Winter Park City Talk

Thanksgiving wishes

As the holiday rush begins, I hope that each of us will make time this season to reflect upon the many things we have for which to be thankful. On behalf of the city staff, I wish each and every resident a very happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for your continued support as we work hard every day to make Winter Park the place you call home. Please take time this season to gather with family, friends and loved ones to enjoy some of the wonderful annual events we have planned for you. Warmest wishes to each of you for Thanksgiving filled with many blessings.

Commission meeting

There will be a City Commission meeting on Monday, Nov. 28, at 3:30 p.m. in City Hall Commission Chambers. Click here to view the agenda.

Ice rink is open

Bring out your mittens, hats and scarves! The Winter in the Park holiday ice-skating rink in Central Park West Meadow is officially open! The West Meadow is located at 150 N. New York Ave. on the corner of Morse Boulevard and New York Avenue in downtown Winter Park.

Hours include:

• Monday thru Thursday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Friday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.

• See website for extended school holiday hours.

Snow angels are invited to skate all day for only $10 per skater (skate rental included). For a blizzard of 20 or more people, some cool group discounts are available for all this frigid fun. If you are interested in bringing your whole igloo to celebrate birthdays, special events, private parties or corporate holiday gatherings, the rink is available for rental opportunities. Advance reservations are required for private party and group reservations to avoid an icy avalanche of skaters at the rink.

Holiday music, festivities and so much more will flurry around you as you enjoy Winter in the Park. For more information, please call 407-599-3203 or you can visit www.cityofwinterpark.org.

Holiday Pops

The city of Winter Park and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra invite you to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season at their annual Holiday Pops concert, “Home for the Holidays” on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 4 p.m., in charming Central Park. This free public concert is made possible by the Charlotte Julia Hollander Trust. Bring a blanket and picnic for a concert program that has become a family tradition in Central Florida.

Conductor Albert-George Schram will lead the Philharmonic in a beautiful program of holiday favorites for all ages featuring the Holiday Singers, and the Florida Youth Program Singers under the direction of Robin Jensen. The program includes instrumentals such as “Chanukah Overture,” “A Brassy Holiday” and “Bassoon It Will Be Christmas,” and vocal selections including, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!” featuring Holiday Singer baritone JC Fullerton, “A Musicological Journey Through the Twelve Days of Christmas,” featuring the Holiday Singers, and “Let There Be Peace on Earth” featuring the Florida Opera Youth.

In the spirit of the season, audience members are encouraged to bring non-perishable, canned or dry food items to help restock the pantries at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Over the past 10 years, the orchestra has helped collect more than 3,600 pounds of food for families in Central Florida.

For more information regarding this special performance, please contact the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at 407-896-6700, ext. 223. For more information about the orchestra and its programs, please call the box office at 407-770-0071 or visit www.orlandophil.org.

Matching Grants

The City of Winter Park Neighborhood Council is currently accepting matching grant applications through Monday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. Eligible grant applicants include neighborhood, homeowner and condominium associations that are interested in completing beautification and enhancement projects, neighborhood studies, master planning, decorative street sign poles, or park and playground improvements. The matching grant program offers up to $4,000 in matching funds for such enrichment activities.

The Neighborhood Council Matching Grant program was first established by the City Commission in 1998 to support the efforts of neighborhood organizations and improve the quality of life in Winter Park residential neighborhoods. Projects must take place within the boundaries of and provide a communal benefit to the neighborhood.

Grant eligibility details, requirement information and applications are available on the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org under Residents > Neighborhoods. Applications can be submitted to the city’s Planning Department. Additional questions or concerns regarding the Neighborhood Council Matching Grand program may be directed to 407-599-3498.

Upcoming Holiday Events

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art continues their holiday tradition with the 33rd annual Christmas in the Park Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 1. The two-hour program begins at 6:15 p.m. For more information, please call 407-645-5311.

To compliment the annual Christmas in the Park Celebration, Friends of Casa Feliz will present Christmas at the Casa on Thursday, Dec. 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Casa Feliz located at 656 North Park Avenue. For more information, please call 407-628-8200.

On Friday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m., the festivities continue in Central Park with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Stroll presented by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please call 407-644-8281.

In conjunction with the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Stroll on Friday, Dec. 2, the City of Winter Park and Enzian Theater will present Popcorn Flicks in Central Park featuring “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” and “A Christmas Story” beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, please call

407-629-0054.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, Park Avenue comes to life at 9 a.m. with the 59th annual “Ye Olde Hometown” Christmas Parade, presented by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please call 407-644-8281.

Before and after the Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 3, Leadership Winter Park Class 22 will host the 13th annual Leadership Winter Park Pancake Breakfast at the Central Park main stage from

7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Enjoy breakfast for $6 per adult and $4 per child, with proceeds benefiting Winter Park area elementary schools. For more information, please call 407-644-8281.

On Saturday, Dec. 10, the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens will become the official judging and viewing site for the eighth annual Winter Park Boat Parade & Festival of Lights including a water ski show on Lake Virginia near Rollins College. This free event will begin at dusk and parking fees will apply. For more information, please call 407-647-6294.

Enjoy the rich sounds of Christmas as tuba, euphonium, sousaphone and baritone at Winter Park’s 16th annual Merry Tuba Christmas. This FREE concert from the main stage in Central Park begins at 1 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 17. For more information, please call 407-599-3463.

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art will hold a FREE Christmas Eve Open House on Saturday, Dec. 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call 407-645-5311.

Chabad of Greater Orlando will present Chanukah on the Park on Sunday, December 25, at

5 p.m., in Central Park. For more information, please call 407-644-2500.

To wrap up the holiday season with a bright red bow on top, the City of Winter Park will proudly host the 5th annual Champs Sports Bowl® Parade of Bands on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 11 a.m. For more information, please call 407-599-3463.

Visit the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.