Windermere Rotary Club offers slice of good life at Spring Fest

IF YOU GO

Windermere Spring Fest 2015

WHEN: Friday, April 17, to Sunday, April 19

WHERE: Pines at Windermere, 3409 Maguire Road

INFO: windermereevents.com

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If you live the life of luxury — or you’d like to experience it for a weekend — the Rotary Club of Windermere invites you to its luxury lakefront lifestyle festival, Windermere Spring Fest 2015. The event is Friday, April 17, though Sunday, April 19, at the Pines at Windermere, 3409 Maguire Road. 

Friday night is a ticketed event. Through the support of Spring Fest sponsors and exhibitors, admission on both Saturday and Sunday is free. 

The family-friendly event will provide three days of lakeside fun, food and live entertainment. Major Orlando sports teams and local corporations and non-profit organizations will be in attendance. 

EVENING OF CULTURE

Guests are invited to an evening of culture from 5-9 Friday, April 17, and the chance to mingle with the “Who’s Who” of Windermere. An art cocktail reception runs from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by a full lineup of gourmet food prepared fresh by local celebrity chefs, spirits and live entertainment.

The Rotary has partnered with Darden Restaurants to present a variety of delicious foods from some of their favorite restaurants. Guests will also enjoy a variety of crab specialties from one of Orlando’s newest specialty food purveyors, Willy T’s Crab Shack. Also included in the $100 ticket price is a selection of beer and wine. Onli Sparkling Beverages is providing a flavored sparkling water bar.

All proceeds will benefit selected local charities, including Edgewood Children’s Ranch, Freedom Ride, Home at Last, Health Central Hospital, Shepherd’s Hope and Nehrling Gardens.

Plus, each paid ticket will be eligible for a $1,000 raffle drawing held during the event. 

Tickets are $100 each or $75 each for orders of eight or more. For tickets and more information, visit windermereevents.com. Attire is casual lakefront.

STUDENT ART SHOW

The Rotary Club is holding its annual student art show from 5-9 p.m. Friday. The show will highlight Central Florida student artists and showcase their creative works ranging from paintings to sculptures. Local public and private schools entered, and the winners will be set up all weekend for the festival in the interior Art Zone Exhibit Hall. 

Participants are students from Dr. Phillips, Olympia and West Orange high schools; Foundation Academy, The First Academy, Windermere Prep; Bridgewater and Southwest middle schools; Windy Ridge School; and Citrus, Dr. Phillips, Sunset Park, Thornebrooke and Windermere elementaries.

Paula Abney is the 2015 program director for the Rotary’s annual student art competition. This juried event will be judged by local artists, and cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded. The school represented by the winning student will receive a gift card.    

TWO DAYS OF LUXURY

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, a diverse range of Central Florida businesses will exhibit the latest luxury toys, provide product demonstrations, giveaway prizes and more.

At the festival’s lifestyle engagement areas, visitors are invited to upgrade their health, home and recreation, using insider tips from local experts. Saturday and Sunday will include a schedule of live music, many foods, lakeside activities, children’s entertainment and playground access. Prizes will be up for grabs all weekend.

Join the Orlando Magic, Orlando City Soccer Club, Central Florida Zoo and a list of musicians, artists and luxury-toy vendors.

The Sports Zone is an interactive environment designed to get fans excited about Central Florida’s sports teams. This will be a one-stop shopping area for tickets sales, activities, merchandise and a chance to meet cheerleaders, players and mascots.

Guests can practice their shots at the inflatable ski ball machine and basketball hoop with the Orlando Magic and practice their kicking with Orlando City Soccer Club’s signature giant inflatable goal. Kingston, the official Orlando City Soccer Club mascot, will be there, too.

The Central Florida Zoo will visit from noon to 2 p.m., and families are invited to stop by the Zoo Zone.