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Celebrate Summer at LEGOLAND

Long days and balmy nights make July a popular time to visit this nearby hotspot. BY NANCY BUTLER

Celebrate summer at LEGOLAND with fireworks and shows for the whole family.

THIS FOURTH OF July, celebrate America’s independence with Red, White and Boom! reworks in the shape of LEGO bricks at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. e reworks will light up the sky above Lake Eloise on both July 3 and 4. Guests can pick up special viewing glasses at locations around the park that give the ery bursts their signature LEGO shape. e show is best seen in Pirates Cove and along the edge of the lake, but guests have great views from anywhere in the park. roughout the day, visitors can celebrate America in other fun ways by helping to build a giant American ag out of LEGO bricks, showing their best moves during a DJ dance party and entering a competition to see who can build the best patriotic creation. Independence Day activities are included with regular park admission.

All year round, say Ahoy! to the swashbuckling pirates who take over Lake Eloise during the recently opened Brickbeard’s Watersports Stunt Show. Guests can meet the new female pirate, Calico Jade, as she and Captain Brickbeard recruit the nest buccaneers to add to their crew. is exciting show features scallywags who wakeboard, jet ski, ski barefoot and perform an iconic ski pyramid—a throwback to the days when the park was Cypress Gardens. Barefoot skiing originated in Winter Haven, and the rst-ever competition was held at the sight of Brickbeard’s show. Some of the most daring pirates even defy gravity on the all-new y board as they are propelled over 70 feet into the air. e show occurs three times during the day; take note that guests sitting in the front will be in the splash zone. legoland.com/florida

NIGHTS OF LIGHT

Get ready to party the evening away this summer during SeaWorld Orlando’s Electric Ocean. This nighttime extravaganza runs on select days and evenings through September 6 and transforms the park into a gleaming, watery wonderland. Some highlights include Club Sea Glow, an electric dance party with DJs and neon sea creatures, and new this year, Rescue Tails, a presentation that shares SeaWorld’s commitment to animal rehabilitation. End the night with Ignite, a stunning fireworks, music and water display that turns the night sky into an undersea paradise—visible from all around the lake! Special summer eats and treats are also available. seaworld.com/orlando

Sip & Stroll Longer Than Ever

ON JULY 15, the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival returns in full force to Walt Disney World. Central Florida’s biggest culinary festival will take place through November 20. All seasoned Food and Wine goers know to come hungry: global marketplaces across the park o er dishes from six continents, with some marketplaces debuting on opening day and others joining in the fun a little later in the season. Expect returning favorites such as Greece, Germany and Australia around World Showcase, but don’t skip the spots located in Future World as well. In addition, the festival will feature innovative cocktails and other sips so visitors can celebrate, as last year’s 25th anniversary festival was a scaled-back version. ere will be two events tied to the upcoming opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure on October 1: Kids can nd all of the Remy statuettes across the park for a prize during Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak scavenger hunt, while adults can get their prize by trying ve cheesy dishes from di erent marketplaces during the new Emile’s Fromage Montage. Admission is included with your ticket, but park reservations are required. disneyworld.disney.go.com

A DELICIOUS WORLD OF COLOR

Chocolate lovers, rejoice: There is an awesome new spot to get your fi x! The M&M’S store recently opened at Disney Springs, o ering 10,000 square feet of candy and merchandise sure to please fans of the brand. Located across from House of Blues in West Side, guests step through the giant yellow M&M and are immersed within an interactive chocolate experience. There are photo ops with life-sized M&M characters. But don’t miss the signature chocolate wall: tall, rainbow rows of M&M dispensers where guests can create mix-and-match bags of their favorite chocolate candies—including white chocolate, peanut, caramel and crunchy mint as well as classic milk chocolate. You can even personalize your own M&Ms with photos, graphics or a message of your choice! In addition, you’ll fi nd co-branded Disney apparel, mugs, gifts and more. disneysprings.com

Meet Your Match at The Escape Effect

IT IS MEDIEVAL times at Stonebury Castle England, and you are on the run from an angry king who just murdered his brother; you have two hours to reunite with your companions before being captured. Will you survive? At e Escape E ect, voted Central Florida’s best escape room, you can nd out. is locally-owned entertainment venue is the only escape room in Florida to o er games longer than an hour. With extended game times come more intense mysteries and harder puzzles. e venue has recently reopened with elevated safety protocols, and games are always private to your party. Every game has an unlimited-hint option and customizable di culty levels depending on the size and experience of your party. Each room is unique to e Escape E ect: guests can search Sherlock’s study to see if Lady Ricoletti is guilty of murder, or they can battle for immortality against Greek gods on Mount Olympus. e popular “Fright Before your Eyes” room is not for the faint of heart; guests need ashlights and spectre detectors, as the room is pitch black and lled with missing souls. Make your reservations at their website. theescapeeff ect.com