you in your tracks, there's something here worth finding.
👉 Get more info, right here
Florida Children's Book Festival
Source: Florida Children’s Book Festival
📍Loch Haven Park. 777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday & Sunday, February 21st-22nd
There's something quietly profound about a 100-year-old theatre company deciding to throw a book festival.
In 2026, as Orlando Family Stage marks its Centennial, it's partnering with Writer's Block Bookstore to launch the first-ever Florida Children's Book Festival, a statewide gathering for families, authors, educators, and artists who believe stories matter.
Set in the heart of Orlando's Loch Haven Park, the event features author meet-and-greets, live performances, hands-on activities, and partnerships with UCF and WUCF to make books and theatre accessible for all.
👉 Get the full details
Central Florida Dragon Parade
Source: Asia Trend Inc.
📍728 N. Thornton Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803. Map to this location.
🕐 Sunday, February 22nd, 11a.m. - 4 p.m.
Central Florida's Annual Dragon Parade is rolling through Orlando to ring in the Lunar New Year, the most celebrated holiday in East Asia.
The parade features local organizations like Wah Lum Temple, Orlando Taiko Dojo, and Dueling Dragons, alongside dignitaries including Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost, State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, and State Representatives Rita Harris and Anna V. Eskamani.
After the procession, Small Food Group Orlando hosts a Lunar New Year Festival Market at the EDOBOY Sushi parking lot from 11 a.m.– 4 p.m..
👉 Check it out, right here
MORE WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁
Multi-Day
Justin Silva | Fri & Sat | I-Drive | More
Foodeesfest | Fri, Sat, & Sun | 11 a.m. | Deezerland Park| More
Friday - 19th
History After Dark: Case Closed! | 5 p.m. | Downtown | More
Jeris Johnson, Butcher Babies, Eva Under Fire, LYLVC | 6 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Dead Air Divine | 2026 Album Release Shows | 7 p.m. | Downtown | More
Broadway Rave | 8 p.m. | Downtown | More
UCF - Orlando Jazz Fest Concert | 8 p.m. | I-Drive | More
Gilberto Santa Rosa | 8 p.m. | Downtown | More
Cory Branan with Special Guest Jordan Foley | 8 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Tiger 54, No Ni Ná, The Sourdrops, Über Crunch | 8 p.m. | Milk District | More
Saturday - 20th
Goblin Market: Discount Art Mart | 1 p.m. | Oviedo | More
MatchaFest® 2026 Orlando | 12 p.m. | Downtown | More
Collective Corner Golden Hour Market | 4 p.m. | Avalon Park | More
Winter Garden Music Festival | 11 a.m. | Winter Garden | More
Central Florida AccordionFest | 11:30 a.m. | Casselberry | More
Cupid's Undie Run | 12 p.m. | Downtown | More
FSYO Presents: Sounds of Symphonic | 3 p.m. | Downtown | More
Peaches | 6 p.m. | Downtown | More
Legendary: Celebrating 40 Years of Zelda | 7 p.m. | Winter Park | More
The Orlando Pancakes & Booze Art Show | 7 p.m. | Downtown | More
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra: "Top Gun: Maverick" in Concert | 8 p.m. | Downtown | More
Sunday - 21st
Lunar New Year Festival | 11 a.m. | Thornton Park | More
Faire of the Dog - Vintage & Makers Market | 12 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Wine Wars | 4 p.m. | Downtown | More
Dueling Divas: Kyaunnee Richardson and Alexandra Kzeski | 5 & 7:30 p.m. | Downtown | More
Robert Jon & The Wreck | 6 p.m. | Downtown | More
Fortune Teller, He Kindly, Nursing., 2AMature | 7 p.m. | Winter Park | More
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THANKS!
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We’ll see you on Monday.
My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal
