A year in Orlando

ByABC News
May 14, 2008, 4:54 PM

— -- You can plan a trip to Orlando around a special event any month of the year, but the ones that follow are among the most popular. If you don't find something that tickles your imagination and timetable, scout for others at www.disneyworld.com, www.universalorlando.com and www.orlandoinfo.com.

January

Art and literature lovers come together each January to celebrate the talented works and tragic life of one of Florida's own during the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities (www.zorafestival.com; 407-647-3307 or 407-647-4436; 227 East Kennedy Blvd., Eatonville, FL 33896). The acclaimed black writer spent her childhood 25 miles north of Orlando and helped teach others about African-American life through stories such as How It Feels To Be Colored Me (1928) and The Florida Negro (1938). Hurston died poor in 1960. The annual festival, held for the last two decades, has everything from concerts and a book fair to an art show and Southern cooking. Many events are free; most others are $5-$10.

The Capital One Bowl (www.fcsports.com; 407-423-2476; 1610 W. Church St., Orlando, 32805), played on New Year's Day, is the more heralded of Orlando's two post-season college football games (the other is the Champs Sports Bowl in December). This game pits a team from the SEC against one from the Big Ten. The Michigan Wolverines beat the Florida Gators 4135 in 2008, sending coach Lloyd Carr into retirement with a win over Florida's coach Urban Meyer and Heisman winner Tim Tebow. Tickets to the nationally televised game, played at the Florida Citrus Bowl, run about $75.

When the Magic Mickey gets into something, it's seldom half-hearted, and distance running is no exception. The Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon (www.disneyworldsports.com; 407-939-7810; Lake Buena Vista, 32830) attract some 30,000 participants and as many spectators in early January, rivaling the nation's most storied marathon held in Boston. The fun starts with 5K and kids' runs on Friday. A 13.1-mile half marathon and 26.2-mile marathon kick off Saturday and Sunday, respectively. True masochists try Goofy's Race and a Half Challengerunning in the half and full marathons on consecutive days. The weekend also features health and fitness expos, which include nutrition and training seminars.

Looking for a way to spend your children's inheritance (or at least dream about the possibility)? The Central Florida International Boat Show (www.boatshowflorida.com; 407-456-6680; 9400 Universal Blvd. Orlando, 32819) is filled will all sorts of nautical eye candy. Typically, some 400 runabouts, cruisers, fishing boats and personal watercraft are in the spotlight at this four-decade-year-old event, held in mid January at the Orange County Convention Center. The show also includes marine accessories, interactive fishing video games and a wakeboarding demonstration. The center is huge and parking reaches to the North 40. $8 adults, kids 15 and under free with paying adult.

February

Fat Tuesday comes to Orlando every Saturday night from early February to mid April at Universal Studios' Mardi Gras celebration (www.universalorlando.com; 407-363-8000; 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, 32819). Granted, it's only a microcosm of the real deal in New Orleans, but it's still a good excuse to dance or otherwise party the night away. Headliners change annually, but acts have included Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Kool and the Gang, Huey Lewis and the News, the Doobie Brothers and Smokey Robinson. You also can tickle your taste buds with jambalaya and etouffee, dodge stilt walkers and snatch beads that are tossed from floats in the nightly parades. This is a special-event ticket that sells for $46.95.

Billed as the largest pro rodeo east of the Mississippi, the Silver Spurs Rodeo (www.silverspursrodeo.com; 321-697-3495; 1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee, 34744) also is one of the oldestdating to 1944. Held in mid February at Osceola Heritage Park's indoor arena, it attracts 60 cowboys and cowgirls who compete in a variety of traditional events like bull riding, bareback and saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and barrel racing. Even youngsters get into the act during mutton busting, a thigh-slapping competition that gives them a chance to try to ride a sheep for 8 seconds. Admission is $15.

Florida is a hotspot for baseball's spring training and Lake Buena Vista gets its share of the action from mid February to the end of March when the Atlanta Braves work off the winter's rust (www.atlantabraves.com or disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/specialEvents?id=AtlantaBravesDetailPage; 407-939-7810 or 407-839-3900, Lake Buena Vista, 32830). Players stretch, grunt and try into get in shape during the first two weeks at Disney's Wide World of Sports, then play 15 home games at the complex's stadium. The schedule usually includes three or four night games. Tickets start at $14.50 for general admission and climb to $23.50 (lower reserved seats).

Classical music lovers flock to the wooded grounds of Rollins College in mid-February for a fortnight of fun at the annual Bach Festival (www.bachfestivalflorida.org; 407-646-2182; 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park, 32789). It's one of Florida's finest celebrations of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers. Performances by the Bach Festival Orchestra and Choir are among the highlights. There also are lectures and open rehearsals. Tickets range from $15 to $55.

At a half-century-old, the Daytona 500 (www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com; 386-947-6800; 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, 32114) is one of NASCAR's longest-running races. Held at the Daytona International Speedway in mid February, the 200-lap race attracts the sport's biggest names. The winner usually pockets around $1.5 million, not bad for a day's work. (Note from the Surgeon General: earplugs are a splendid idea if you plan to attend.) Tickets start at $95. Daytona International's other February events include the Budweiser Shootout and the Chevy Silverado HD 250, which is part of the NASCAR truck series.

March

Stars such as Johnny Bench and Donovan McNabb join John Kruk, Peter Gammons and other broadcast regulars at the annual edition of ESPN The Weekend (www.disneyworld.com; 407-839-3900; 3111 World Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830), held at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The three-day event includes Q&As with athletes and network personalities as well as broadcasts of some of the sports channel's shows, including ESPN Deportes and Baseball Tonight. Some guests also get a chance to experience an audition for a job at the sports channel. Other visitors get a shot at going head to head with trivia expert Howie Schwab. Admission is included in the regular Studios' ticket price, $71 adults and $60 for kids 3-12.

Arguably, the Sunshine State's best berries come from Plant City, near Tampa, and the annual crop gets a celebration of its own at the annual Florida Strawberry Festival (www.flstrawberryfestival.com; 813-752-9194; 2202 W. Reynolds St., Plant City, 33563), held an hour southwest of Orlando in early March. Expect county fair-style rides, racing pigs and country music to go along with the state's second most popular fruit (citrus is first). You'll find them plain, in pies and in shortcake. The 78-year-old festival also offers livestock shows and other agricultural exhibits. Concerts feature entertainers such as Crystal Gayle, Sugarland, Tom Jones and Trace Adkins. Admission is $9 adults, $5 kids 6-12. Concert tickets are $10-$35.