Josh Garrick: Culture for your Calendar

Aug. 26 – ‘Minions’ is the final free MoviEola film of the summer

The final free outdoor movie in Orlando’s Lake Eola Park begins at 6 p.m. with activities and music from Mix 105.1. That’s a good thing, because this time you’ll want to arrive early to secure your spot, because everyone loves Minions. Bring the family, some blankets or chairs, and a banana or two to enjoy pre-show activities with the movie beginning promptly at 8:15 p.m. Call 407-246-4484 or visit cityoforlando.net/parks/movieola

Aug. 26 & 27 – CFCArts Choir presents ‘Sondheim, Gershwin, & Porter - Oh My!’

On Aug. 26 and 27 the CFCArts Community Choir will present some of the most legendary works of America’s greatest Broadway composers. Enjoy "Someone to Watch Over Me” and "Summertime" by George Gershwin; relive the beauty of the classic "Night and Day" by Cole Porter; and experience the melodic complexities of Stephen Sondheim. “Sondheim, Gershwin, & Porter – Oh, My!” will be presented on both evenings at 7:30 p.m. at Central Christian Church at 250 S.W. Ivanhoe Blvd. in Orlando. Advance tickets are $10. Children age 12 under are admitted free. Call 407-937-1800, ext. 710, or visit cfcommunityarts.com.

Aug. 26 & 27 – McRae artists – 18 years of art – on sale

Think of it as the biggest fine art garage sale ever. After 18 years in Winter Park, McRae Art Studios, Central Florida’s oldest art studio complex, will hold a giant moving sale before relocating to a new home. All of the 22 artists in the group will offer original art, including paintings, photographs, mixed media, jewelry, and ceramics at reduced prices, and they will also sell art equipment, tools, furniture, art books and music CDs as well. This is a golden opportunity to add an original piece of art to your collection and help out some local artists at the same time. The sale runs from 8 a.m. to noon. Visit mcraeartstudios.com or call 407-599-9956.

Aug. 26 & 27 – The second annual Mount Dora Village Market Seafood Festival

The waterfront in Elizabeth Evans Park is the site for the second annual family friendly Seafood Festival in Mount Dora. Created to bring awareness to the park’s open-air farmers market, now in its second year, the Festival is expanding with more exhibitors and food vendors and adding a “Pirate” theme to the event. The menu lists every kind of seafood you can imagine with items from a raw bar of fresh Gulf oysters to low country boil to lobster tacos to gator-on-a-stick priced from $8 and up. Visit visitmountdora.com/seafoodfest

Aug. 26 to 28 & Sept. 2 to 4 – Free ‘Sandtastic Weekends’ at the Swan and Dolphin

It’s a new way to feel the sand beneath your toes as the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts host two ‘Sandtastic Weekends’ with beach activities for all ages. The event highlight is 100 tons of intricately sculpted sand designed by world-class sculptors on the Swan and Dolphin’s private beach. Guests may watch the masterpieces being created, learn techniques of sand sculpting, and compete in an amateur sculpture contest. The fun includes food, games on the beach, a DJ, a campfire and s’mores! Overnight accommodations and a full Sandtastic schedule are available at sandtasticweekends.com or by calling 800-227-1500. The events are free and open to the public.

Aug. 27– Taste of the Nation – Orlando

Taste of the Nation brings together the area's top chefs who donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger in Central Florida. Along with unlimited samplings of extraordinary food, guests sample select wines while enjoying auctions and entertainment. We need to do something about the horrific statistic that one in five children in Central Florida goes to bed hungry. Please know that every dollar raised fights hunger and homelessness in Central Florida. Tickets are $150. Visit tasteofthenation.org/orlando and/or facebook.com/OrlandoTaste. We can all buy a ticket and help.

Aug. 28 – ‘The Three Baritones’ perform in opera series

Three Baritones – Gabriel Preisser, Nathan Stark and Bryan Myer – will share the bill at the University Club in Winter Park on Aug. 28. Brian James Myer joins the resident ensemble at Opera San Jose during the 2016-2017 season, and is also a published composer. Praised by the Washington Post as having a voice of "unearthly power," bass-baritone Nathan Stark has performed on stages including the Metropolitan, Cincinnati, and Atlanta operas. Acclaimed by The New York Times and Opera News, Opera Orlando’s own Gabriel Preisser has performed lead roles for Minnesota, San Antonio, Philadelphia and Cincinnati and in a national broadcast on PBS. You’ve seen the “Three Tenors.” Imagine that concept translated for men with deep voices. For tickets, please visit operaorlando.org.

Aug. 31– Baritone Gabriel Preisser (solo this time) at University Club

The ultra-busy (see above) lyric baritone/opera star Gabriel Preisser (he’s also Opera Orlando’s executive director) will sing opera arias at the University Club of Winter Park's Classical Music Series, accompanied by pianist and opera baritone Chevalier Lovett. A 2016 League of American Orchestras Emerging Artist, Preisser has been praised by Opera News and The New York Times for a resume that includes more than 40 operatic and musical theater roles, including Danilo in “The Merry Widow,” Figaro in “The Barber of Seville,” and Escamillo in “Carmen.” His performance as Lt. Gordon with Minnesota Opera was broadcast nationally on PBS. The performance begins at 1 p.m. Visit operaorlando.org or email [email protected]

Sept. 1 to Sept. 5 – Allstate and Tom Joyner celebrate family during Labor Day weekend

Tom Joyner, host of the nationally syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” will return to the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee over Labor Day weekend to celebrate family. Families from all over the country will join Joyner and friends for a weekend of stellar concerts and activities featuring Jill Scott and El DeBarge, Masters of Funk Brick, The Bar-Kays, Switch, and Steve Arrington. In addition celebrity sightings, seminars and activities for all ages will be free inside the expo. Concert tickets, from $29 to $69.50 may be purchased at FamilyReunion.BlackAmericaWeb.com

Sept. 2, 3 & 4 – Disney On Ice presents ‘Follow Your Heart’

While bringing Disney•Pixar’s record-breaking animated feature “Finding Dory” to the ice for the first, this live ice skating extravaganza also features Disney’s “Frozen” and other beloved Disney stories for six performances at the Amway Center. Swim with Dory and Nemo and join Olaf and Kristoff in reuniting the royal sisters Anna and Elsa. See Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana and Disney princesses make their dreams come true as your whole family makes unforgettable memories with Mickey, Minnie and all of your Disney friends as you “Follow Your Heart” into Orlando. Tickets at $18 to $100 are at amwaycenter.com, Amway Center box office, Ticketmaster, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Sept. 2 and 3 – The Sunburst Convention of Celebrity Impersonators

Imagine Marilyn, Madonna, Elvis, Cher, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Joan Rivers, Lucy, Lady Gaga, Janis Joplin, G.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger and over 100 other icons of the past and present gathered together in one celebrity-watching convention. That is exactly what you’ll see at the 14th annual Sunburst Convention of Celebrity Impersonators at The Florida Hotel & Conference Center at The Florida Mall in Orlando. This year we are invited to attend the talent showcases where the impersonators entertain, plus we can have our picture taken with our favorite ‘celebs.’ Tickets are $25 at the door, but Sunburst is supporting the OneOrlando Fund by donating 50 percent of each ticket to the Fund when you use the promo code OrlandoUnited by purchasing advance tickets at SunburstConvention.com

Sept. 4 – Tenor Adam Diegel sings opera in the park

As part of the series from Opera Orlando, tenor Adam Diegel, accompanied by pianist Robin Stamper, will perform at 2 p.m. on Sept. 4 at the University Club in Winter Park. "This series has been an opera lovers dream and audience favorite for years," says Executive Director Gabe Preisser. "It brings unique programming by world renowned artists into an up-close-and-personal setting.” Visit operaorlando.org

Sept. 7 to Oct. 9 – ‘West Side Story’ opens Orlando Shakes season

The most famous of the contemporary “Romeo and Juliet” stories finds idealistic young lovers Maria and Tony caught between rival street gangs. Their struggle to love and survive in a world of hatred and violence is one of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching, and relevant musical dramas of all time. Based on the original concept by Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story's Latin and classical-inspired score features the treasured songs "Maria," "Tonight," and "America." Highly recommended. Visit orlandoshakes.org

Sept. 11 – One Voice – Opera’s response to the Pulse tragedy in Orlando

“One Voice Orlando: A Celebration in Song,” set for Sept. 11, is the benefit concert from the opera community in response to the Pulse tragedy in Orlando. The performance will take place in Orlando’s magnificent Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. “National stars and musicians have joined in this outpouring of support and generosity for the victims, their families and those directly impacted by this horrific shooting,” said Gabriel Preisser, executive director of Opera Orlando. “Internationally-renowned David Charles Abell will conduct and legendary baritone Sherrill Milnes will be one of the evening’s hosts.” All performers are donating their services to maximize the funds going to the beneficiaries. Tickets at $25 to $125 are available at operaorlando.org or by calling 844-513-2014.