Top 9 Spring Events in Orlando  

Dust off your sunglasses, pack away the winter coats, and prepare for fun in Orlando at these top spring events. The Sunshine State lives up to its name in February, March, and April. It’s a great time to visit central Florida because the temperatures are cooler and the humidity takes a break. Orlando becomes a playground of blossoming flowers, warm breezes, and a whirlwind of events. Find special seasonal festivals at the theme parks and away from the resorts. We can only fit some of them in, but here are some popular things to do in the spring in Orlando.

Taste of Epcot: International Festival of the Arts

Dates: January 12-February 19

Admission: Theme park admission starts at $109

Descend on EPCOT and delve into all things creative. The International Festival of the Arts is an early spring show that celebrates art and cuisine in a way that will delight all five senses. 

It starts with taste, something the park is famous for. EPCOT’s World Showcases set up food studios as part of the culinary journey worldwide. The chefs play with color and taste for this festival, creating whimsical and fantastic bites. 

Accompanying the dishes is the sounds of the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, performing in the American Gardens Theater. Listen to your Disney favorites from fantastic singers and musicians with three daily performances.

Watch artists create visual media in minutes before your eyes, or gasp at performance artists as they showcase acrobatic skill. 

The special EPCOT festival includes artist meet and greets, workshops, and activities for the kids. And, of course, the regular rides and experiences come with your daily admission.

Mardi Gras Universal Orlando

Dates: February 3- April 7

Admission: Included with theme park ticket

Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras is not just an event; it’s an invitation to let loose, catch some beads, and savor the magic of this iconic celebration in the heart of Florida. The theme park creates a dazzling celebration of music, color, and irresistible revelry in the spirit of Carnival. As the rhythmic beats of New Orleans jazz fill the air, the theme park streets come alive with energetic floats, flamboyant costumes, and a contagious energy that sweeps through the crowd. This isn’t just a festival; it’s a sensory explosion of Cajun cuisine, toe-tapping tunes, and a jubilant atmosphere that captures the essence of the Big Easy. 

And the party lasts way beyond the official Mardi Gras season, not just around Fat Tuesday and Lent. So indulge your craving for beignets and Po’boys well beyond February. 

Smoke On the Water BBQ Festival

Dates: February 2-3, 2024

Admission: $2-$20

Bring on the wet wipes for the Annual Budweiser Smoke on the Water Festival, the site of the Florida BBQ Association State Championship. Over 50 teams throw down on the pit, looking to earn top honors in chicken, ribs, pork, and brisket. Besides the food, the festival has fireworks and kids activities.

 The 2024 edition is the Winter Haven festival’s 20th anniversary. Expect live music and an even better BBQ experience. Plus, all proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Polk County. Admission costs is more on Friday Night, but just $2 on Saturday. Kids 10 and under are free. You’ll need cash to buy “pig bucks,” which are used to purchase your food choices.

Seven Seas Food Festival

Dates: February 3-May 7 2024

Admission: Starting at $99 for ages 3+

Eat your way through SeaWorld at this popular spring festival that draws on flavors from around the world. Over 200 dishes draw on Latin, Polynesian, North Atlantic, and other food traditions to create an exceptional experience. Pair the culinary delights with over 75 craft beers, wines, and cocktails inspired by global flavors. 

The Seven Seas Food Festival is on select dates while in season. The festival pairs the food with live concerts hosted at Bayside Stadium every weekend. Artists range from Ne-Yo to Martina McBride. SeaWorld sells ticket bundles with dining options for single-day tickets. 

Osceola County Fair

Dates: February 9-18, 2024

Admission: Starting at $5 for adults, $3 for children

Get ready for some classic good times with a traditional ol’ county fair. Osceola County has everything you want for in a fair experience: fried funnel cakes, Midway games, Ferris Wheels, and livestock shows. 

But that’s just the tip of the cow’s horn. Special to the Osceola edition is a whip-cracking contest, Demolition Deby, and Osceola Idol. The 2024 entertainment lineup includes a Western-style comedy gunfight, a petting zoo, a Latin Party Band, and country music. 

The fair is in Kissimmee at the Osceola Heritage Park. Find a packed Osceola County Fair schedule. Check each day’s opening and closing times, and for specials like Senior Day.

Paws in the Park

Dates: February 10, 2024

Admission: Free

Love our furry friends? Then you’ll go dog-wild for Central Florida’s largest pet festival, Paws in the Park, back for its second year in 2024. Pugs and Labradors alike come to Lake Eola Park for classic four-footed activities. Enter the pet costume contest and win prizes in themed categories. Or, test your pet’s agility at the Lure Courses. There’s dock diving, a doggie fun zone packed with toys, a doggie kissing booth, and an adoption zone. Work together with your furry friend to take home a piece of art made together!

For the humans, the festival has live on-stage entertainment, food trucks, vendors, and a beer garden. The proceeds benefit the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando. The 2024 event will run from 10 am-4 pm.

Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

Dates: March 15-17, 2024

Admission: Free

This outdoor event draws 1,000 artists and over 350,000 visitors for a stunning weekend art show hosted in the beautiful Winter Park downtown. As one of the area’s oldest art festivals, the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival often ranks among the best juried art festivals in the nation, with 64 award categories. The Best in Show purchase award was $12,000. This festival was #1 in the South by ArtFairCalendar and no. 6 in the nation. 

Besides stellar sidewalk art, the festival features work in glass, mixed media, sculpture, watercolor, wood, and more. Browse the creativity from dozens of vendors. Accompanying the visual art exhibitions are food concessions, music, and performance entertainment. The family-friendly festival includes a Children’s Workshop with hands-on, creative activities for the kids. They participate for free and can take home their creation.

Raglan Road Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival

Dates: March 16-19, 2024

Admission: $20 Cover Charge for 18+ 

Disney Springs goes green for St. Patrick’s Day, with festivities centered around Raglan Road. The pub was actually built in Ireland and rebuilt in Disney Springs, giving festivalgoers an authentic Irish experience. For the holiday, expect all the stops to be pulled out. It has a whole lot of green spread across five outdoor bars, fish and chips paired with Guinness, and Irish entertainment. And when we say “Irish entertainment,” we mean the music and dancers are flown straight from Ireland. 

Raglan Road gets packed for the event, so reservations are encouraged. If you still want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day but can’t score a ticket, try the Official Orlando St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl.

Promenade at Sunset Walk

Dates: All Spring

Admission: Free

Located in Kissimmee beside Margarita Resort Orlando, this resort destination packs in the fun within a walkable urban district. Attractions of the Promenade include TopGolf, an arcade, and fine dining. Stroll from vendor market to escape room, taking in as much entertainment as possible. Each weekend brings something new to the Promenade: vintage car shows, live music, fireworks, and more. Find something fun to pass your Orlando evening.

Florida Film Festival

Dates: April 12-21, 2024

Admission: Starting at $125 for a Matinee Pass

This intimate film festival is deceiving. It may not have the high glitz and glamour of Sundance or New York Film Festivals, but award-winning talent still appears in Maitland for talks and screenings of indie films. Attendees like how the Florida Film Festival lineup is smaller than other big festivals. It makes it more likely you can catch the film you want to see instead of making tough choices. 

But smaller doesn’t comprise on quality. The selected films are still high-quality, as the festival can qualify the work for the Oscars in the Live Action Short, Documentary Short, and Animated Short. 

The 2024 program will be announced on March 20. Tickets are on sale for the opening night party at the Tiedtke Amphitheater. 

Orlando Spring Events

This list is a small sampling of what you can find in Orlando during the spring. As always, you have the theme parks available for spring break fun, plus a host of smaller festivals and events that leverage the beautiful weather this time of year. Let us know your favorite Orlando spring event!