Filed under: Vacations, orlando, orlando vacation, sea world, theme parks | Tags: 2008 Bud & BBQ, Bayside Stadium, busch gardens africa, Clay Walker, Craig Morgan, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Gary Allan, Gwazi Park, Jason Michael Carroll, Joe Nichols, Pat Green, SeaWorld Orlando, Styx
Nothing beats heading to the Anheuser-Busch Hospitality Center at SeaWorld Orlando and grabbing a free, ice-cold brew on a hot summer day. Add barbecue to the mix, as well as country and classic rock music, and you’ve got the Bud & BBQ festival, which will take place February 16 through March 9, 2008, at both SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Africa. Apparently, this year’s menu will include Budweiser Pork Rib Tomahawks, Bud Light chili pepper baby back ribs, Michelob Ultra Amber Bock chili and Pulled Chicken with Amber Bock sauce. Sounds delicious!
The remaining concert lineup includes Creedence Clearwater Revisited on February 23, Craig Morgan & Pat Green on March 1 and Joe Nichols & Jason Michael Carroll on March 8. For Busch Gardens, Bud & BBQ will feature Styx on February 24, Clay Walker on March 2 and Gary Allan on March 9. Okay, so I’m a little underwhelmed by the concert lineup. However, if you’re interested in the above Bud & BBQ concerts, show times are at 4 PM Saturdays at Bayside Stadium (SeaWorld) and 4 PM Sundays at Gwazi Park (Busch Gardens).
Best of all, Bud & BBQ is included with regular park admission to either SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Filed under: Vacations, orlando, orlando vacation, travel | Tags: 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational, 2008 Bike Week, 2008 Central Florida Fair, 2008 Central Florida Home & Garden Show, 2008 Florida Film Festival, 2008 Mardi Gras at Universal Studios, Orlando Spring 2008 Events
2008 Mardi Gras at Universal Studios
Universal Orlando
Through April 19, 2008
Let the good times roll at Mardi Gras 2008! Universal Studios boasts the largest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans – complete with a live concert series that features a diversity of musical stars, colorful parades full of floats, plenty of beads to collect, elaborately costumed characters and delectable “Big Easy” cuisine such as jambalaya and shrimp gumbo. Mardi Gras 2008 at Universal Studios began on Saturday, February 2, 2008 and runs for 12 Saturday nights through April 19, 2008. Topping the entertainment list for Mardi Gras 2008 are such musical superstars as country singer Gretchen Wilson, rockers Third Eye Blind and Heart, rap artist L.L. Cool J and old-school crooners such as Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Smokey Robinson and Kool & The Gang.
2008 Bike Week
Various Sites, Daytona Beach, Florida
February 29 – March 9, 2008
The “World’s Largest Motorcycle Event” attracts more than 500,000 bike enthusiasts from all over the world for a raucous 10 days of motorcycle shows, exhibits, live concerts, races at the Daytona International Speedway and, last but certainly not least, hardcore partying on Main and Beach streets. Admission is charged to certain events.
2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Bay Hill Club & Lodge
9000 Bay Hill Boulevard, Orlando, Florida
March 1 – March 16, 200
The Arnold Palmer Invitational (formerly known as the Bay Hill Invitational) draws the world’s top professional golfers on the PGA Tour. The event traces its history back to 1966 when it began as the Florida Citrus Open Invitational. Tiger Woods, who lives in nearby Windermere, captured an unprecedented four consecutive Bay Hill championships from 2000 to 2003. Admission is charged. The 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational takes place from March 12-18 at the 7,137-yard, par-70 course at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando with a purse of $5.8 million ($1,044,000 to the champion).
2008 Central Florida Home & Garden Show
Orange County Convention Center Center, Orlando, Florida
March 7-9, 2008
The Central Florida region’s largest consumer home and garden showcase features more than 475 exhibits that will help you through every step of your home improvement projects. Whether you are looking for decorating ideas, remodeling plans or landscaping tips, you’ll find expert advice here. Admission is charged.
2008 Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival
Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
March 19 – June 1, 2008
View colorful displays of roses, wildflowers, topiary displays of your favorite Disney characters and world-class horticultural displays at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which has expanded to 75 days for 2008. The floral festival – which includes a live Flower Power Concert Series, gardening seminars, workshops, demonstrations and children’s activities – is included with regular admission to Epcot.
2008 Florida Film Festival
Enzian Theater, 1300 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida
March 28 – April 6, 2008
Move aside, Sundance! For film buffs, the 10-day Florida Film Festival is the showcase for the best in American independent and foreign films, documentaries, narrative films, midnight movies, regional and family films, and animation. Sponsored by Enzian Theater, the Florida Film Festival has become one of the most respected regional film festivals in the United States. Festival events include Spotlight Films, International Showcase, Special Screenings, American Independent Competition, Midnight Movies, Student Works, Forums and Celebrations. Past attendees have included Oliver Stone, Gabriel Byrne, Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Steve Buscemi and William H. Macy. Admission is charged.
2008 Central Florida Fair
Central Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida
April 17-27, 2008
Since 1887, the 11-day Central Florida Fair has celebrated the best in regional arts and crafts, live music and dance, food, livestock shows, thrilling carnival rides, fascinating interactive exhibits and much more! The Wade Shows Midway boasts 100 rides and attractions. Admission is charged.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 2008 Epcot Events, Disney World Annual Events, Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, Flower Power Concert Series
The 2008 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival promises to be bigger than ever! Below is a list of themed weekends for the event, which will run from March 19 through June 1, 2008:
2008 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Themed Weekends
March 21-23, 2008 – Premiere Weekend
March 28-30, 2008 – Characters in Bloom
April 4-6, 2008 – Art in the Garden
April 11-13, 2008 – Wellness Weekend
April 18-20, 2008 – Green Weekend
April 25-27, 2008 – I Dig Bugs
May 2-4, 2008 – Florida Farmers Market
May 9-11, 2008 – Coming Up Roses
May 16-18, 2008 – Garden Party
May 23-25, 2008 – Outdoor Living
May 31 – June 1, 2008 – Festival Farewell
In addition, the 2008 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will feature a stellar lineup of live entertainment through the Flower Power Concert Series. All concerts will take place at the America Gardens Theatre at 5:45 PM, 7 PM and 8:15 PM during the dates specified below.
2008 Flower Power Concert Series
March 19-22, 2008 – The Guess Who
March 23-24, 2008 – Petula Clark
March 25-29, 2008 – Paul Revere and the Raiders
March 30-31, 2008 – The 5th Dimension
April 1-3, 2008 – Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring The Nelsons
April 4-5, 2008 – Jay Black
April 6-9, 2008 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
April 10-12, 2008 – The Grass Roots featuring Rob Grill
April 13-16, 2008 – The Happenings
April 17-18, 2008 – Peter & Gordon
April 19-23, 2008 – Starship starring Mickey Thomas
April 24-26, 2008 – B.J. Thomas
May 1-3, 2008 – Arlo Guthrie
May 4-5, 2008 – The Searchers
May 6-10, 2008 – The Tokens
May 11-15, 2008 – Davy Jones
May 16-17, 2008 – Jose Feliciano
May 18-20, 2008 – Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals
May 21-24, 2008 – Gary Puckett
May 25-27, 2008 – The Cowsills
May 28 – June 1, 2008 – Tony Orlando
Note: Concerts are subject to change without notice.
Filed under: Other destinations, Vacations, orlando, orlando vacation, travel | Tags: 2008 ArtsFest, United Arts of Central Florida
Hosted by the United Arts of Central Florida and sponsored by the Orlando Sentinel and Bank of America, 2008 ArtsFest will take place February 7-17, 2008, with approximately 340 free events spread across four counties (Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole)! Pick up a 2008 ArtsFest schedule of events at your local Bank of America branch.
Organizations scheduled to participate in 2008 ArtsFest include Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Annie Russell Theatre, Asian Cultural Association, Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Bay Street Players, The Center for Contemporary Dance, Central Florida Ballet, Central Florida Folk, CityArts Factory, City Hall Terrace Gallery, City of Casselberry Parks and Recreation, City of Orlando’s Pottery Studio, Clouids in My Coffee, COMMA, Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Crealde School of Art, DRIP, Festival of Orchestras, Florida Children’s Repertory Theatre, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, Gallery of Avalon Island, Gallery on First, Garden Theatre, Hannibal Square Heritage Center, Helen Stairs Theatre, Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center, Jeanine Taylor Folk Art, Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, Lake Eustis Museum of Art, Lifelong Learning Institute of the Winter Park Public Library, Mad Cow Theatre, Maitland Art Center, Maitland Historical Society, Mennello Museum of American Art, MicheLee Puppets, Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando Ballet, Orlando Chamber Singers, Orlando Gay Chorus, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Opera, Orlando Philharmonic, Orlando Public Library, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Science Center, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Osceola Center for the Arts, Osceola Library System, Project Imagination, SAK Comedy Lab, Seminole Cultural Arts Council, Steinway Piano Galleries, Valencia Community College East Campus, Voci Dance, Vocies of Valencia, Winter Park Historical Association and Museum, Winter Park Historical Association and the Winter Park Public Library, Winter Park Playhouse, Women’s Caucus for Art of Florida and Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts.
For more information about 2008 ArtsFest, visit Orlando-Florida.net.
