Florida Culture to Help You Say Farewell to 2015 by Josh Garrick

NOW to Dec 27 – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – The Musical 
The beloved classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is on-stage this holiday season with all your favorite characters in a new production at the Orlando Rep. Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, and of course, Rudolph are all there in this beloved musical adventure that teaches us what makes us different can be what makes us special. Call 407.896.7365x1 or visit orlandorep.com

NOW to Dec 27 – PB&J Theatre Factory’s Wordless Holiday Play 
Rollins College will present PB&J Theatre’s Sleigh, performed with no spoken dialogue. The story unfolds with the use of comical costumes, props, and sounds, without the actors uttering a word. In the quiet town of Sugar Falls, two shopkeepers are in fierce competition for customers, the post office is working overtime, and the trees at the local tree lot will ‘dance for you’ in hopes you’ll take them home. Sleigh is charming and silly and suitable for all ages. Visit pbjtickets.com or call 407-574-5794 

NOW to Dec 31 – Snowing Nightly at Celebration Town Center 
There is Snowfall EVERY Night through December 31st (including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve) at 6, 7, 8 and 9 pm in this town of Celebration tradition! Central Florida’s original ‘Snow’ event offers an ice rink, strolling Carolers, community performers, photos with Santa, horse drawn carriage rides, the Celebration Express train, and nightly snowfalls. The ice rink is open daily from 4 to 10 pm through January 3. ‘Snowing Nightly’ parking and admission is FREE. Call 407.566.4007 or visit celebrationtowncenter.com

NOW to Dec 31 – A Festival of Lights in White Springs 
The Stephen Foster State Park creates its holiday celebration with more than five million lights! Named a Top 20 Event in the Southeastern United States, visitors enjoy majestic oaks decorated with thousands of lights, a Museum in full holiday splendor, gingerbread village, candy cane forest, and Santa’s workshop. Complimentary hot cocoa and popcorn are served nightly as the Square comes alive with craft demos, a bonfire, marshmallow roasting and holiday singing at US Hwy 41 in White Springs. Closed December 25. Call 877.635.3655 or visit floridastateparks.org/park-events/Stephen-Foster

NOW to Jan 3 – Christmas at Gaylord Palms … with ICE!
Gaylord Palms, famous for its Holiday ICE! Show will create ‘The Night Before Christmas’ in 2 MILLION POUNDS of hand-carved ice. Accompanied by four ice slides, LIVE ice carving stations, and an adult-only On The Blocks Ice Bar, Gaylord Palms has Holiday offerings for every age. New this year is The Elf on the Shelf® Scavenger Hunt, AND a 25-minute Cirque Dreams show for the entire family. Christmas at Gaylord Palms is open daily in Kissimmee. Visit ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com

 
NOW to Jan 3 – Holiday Nights at Inventors’ Homes in Fort Meyers
It’s a source of pride that inventors Henry Ford and Thomas Edison had ‘winter homes’ in Florida. During the holidays the homes and gardens of the Edison and Ford families are decorated with millions of lights and decorations. Visitors enjoy nightly entertainment, tours, and visits from Santa. There is also food service, evening river cruises and the Edison Ford Museum and Lab open nightly. USA Today called Edison Ford Holiday Nights one of the ‘Top Ten Historic Holiday Sites’ in the nation. Call 239-334-7419 or visit Edisonfordwinterestates.org

NOW to Jan 3 – Harold GARDE: Mid-Century to This Century
Harold GARDE is a living legend. A brilliant ‘working’ Artist who still paints every day, Garde’s extraordinary career spans over 70 years. Graduating from Columbia University in 1951, Garde was immersed in the New York art world just as Abstract Expressionism brought the world’s attention to New York City.  The exhibit ‘Harold Garde: Mid-Century to this Century’ brings together 35 paintings that highlight the breadth of the painter’s career at the Orlando Museum of Art. Call 407.896.4231 or visit omart.org

NOW to Jan 3 – ‘Peter and the Star Catcher’ at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre
Young ‘star-catcher’ Molly Aster enlists the help of three orphan boys to return a trunk of precious ‘stuff’ to her father in this new play by Rick Elice. Pursued by a pirate captain and a giant crocodile, the children come face to face with the scariest enemy of all – adulthood. This ‘familiar’ story, with music by Wayne Barker, is the very funny and very theatrical story of the young orphan who would become … Peter Pan. Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org 

NOW to Jan 15 – History-Making Art Exhibit at Henao Center Gallery
Two years ago, I had the unprecedented honor of making history as the first non-Greek Artist in the World to exhibit in the National Archaeological Museum of Greece.  The exhibit has returned from a two-year-tour of Europe to open the new Henao Contemporary Center in Orlando, and continues through January 15. Please consider this a personal invitation to visit the exhibit in its new home. Call 407.522.3906 or visit henaocenter.com

Photo: Beauregarde Von Hoffman

Dec 24 from 8 am to 1 pm – Surfing Santas at Cocoa Beach
You can always count on Santa to help a good cause, and HUNDREDS of Surfing Santas will gather at the Minuteman Causeway in Cocoa Beach, Florida for one fantastically fun event. Before taking off in his sleigh, Santa(s) will gather to ride the waves and share fun in the sun in this 7th annual Surfing Santas event. All proceeds benefit two local non-profits, the “Grind for Life” organization and the Florida Surf Museum. Visit surfingsantas.org 

Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Open House at the Morse Museum of American Art 
In a community minded spirit of the season, the Morse Museum hosts several open houses throughout the year with FREE admission for all visitors on those days. On Thursday, December 24 – from 9:30 am to 4 pm, visitors to the Museum will receive free admission to the galleries all day. Adding to the celebration is LIVE music by the Raintree Chamber Players from 1 pm to 4 pm. Everyone is welcome. Call 407.645.5311 or visit morsemuseum.org 

Madonna and Child window, c. 1892. Leaded glass, Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, New York City, 1892–1900

Current – Firefighters Build Bikes for 14 Years of Smiles 
On December 15th, Orlando Fire Department’s Station 1 Firefighters spent their time between calls to build 100 bicycles for children, ages five to 15, residing in Orlando Housing Authority’s Reeves Terrace. Bikes of all sizes, with gift tags for the lucky recipients, filled the station house. Founded in 2002 by Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, “Wheels 4 Kids” has presented more than 1100 bicycles to the children of the Reeves Terrace neighborhood who have no bus system to take them to school. Thank you to all the generous donors for this very real act of community giving and holiday spirit. 

Saying Farewell to 2015 … 

Dec 31, 2015 at Orlando’s Theme Parks: 

Disney:   There is no more exciting place to be than standing in front of Cinderella’s Castle for the festive music and most spectacular fireworks of the year, and every one of Disney’s ‘signature’ restaurants offers a great place to view the fireworks. 

Universal:  The whole year has led up to Universal CityWalk's jam-packed New Year's celebration. Enjoy six unique party zones, each with their own signature drinks as you revel in six CityWalk clubs with live music and gourmet cuisine. Then rock out on Orlando's biggest outdoor dance floor.

Seaworld:  Celebrate your connection to the sea as SeaWorld rings in the New Year with a spectacular musical celebration and fireworks display to send a wave of welcome to the New Year. An additional purchase will reserve your seating at Bayside Stadium for the 11:25 pm Winter Wonderland Show. 

At the Dr. Phillips Center – Dec 31 at 10 pm  What better way to bring in the New Year than to join Glinda the Good Witch as she ‘shares’ her goodness at the Dr. Phillips Center. Kristin Chenoweth is the Emmy and Tony Award winning actress who created the role of Glinda in Broadway’s smash hit Wicked. Joining Ms. Chenoweth is actor/singer Cheyenne Jackson. Your ticket includes: Show, Champagne, After-Party Entertainment, Desserts, and 2 Drink Tickets. Doors open at 8 pm; Show time is 10 pm; and the after party runs until 2 am. Tickets start at $110.00

In Downtown Orlando – The party on Church Street is where thousands of revelers take over a downtown city block for Church Street’s New Year’s Eve Party including Antigua, Latitudes, Rok Room, Big Belly and Chillers opening their doors at 8 pm. Come out for fireworks, a video wall, and the famous midnight ‘count-down’ to the Orange Drop.

In Daytona Beach – Main Street is the place to be for a Family Friendly New Year's Eve that is guaranteed fun for the whole family. From 6 pm on December 31 to 2 am on January 1, the whole family is invited to multiple stages of entertainment, street performers, festival food, attractions for kids, fireworks over the ocean, and a ball drop ceremony at midnight. 

In St. Augustine – December 31 is called Beach Blast Off at St. Augustine Beach Pier Park, and it’s a full-day New Year's extravaganza with live music, food and drinks, a kids' zone with nine inflatables, a pirate magician, and a dunk-tank. The Adult ‘Comfort Zone’ offers 30 food vendors and a beer and wine tent with LIVE music and two 50-inch TV's to keep everyone up-to-the-minute with festivities around the world. Fireworks to music takes place at 8:30 pm. Admission is FREE. Call 904.669.5670.

On the High Seas – Living in Florida, we already have an advantage over those who have to fly here to board a cruise liner. Should you seek the romance and adventure of being on a ship as the New Year arrives, the ‘Last Minute Cruise Deals’ on expedia.com are currently offering 14 days on a Norwegian cruise ship in South America beginning at $399 per person or a trans-Atlantic cruise with Cunard for 7 nights beginning at $499.  If you can make your plans quickly, those prices make it cheaper to be on a luxury cruise ship than to ‘party’ at home.  

NOTE:  For drivers, it is important to remember that police will be on high alert. Drive Safely! Drivers can expect DUI patrols and checkpoints. AAA generously offers a free tow-to-go service for anyone needing a tow home within 10 miles.