Family Calendar

DEC. 5-7

For 37 years, the Rotary Club of Orange County East-Winter Park has sponsored and run the prestigious Tip-Off Classic Invitational high school basketball tournament where potential future NBA stars play and college and pro scouts congregate. The tournament will be held at the Winter Park High School Gymnasium, 2100 Summerfield Road. It started at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4 and runs through Saturday, Dec. 7 with the final game being played at 8:30 p.m. High schools that have earned an invitation to participate this year are: Boone, Oak Ridge, Wekiva, Lake Highland, Lake Howell, Orlando Christian Prep, Evans and Winter Park. This tournament has raised over $925,000 and. after expenses, distributed $625,000 to the local community via charities, the participating schools, and $12,000 college scholarships to deserving “B” students who could not otherwise afford to attend college. Admission into the tournament is $5 or two cans of food. In the past five years over 12,000 cans of food have been collected and given to local charities.

DEC. 5

On Thursday, Dec. 5, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art presents its free annual Christmas in the Park event for the 35th year in downtown Winter Park. The almost two-hour program begins at 6:15 p.m. when the signal will be given to turn on the window lights. The museum will turn Central Park in downtown Winter Park into a gallery without walls and a roof of tree canopy and stars with an outdoor exhibition that has since 2006 included nine illuminated Tiffany windows. This year the esteemed 160-voice Bach Festival Society Choir, accompanied by piano, drums and a 12-member brass ensemble, will give its 28th concert for the event.

Come celebrate the Holidays with Casa Feliz! Our fifth annual holiday open house, “Christmas at the Casa,” will take place Thursday, Dec. 5 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sponsored through a generous grant from Commerce National Bank and Trust in Winter Park, the event will dovetail with the Morse Museum’s “Christmas in the Park.” Guests can have photos taken with Santa, enjoy hot cocoa and cookies, and enjoy the yuletide tunes of the Belles & Bows Quartet. There is no charge to attend “Christmas at the Casa,” but a donation of $2 per person, or $5 per family is suggested. Professional Santa portraits are available for $10. For additional information on any of these or other Casa Feliz events, contact Betsy Owens at 407-628-8196, or [email protected].

DEC. 6

The 24th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by Winter Park Towers will be held on Friday, Dec. 6, beginning at 5 p.m. in Central Park. The event features performances by local children’s choirs, including St. Margaret Mary Catholic School Choir, New Warner Chapel, Park Maitland “Singing Eagles” Glee Club, Winter Park High School’s Belle Chanson Choir and Orlando Harmony. Winners of the Holiday Card Competition will also be recognized and WFTV Channel 9 news anchor Bob Opsahl will join the crowd for the lighting of the tree live on the evening newscast. Afterwards families can enjoy refreshments and activities provided by local businesses, plus visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

DEC. 7

Maitland’s “Season of Light” on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. is a longstanding tradition in our community and we invite you to join us in our holiday celebration. It’s an excellent opportunity to make new holiday memories and share the spirit of the season with family, friends and loved ones. You may even run into Santa Claus! You are invited to stroll around Lake Lily Park and enjoy the holiday food trucks Yum Yum Cupcake, Midnight Sun Icecream Sandwich Company, Philly, All Things Sweet, Tucks Table, and The Big Cheese, as well as gift vendors open for early shopping. The show begins at 3 p.m. with live stage entertainment by the “Outer Toons” and the School of Performing Arts Dancers and strolling entertainment. There will be a tree lighting, Santa Claus, and a fireworks finale. It all starts at 3 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Lake Lily Park.

Winter Park’s 61st annual Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade hits Park Avenue at 9 a.m. on Dec. 7, heading south from Cole Avenue alongside Central Park and ending at Lyman Avenue.

Wake up bright and early the next morning and help turn pancake batter into a stack of dough at the 15th Annual Leadership Winter Park Pancake Breakfast. Join presenting sponsors Fannie Hillman + Associates and Vanson Constructors, plus Leadership Winter Park graduates for a traditional pancake breakfast complete with sausage, coffee, juice and an array of toppings at the Central Park stage. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children and can be purchased in advance at www.winterpark.org, the Winter Park Welcome Center or at the event. Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit six Winter Park area elementary schools to help purchase much-needed supplies for the classroom. Pancakes are served from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Come early, enjoy a hearty breakfast and grab a great seat for the parade!

The Big Bang Bazaar Holiday Spectacular is coming to the Maitland Civic Center at 641 S. Maitland Ave. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday Dec. 7-8. Free swag bags for the first 100 guests each day. Find indie arts, crafts and vintage gear at this eclectic holiday event. Visit bigbangbazaar.net for more information.

The Museum of Military History on Dec 7-8 will host Military Appreciation Weekend by the Museum at Brown's Farm, 4901 Oren Brown Road in Kissimmee. The event will be highlighted by both WWII re-enactments on Saturday and both Civil War and WWII re-enactments on Sunday. Weapon demonstrations will take place prior to the re-enactments. The Civil Air Patrol’s 463rd Cadet Squadron and Kissimmee Sea Cadet units will be at the event to present the colors and participate in competitive events on Sunday. Also on Sunday, a special concert of WWII era music will be presented by the Bahia Dance Band. Food vendors, booths, and children’s activities will be available both days. For more information visit http://museumofmilitaryhistory.com