Calendar

DEC. 24

In a community-minded spirit of the season, the Morse Museum hosts several open houses throughout the year with free admission for all visitors on those days. On Thursday, Dec. 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors to the museum receive free admission to the galleries all day. Adding to the celebration is live music by the Raintree Chamber Players from 1 to 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 407-645-5311 or visit morsemuseum.org

DEC. 29

The city of Winter Park will host the ninth annual Russell Athletic Bowl Parade of Bands on Dec. 29. As a prelude to the Russell Athletic Bowl game at 5:30 p.m., the school bands, cheerleaders and mascots will march through downtown Winter Park, performing a “Bandtastic Game Day Preview.” The parade will start at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Park and Lyman avenues. Participants will proceed to Central Park, where they will perform a free concert. For more information, call 407-423-2476.

DEC. 31

Aloma Bowling Centers are ready to usher in the New Year in style! Join the celebration for affordable New Year's Eve group packages that will bowl you over! Daytime and nighttime packages are available. Bring your friends and your A-game for a strikingly fun wrap-up to 2015. Starting at just $50 for up to four guests, Aloma Bowl Winter Park's daytime offer includes 90 minutes of bowling, shoe rental, pizza, soda, discounted gaming cards and a balloon drop with prizes totaling $1,000 (including free bowling for a year). The nighttime package includes cosmic bowling, a champagne toast, party favors and live music from The Fabulous CT's. Individual bowlers are welcome to join the fun as well. Special pricing is available for individuals and larger groups. Space is limited. Reserve your party today by calling 407-384-0003, prompt 1, or emailing [email protected].

The Alfond Inn will host its third annual New Year’s Eve Gala beginning at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31. The event will be held in the Park Avenue Ballroom and feature The Buzzcatz, a nine-piece band hailed as Orlando’s best. This year the Alfond Inn opens its New England Ballroom for the “Chic” New Year’s Eve Party, Midnight & Beyond. Price will include open premium bar, passed hors d'oeuvres, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Doors open at 10 p.m. and stay open until 1 a.m. For more information and to make reservations, call 407-645-6604.

JAN. 3

The public is invited to the Orlando Area Historical Rose Society’s Jan. 3 meeting to hear a talk, “From the Ground Up: Growing Antique Roses in Central Florida.” The speakers, Master Gardeners Howard Jeffries and Pat LaClaire, will draw on their years of experience in teaching the importance of proper soil preparation and plant selection of America’s favorite flower: the rose. Specimens of locally grown old garden roses will help the attendees appreciate the beauty these historical old garden favorites. The meeting begins at 2:30 p.m. at in the Harry P. Leu Garden’s Orchid Room located in the main building. The Harry P. Leu Garden is located at 1920 N. Forest Ave. in Orlando. Doors open at 2 p.m. For directions, call 407-246-2620. For further information about the program, call 407-497-1639. The meeting is free and includes refreshments.

JAN. 4

The city of Winter Park will host its 15th annual Dinner on the Avenue on April 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. Tables will go on sale Jan. 4 at 8 a.m. in the Winter Park Community Center, located at 721 W. New England Ave. Dine under the stars with a group of eight for $125 a table. The city will provide the table, white linen cloth and chairs, but everything else is limited only by your creativity. Whether you want to bring your own potluck dinner or make it a catered meal is your call. For more information, visit CityOfWinterPark.org/dinner or call 407-643-1613.

JAN. 7

The Orange County Retired Educators Association will meet on Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. in the College Park United Methodist Church located at 644 W. Princeton St. An Elder Ambassadors Program will be presented by the Orange County Commission on Aging at the event. Anyone who has worked in education is invited to join. For more information, call 407-677-0446 for more information.

The Asbury United Methodist Church will be hosting a three-day rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, and Friday, Jan. 8, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9, at their location at 220 W. Horatio Ave. in Maitland. For more information, call 407-644-5222 or visit asburyumc.com

JAN. 14

Come out to Central Park in Winter Park for a free outdoor screening of “The Public Enemy” from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, at Popcorn Flicks in the Park. Presented by Winter Park CRA and produced by Enzian Theater. This film series features classic films for the whole family. Bring a blanket, a picnic or snacks, and some family and friends! Free popcorn is available for everyone. For more information, call 407-629-0054.

JAN. 16

A Vision Winter Park workshop was held in August asking for ideas of how to make Winter Park a better place. The Goodwin family presented a game concept to bring people together that ultimately evolved into a citywide game night. Ages 10 and up will get the opportunity to join in a compelling evening of board games such as Monopoly, Ticket To Ride, Catan, Carcassonne and Machi Koro from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Winter Park Community Center, located at 721 W. New England Ave. For card players, forget about Go Fish or Uno, try your hand of YuGiOh, Pokemon, and Magic the Gathering. Advanced players can take a turn with Splendor, Takenoko, and Betrayal at House on the Hill. For more information, call 407-623-3337.

JAN. 17

Residents and local businesses will come together to celebrate the city of Winter Park’s 14th annual Unity Heritage Festival on Sunday, Jan 17, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Monday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Shady Park in Winter Park. The annual festival will promote family history and raise funds for the Educational Fulfillment Fund for local economically disadvantaged youth. Activities will include children’s games, food and retail vendors, entertainment by various gospel artists, and the presentation of the annual Heritage Award. For more information on this free event, call 407-599-3275.

JAN. 23

Share Fair Nation Orlando, a free, family-friendly event geared toward STEM majors, will take place on Jan. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the UCF College of Education and Human Performance. Participants can take part in hands-on workshops about educational methods using technology through STEMosphere, an expo of interactive STEM projects. Professional development opportunities at the event abound for educators.

Florida Hospital invites you to kick off the New Year with Season 52 Park Ave. 5.2K on Jan. 23 at 7:30 a.m. Run in Winter Park to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and the Track Shack Foundation. Kids run for free. The run will start in Central Park, located at 251 N. Park Ave. For more information, call 407-896-1160 or visit TrackShack.com.

ONGOING

The city of Winter Park’s annual holiday ice skating rink, Winter in the Park, will be open through Jan. 10. Presented by the Community Redevelopment Agency, the rink is located at 150 N. New York Ave. on the corner of New York Avenue and Morse Boulevard. Skating hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $12 for the day, including skate rental. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. The rink is also available for rental opportunities with a reservation. Holiday movies, music and games will be offered throughout the event’s run. For more information, call 407-599-3203 or visit CityOfWinterPark.org/witp