CITY NEWS

from Orlando Style Magazine

by styletome

BARFLY

IN CASE

YOU MISSED IT

STYLE EVENTS, NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND ORLANDO

By Riesa Pascal

Happy November Orlando! Store are stocking shelves with Christmas favorites and turkeys are nowhere to be seen… you know what that means! It’s fall time in the City Beautiful and as with every season, this highly anticipated one was kicked off with an impressive lineup of thrilling, not-to-be-missed events. Just in case you did miss it though, we’ve got all the highlights for you!

After a 2 year absence, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party finally made a return! As well as trick and treating, a whole host of spooky specials were happening at the beloved event. Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade featured an array of spooky floats, Disney villains and characters dressed in their Halloween best and the Haunted Mansion graveyard diggers. The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show starred the wicked Sanderson Sisters while Disney’s Not-SoSpooky Spectacular was a can’t-miss nighttime extravaganza featuring projections, special effects, fireworks, music and Disney characters. The family-friendly event ran on select nights till October 31st.

All month long, SeaWorld Spooktacular was perfect for the entire family to have some trick and treating fun. The little ones loved SeaWorld’s underwater “fantasea” with bright and colorful whimsical creatures, trick or treating, Penelope’s Garden Party, Halloween Dance Party and Sesame Streets Countdown to Halloween. For the second year running, SeaWorld Orlando also joined in the adult scare factor. Howl-OScream at SeaWorld saw guests make their way through Scare Zones as they tried to avoid angry haunts out to get them. There was no use in escaping by running indoors as guests would quickly find themselves in spooky haunted houses! The festivities brought much fun and horror to Orlando.

Krush Brau Park once again held their Oktoberfest event last month which featured all of the best and well-known German beers, food, and gifts. Having kicked off the fun on September 16th, the beer drinking activities continued all the way through to October 30th. Also featured were some of Central Florida’s breweries’ Oktoberfest beers. In addition, attendees were also able to experience a keg tapping ceremony along with several other contests including bier stein holding, yodeling, German limbo, German Schuplattler dance, best dressed Oktoberfest person and much more.

The Kennedy Space Center hosted it’s 2nd Taste of Space Martini Shake-Off event on October 7th. Visitors had the opportunity to visit multiple culinary stations, tasting flavors of the fall while mingling with astronauts. In addition to delicious sips and bites, participating local bars and restaurants went head-to-head in a competition, creating their idea of a “Marstini” cocktail for guests to taste and virtually vote for their favorites in the People’s Choice award. Full versions of the “Masrstini” cocktail were made available for purchase throughout the evening. Attendees could also choose to experience Gateway’s new motiontheater ride, Spaceport KSC, where guests can explore the “Red Planet.”

From October 8th-30th, our beautiful city had the opportunity to explore immersive, inflatable art like you’ve never seen before at Airplay. Presented by Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center, visitors engaged in interactive, inflatable art installations, including a Luminarium from Architects of Air. Light sculptures, interactive mazes, and even more inflatable art filled Seneff Arts Plaza and the Frontyard at Dr. Phillips Center with amazing energy and proved to be a delight for the whole family.

Orlando in October doesn’t bring the cooler weather usually associated with fall, but that doesn’t stop us from cozying up in Central Florida! Just like we have Now Snowing at Christmas, the Town of Celebration also treated us to Falling Leaves during Celebration Florida Oktoberfest. From October 21-22, leaves fell 3 times a night at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm along Market Street. Visitors also enjoyed a traditional German experience featuring live music and an interactive show with everything from yodeling and hayrides to pumpkins and crowd sing-a-long fun.

Ranked #4 in 2019 and #2 in 2020 by Sunshine Artist Magazine in their annual ranking of the Best Classic/Contemporary Craft Festivals in America, the Mount Dora Craft Festival was proud to earn the #1 spot in their 50th anniversary special ranking of ALL Time Favorite events in 2021. Held on the streets of historic downtown Mount Dora from October 22-23, the downtown streets came alive with more than 400 of the best exhibitors in the country ready to show and sell their fine and fun crafts at the 36th annual event. Festival food, music, beer and wine tasting for adults and a free kid zone for the kids rounded out the fabulous event.

On October 29th, Clermont Harvest Festival took over Historic Downtown Clermont for a good old fashioned family harvest festival full of fun and festive spirit. There was a pumpkin patch and photos plus a kidzone, offering train rides, rock climbing, wall bounce house, face painting and a costume contest. There were over 175 vendors showcasing homemade and handmade goods, one of a kind collectables and gifts. Food trucks were also available for snacks and the Downtown restaurants were all open and decorated to the nines!

November called, She’s Making a COMEBACK!

By Maha Chaudhry

First and foremost, Happy Birthday magnificent Scorpio and Sagittarius! Welcome to your season - the season of transformative, powerful, and optimistic free-spirited energy. To celebrate this energy, let’s shop Newvember!

We may be preparing to wrap up fall, but we’re going to hold on to the bold it brought upon us: We’re talking colors, feels and vibes. Here are some beauty and fashion picks to embrace the bold and festive season that we’re currently in.

1. Fierce Looks: We love a bold lip in cooler times paired with a sleek winged liner. For lip: Pat McGrath’s Guinevere - a classy and crisp shade of crimson. For eyes: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner in intense black to really bring out those beautiful eyes.

2. Sophisticated Style: We can now pull out the cashmere that has been so delicately folded or hung in its grace for far too long. Pair a cashmere top with a pair of trousers, or dress it up with leather. Honorable mention: Off the shoulder tops - We love them and can’t get enough.

3. Fiery Fragrance: Though it has been pumpkin spice and everything nice, we’re ready for level two. Did someone say spicy wood? Our top pick for an in-season scent that will not disappoint: Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir - a delicate but spicy mixture of woody scents and tart fruit, marries and pink pepper.

4. Big Mood: Right now, we are feeling the puffed sleeves and flare. Yes, the elongated trousers count, and so do the midi dresses with the dramatic sleeves.

5. A real Gem: The stones of November are Citrine and Topaz, similar in hues of golden to light yellow and light to dark autumn-orange. Topaz can also take shades of blue, green, pink, and purple. Fun fact: Citrine is known as the golden healing crystal that brings happiness, health, energy and prosperity and removes negativity. Add a piece for prosperity, or as just a bold statement.

OUR TOWN

Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker

Orlando Community Arts, Inc., proudly presents, Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker, a holiday favorite and urban adaption of the classical Nutcracker story written by E.T.A. Hoffman. This holiday production captures the rich pageantry of traditions and flair that highlights cultural diversity in Central Florida. The audience takes a magical journey with Clare, as she travels with the Chocolate Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy on an adventure through various cultures and magical lands to their destination, the Kingdom of Toys. Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker is written by Beverly Page, Executive Producer/President of Orlando Community Arts, Inc.

FUSION FEST

Central Florida’s leading cultural diversity festival

FusionFest, Central Florida’s leading cultural diversity festival with year-round programming, has set the stage for its fifth annual celebration of the people and the many cultures that make the region awesome. FusionFest’s free, two-day signature event returns on Thanksgiving Weekend: Saturday, November 26 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 27 from Noon – 6 p.m.

Thousands of guests representing more than 110 different global cultures will fill the Seneff Arts Plaza at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to experience music, dance, food, visual arts, spoken word, games and interactive activities. More than 1,000 local artists are expected to perform and showcase their work on FusionFest’s stages and in its galleries and interactive installations.

An all-new signature show entitled Kaleidoscope -- The Wonders of Creative Collaboration, headlines this year’s FusionFest. CeCe Teneal, an awardwinning performing artist who has graced the stage before Buddy Guy, Joe Cocker, Johnny Lang, and the legendary B.B. King, is curating this one-of-a-kind showcase of Central Florida’s best cultural performers.

In addition to Kaleidoscope, the FusionFest’s lineup includes the return of these festival favorites: Family Village featuring a cardboard village of the world, the Fun & Games Tent and the Family Art Tent; Celebration & Faith Station; International Marketplace; screenings of MYgration Films in partnership with the Global Peace Film Festival; Diversitastic! choir performances; Visual Arts Gallery; Global Street Dance Party; two stages featuring music, dance, spoken word and fashion; plus, community panels, prizes and contests with cash awards.

FusionFest Inc. is a nonprofit organization and a project of the Orange County Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. Since 2016 a steering committee of 40 members with heritages from around the globe meets monthly to shape the project. In addition to its annual festival, FusionFest produces year-round programming, including the Diverse Orange Talk Show, MYgration Films Watch Parties and Diversitastic! Dining Experiences.

FALL FIESTA IN THE PARK

Outdoor Family Fun

Outdoor fun and family activities draw thousands of Central Floridians to Lake Eola for the largest arts & crafts festival event series in Orlando. The Fiesta in the Park Committee’s mission is to bring family and pet friendly arts and entertainment to downtown Orlando each spring and fall season, while promoting local urban development in the City of Orlando, and through the Orlando Community & Youth Trust.