Calendar

JUNE 25

Join the Save the Manatee Club on Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. at the Maitland Public Library for a special presentation, “Saving Florida’s Manatees: An Introduction.” Renowned singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and former senator Bob Graham joined forces to establish the Save the Manatee Club back in 1981. Stop by to learn about Florida’s endangered manatees, why they’re in trouble, and how you can help. For more information, call 407-647-7700.

Chef Kathleen Blake, 2015 James Beard award nominee and owner of The Rusty Spoon in downtown Orlando, will prepare dinner at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s Community Kitchen as part of the Chef’s Night series and Catering for Good program. Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner featuring a locally sourced pub-style menu of American cuisine rooted in European flavors. All proceeds benefit Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program, which provides students with the skills and inspiration they need to obtain an entry-level position in a food service establishment. The dinner will take place Thursday, June 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person. To purchase tickets go to FoodBankCentralFlorida.org or call 407-514-1048.

Are you interested in saving money on electric bills and helping the environment? Are you a homeowner of a single-family residence in Orlando or Winter Park? If you answered yes, then come to the Solar Co-op informational meeting! This free meeting is set for Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Winter Park. For more information on going solar, email [email protected]

JUNE 26 Come out to the Food Truck Bazaar from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 26, at the Maitland Civic Center. The event features six food trucks, indoor air-conditioned seating with a lake view, live entertainment and free parking. For more information, call 407-647-2111.

Enjoy two evenings of music and charitable deeds with the Orlando Circle of Friends Chorus as they present “Sentimental Journey: A Tribute to the USO” on Friday, June 26, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 27, at 4 p.m. at the Sun Trust Auditorium at the Orlando Museum of Art. Tickets are $20 or $15 for children, seniors, veterans and active military and their spouses. Proceeds benefit New Horizons Service Dogs. For more information and to buy tickets, visit ocofchorus.org or call 321-345-6263.

JUNE 27

Come out and hang out by the pool at the Winter Park Community Center’s old school party from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 27! This party is for those 18 years old and up for all hard working adults ready to enjoy the weekend. Entry is 50 percent off for non-residents. Please, no alcohol. For more information, call 407-599-3275.

JUNE 28

Celebrate America with patriotic anthems, American standards and sacred classics with Christian music artist Sandi Patty at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, at the First Baptist Church Oviedo, located at 45 W. Broadway Street. For more information and to buy tickets, visit attendstar.com or call 855-223-1008.

JUNE 29

Twelve hours of the best break dancing in North America will bring Florida’s best B-Boys to compete at Orlando’s City Hall on Monday, June 29, in the Florida Finals of a national competition sponsored by Red Bull BC One. This season’s line-up will include Orlando dancer Bboy Keebz, who competed in the 2013 Nationals and judged the 2014 Red Bull BC One qualifier in Orlando. That’s a lot of power-spins over 12 hours – from noon to midnight – and it’s all free. No tickets required. City Hall is at 400 S. Orange Ave. in Orlando. Visit redbullbcone.com/en

JUNE 30

Watch the award winning film “The Blind Side” on the Maitland Public Library’s big screen on Tuesday, June 30, at 2 p.m. Free popcorn will be provided! For more information, call 407-647-7700.

JULY 3

The 2015 Baldwin Park Independence Day Bash will be held on Friday, July 3, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Village Center. The event will begin with a festival that will include an art stroll, interactive children's activities, music, food, and end with a lively fireworks show over Lake Baldwin coordinated with both patriotic and modern music. Open to the public, the Bash last year drew approximately 15,000 people in to the Village Center of Baldwin Park from both within, and outside of the community. The event is currently seeking financial sponsors, community partners, and vendors of all kinds to help us make this event a smashing success! Visit baldwinparkevents.com for more information about the event or to download sponsor/vendor opportunities or contact [email protected] for more details.

It’s that time of year again! Red Hot & Boom is back to celebrate Independence Day at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs. This family-friendly event is presented by the city of Altamonte Springs and XL 106.7, and has the reputation for having the best fireworks show in Central Florida. Come rain or shine to rock out to sizzling musical performances and see impressive fireworks. Live entertainment includes performances by Priory, Ryn Weaver, Rachel Platten, Vance Joy, Andy Grammer and Shaggy. Whether you come for fireworks, music, food or fun, the 20th anniversary is sure to light up your night! Red Hot & Boom is Friday, July 3, from 4 to 11 p.m. Visit UptownAltamonte.com or call 407-571-8180 for details.

JULY 4

Celebrate Independence Day at the Hunter Vision Watermelon 5K, hosted by the Track Shack Foundation. The 5K is Saturday, July 4, at 7 a.m. on Park Avenue. Enjoy fun activities including a family run/walk 5K, a free kids run, and a watermelon-eating contest! Registration discounts are available for youth, seniors and military personnel. To register, visit trackshack.com or call 407-896-1160.

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Park Avenue with this year’s annual Independence Day Open House on Saturday, July 4. The Morse will be open for free from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in conjunction with Winter Park’s Olde Fashioned July 4th Celebration in Central Park—a city tradition that began when the Morse opened the doors of its new Park Avenue galleries on July 4, 1995. The city celebration includes a bicycle parade from City Hall, Clydesdale horse-drawn wagon rides, live patriotic music by the Bach Festival Society Choir and Brass Ensemble and much more. For more information, visit morsemuseum.org or call 407- 645-5311.

JULY 9

Popcorn Flicks returns to Central Park for a showing of “Muscle Beach Party” on Thursday, July 9, at 8 p.m. The event is presented by Winter Park CRA and produced by Enzian Theatre. This film series features classic films for the whole family. Bring a blanket, picnic snacks, and your family and friends! Free popcorn is available for everyone. For more information, call 407-629-0054.

ONGOING

Join the Crealde School of Art at 600 Saint Andrews Blvd. in Winter Park through Aug. 15 to celebrate its 40th anniversary homecoming! View the works of nine Crealde-inspired artists who have moved on to become exhibiting professional artists. These former students exhibit works in various media and share stories of how their artistic careers were influenced through experiences at the school. The exhibit is curated by Barbara Tiffany, director, painting and drawing and curator of exhibitions. The gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit crealde.org

Families are invited to learn how museums build their collections in two free programs for elementary-school-aged children at the Morse Museum in Winter Park from Tuesday, June 30, through Friday, July 31. Home to the world’s largest collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the Museum will offer child-friendly tours on Tuesdays and a film series on Fridays. On Tuesday’s tours – June 30, July 7, 14, 21, and 28 – the program includes “supplies needed for an art project inspired by collecting.” Fridays will include a short film, gallery tour, and art activity inspired by collecting on July 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31. Call 407-645-5311, ext. 136, to reserve a place for you and your child.