Calendar

NOV. 21

Join the Park Avenue Merchants Association for a kickoff to the holiday season on Friday, Nov. 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. Stroll Park Avenue and enjoy the holiday globes of light for the first time this season. Local merchants will host an open house to preview the latest gifts, fashions and seasonal menus. Enjoy light refreshments and carolers as you celebrate the holidays on Park. For more information, visit experienceparkavenue.com

NOV. 22

Orlando-area vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday at the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida's annual vegan Thanksgiving dinner potluck, to be held at Mead Gardens on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. The cost is $5 with a vegan dish to share with six to 10 people, and $15 without a dish. Please RSVP to 407-968-2400.

The Winter Park Harvest Festival is a celebration of local farmers, gardeners, chefs and artisans. Enjoy a producer-focused farmers market, demonstrations and workshops, a kids’ activity corner, and lots of tasty treats all to some foot-stomping tunes at the fifth annual event on Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Festival takes place in the West Meadow of Winter Park’s Central Park near the Winter Park Post Office. Visit alocalfolkus.com/WPHF or call 407-702-3473 for more information.

Come out to the Food Truck Fiesta for live music and great food on Saturday, Nov. 22, from noon to 5 p.m. at Lake Baldwin Park. This fun, pet-friendly, family event occurs every fourth Saturday of the month. For more information, please call 407-296-5882 or email at [email protected]

Liz’s Fashion Experience and bébé’s Baby Boutique will host a Holiday Brunch and Fashion Show to benefit Children’s Home Society of Florida on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 10:30 a.m. at Park Plaza Gardens. Aside from the sweet sounds of holiday carolers and a delicious brunch, attendees will enjoy a mother/child fashion show featuring the latest holiday attire, and a visit from Santa Claus. Tickets are on sale at eventbrite.com (search “Holiday Brunch and Fashion Show”) or purchase tickets at Liz’s and Bebe’s in Winter Park. Tickets are $40 each and VIP tables are available for six guests at $300. Please call 407-628-1680 for additional information.

As part of the opening month of the new Dr. Phillips Center, the Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra will join with the Orlando Ballet to re-produce their acclaimed performance of Orff's “Carmina Burana” for one night only on Nov. 22. Vocal soloists Julia Foster, James Hall, and Gabriel Preisser will join the Bach Festival Choir, Youth Choir, and Orchestra on the program. Orlando Ballet’s Director Robert Hill is the choreographer. Call 844-513-2014.

NOV. 23

The Orlando Big Band, a full 18-piece orchestra, is playing a tribute to the Big Band greats from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Central Park Main Stage! Jump and jive to the sounds of the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s and more! Under the direction of Bennett Harmon, music will cover Glen Miller, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Gen Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, The Andrew Sisters, Cab Calloway and many more. For more information, go to orlandobigband.com

The Albin Polasek Museum’s ninth annual three-concert music series features internationally acclaimed violin/viola player Ayako Yonetani and clarinet soloist Julius Klein at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23. Held in the elegant salon of the Polasek residence, concert-goers experience acoustic perfection in an intimate setting. Limited to 50 seats, the performance is followed by a private reception. Cost is $80 for three concert series or $30 per concert for members, and $90 for three concert series or $35 per concert for non-members. For more information, visit polasek.org

NOV. 28

For the 2014 holiday season, the Art & History Museums-Maitland will be presenting an entirely new Christmas exhibition at the historic Waterhouse Residence Museum (built in 1884) from Nov. 28 through Jan. 11. Drawing from the rich context of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” the house will be decorated to showcase Christmas traditions of the past, present, and future, as seen from the view of the Waterhouse family, in each of the three main rooms. This exhibit will be presented as part of “What the Dickens,” a season celebrating the life, works, times, and issues of Charles Dickens, organized by Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs. For more information, visit artandhistory.org

NOV. 30

The city of Winter Park invites you to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra presents its annual Holiday Pops concert in Winter Park’s charming Central Park at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30. The Philharmonic will present a beautiful program of holiday favorites for all ages to enjoy. This free public concert is made possible by the Charlotte Julia Hollander Trust. 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. Bring a blanket and a picnic and get ready for a concert program of holiday favorites that will be sure to put everyone in the spirit of the season.

ONGOING

The Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park loves Christmas so much that it will present four holiday shows this year. The first of which, “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” directed by Wade Hair, will be at the Breakthrough Theatre from Nov. 21 to 30. Call 407-920-4034 for more information.

This holiday season the city of Winter Park is hosting its sixth annual Winter in the Park Holiday Ice Skating Rink in Central Park now through Jan. 11. There’s a little bit of winter inside the tent – no matter the temperature outside. Join the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and Park Avenue Merchants Association as they spread holiday cheer to skaters and spectators starting this Friday. Visit winterpark.org or call 407-644-8281.

“A Christmas Story the Musical” is the classic account of Ralphie’s hilarious quest to ensure that the most perfect gift ends up under his Christmas tree: a Red Ryder Carbine-Action BB Gun! All the cherished moments are here – the Old Man’s leg lamp, the tongue-on-a-frozen-flagpole, the bunny suit are all there – on-stage for us to enjoy as a Tony-nominated Best Musical. Presented through Dec. 28 at Orlando Rep, call 407-896-7365 or visit orlandorep.com for tickets.