Calendar

DEC. 15

Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando will be holding an open house on Dec. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event is free. Light refreshments will be served. The public is invited to tour the new renovations and learn about the many programs and services impacting the lives of neighbors struggling in our community. JFS is located at 2100 Lee Road #A, in Winter Park.

DEC. 17

Kick off the winter season with ice skating and real snow during RDV Snow Fest on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 2 to 6 p.m. at RDV Sportsplex Ice Den. Admission is $15 for ages 3 and up and includes four hours of ice skating, real snow to play in, a snow slide for kids, bounce houses, face painting and plenty of family fun. Hot chocolate and other food and beverages will be available for purchase. For more information, call 407-916-2550.

Enjoy the rich sounds of Christmas as tuba, euphonium, sousaphone and baritone players of all ages gather to perform the annual free Merry Tuba Christmas concert on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Central Park from the main stage beginning at 1 p.m. Registration is $10 for musicians and begins at 9 a.m., with rehearsal running from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more information, please call 407-599-3463.

Come out to the Art & Education Winter Gala from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Henao Contemporary Center, located at 5601 Edgewater Drive in Orlando. The gala will feature speakers and performers who work to change Central Florida for the better. The event features Sylvia Longmire - Ms. Wheelchair USA 2016. The night will also have live jazz, local vendors, prize drawings and an art auction. Semi-formal attire is encouraged and proceeds will benefit the 501(c)(3) PreJax Foundation, a local non-profit awarding $1,000 scholarships to students who have been affected by multiple sclerosis. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/HenaoWinterGala

The Central Florida Ballet's Nutcracker is the “fun” Nutcracker. Taking a hint from local theme parks, Central Florida Ballet merged “The Nutcracker” fairytale with a touch of Cirque and a burst of pyrotechnics creating an unforgettable experience for the whole family. CFB's production was recognized as “one of the top five productions in the nation” by CNN and has become known to many as the “pyrotechnic Nutcracker” thanks to it's coverage in USA Today. In performance at the Orange County Convention Center on Dec. 17 and 18, visit centralfloridaballet.com

DEC. 19

Chill out at the Roth Family JCC with some wintertime fun from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Dec. 19 to 30 at 851 N. Maitland Ave. in Maitland. Your kids will enjoy fun activities with specialty camp providers, awesome counselors, and exciting field trips at the winter edition of Camp J! The cost for Day at the J days are $50 ($40 JCC members) and field trip days are $60 ($50 JCC members). For more information, contact Amanda Dennis at 407-621-4049 or [email protected] or by visiting orlandojcc.org

DEC. 21

Winter Park Presbyterian Church will again host a Service of the Longest Night. The ceremony, held on Dec. 21, is open to all as a reflective and healing time. The tradition of a Service of the Longest Night began centuries ago to coincide with the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. Focus of the worship service centers on the struggle of grief faced by believers even during the celebrations of the Christmas season. The Service of the Longest Night of Winter Park Presbyterian Church will be held in the Delgado Chapel located at 400 Lakemont Ave. in Winter Park on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m.

Bloomingdale’s and the Orlando Downtown Arts District present A very Classical Holiday by Josh Garrick at the Local by Design Gallery at the at Bloomingdale’s at the Mall of Millenia (third floor). An artist book signing runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Come and play a kind of ‘artwork treasure hunt’ and you could win a signed art-book by the artist! The event is free and open to the public. If you wish to become a collector of Josh Garrick’s ‘classical photography,’ call 407-648-7060 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday or 407-415-9511 after 6 p.m.

DEC. 22

Get Your Jazz On runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22, at the Alfond Inn, located at 300 E. New England Ave. Come enjoy a live jazz concert under the stars with unlimited select wine, champagne, beer, spirits and seasonal blended cocktails, roasted chicken, smoked pig, vegetarian selection, cigars and valet parking included with purchase. Tickets are $45. For more information, visit thealfondinn.com/the-hotel/upcoming-events/

DEC. 24

Visit the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art on Saturday, Dec. 24, for the Christmas Eve Open House from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be live music by the Raintree Chamber Players from 1 to 4 p.m. A variety of galleries will be available for viewing all day as well, including works by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

DEC. 25

Join a Chanukah family festival featuring a Grand Menorah Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 25, at 5:30 p.m. in Winter Park’s Central Park. The night will include singing performances by children from the Jewish Community Center, and Jewish Academy, Jewish Rock music and dreidels, chocolate Chanukah gelt, Chassidic dancers, clowns, face painting, light show, comedian ventriloquist and a $1,000 grand prize raffle drawing. Food items will include hot dogs, donuts, chips and drinks.

DEC. 28

The 10th annual Russell Athletic Bowl Parade of Bands will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 28, to celebrate school bands from ACC and Big 12 teams. To introduce the Russell Athletic Bowl game at 5:30 p.m. at the Orlando Camping World Stadium, the school bands, cheerleaders and mascots will march through downtown Winter Park and perform a “Bandtastic Game Day Preview.” The event will begin at 11 a.m. and is free. For more information, call 407-599-3463.

JAN. 7

The Walk n’ Talk for Life aims to encourage community members to engage in fitness that instill a life-long healthy lifestyle. The legacy for pediatric nurse practitioner Tori Sheahan, a consummate caretaker and champion for the health of local youth, will be continued at this walk on Saturday, Jan. 7 at Harbor Park in Baldwin Park. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the walk commences at 9 a.m. Participants can sign up through the Tori Sheahan Walk ‘n Talk for Life fund at foundationforocps.org/ToriSheahanWalk

JAN. 9

The city of Winter Park is proud to present the 16th annual Dinner on the Avenue, a unique, fun-filled dining experience has become the social event of the year. Tables will go on sale Monday, Jan. 9, at 8 a.m. at the Winter Park Community Center located at 721 W. New England Ave. Gather a table of friends, family, co-workers or neighbors to dine under the stars on beautiful Park Avenue. Tables of eight are available for just $125 each. Only the table, white linen tablecloth and chairs are provided – everything else is up to you. Get creative with table set-up and let your appetites decide whether you bring your own potluck dinner or hire a local caterer to satisfy your palate. Creativity is encouraged and each group is challenged to develop its own unique look and individual décor. Awards will be presented to winners in various categories including most colorful, most elegant, most original, best TV/movie-themed and honorable mentions. The judging will begin at 7 p.m. sharp, and awards will be presented once the judges have decided on the winners. For more information, call 407-599-3334.

JAN. 12

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME features artists who redefine the word “extreme” in everything they do, magnifying traditional elements of the circus and combining them with never-before-seen spectacles, original fast-paced performances and incredibly hilarious moments. The multi-year tour offers extreme thrills, exotic animals and extraordinary performers that add up to the ultimate family entertainment experience. Tickets available now for shows Jan. 12 to 16 in Orlando at the Amway Center. Children age 2 by the date of the show and older will require a ticket. The cost of tickets range from $18 to $85. For more information, visit amwaycenter.com

Popcorn Flicks in the Park continues with a free screening of “The Producers” in Winter Park’s Central Park from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12. 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 and join us. Free popcorn for everyone! For more information, call 407-629-0054.

JAN. 14

Join the University Club of Winter Park from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 841 North Park Ave. as accomplished Korean opera soprano Kelly Kim sings both opera arias and Broadway hits accompanied by pianist Holly Small. Her music will include Gounod’s “Ah! Je veux vivre” from “Romeo et Juliette,” Rodgers’ “If I Loved You” from “Carousel,” Donizetti’s “Regnava nel Silenzio” from “Lucia di Lammermoor,” Wright and Forrest’s “And This Is My Beloved” from “Kismet,” Weber’s “Think of Me” from “Phantom of the Opera,” Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro” from “Gianni Schicchi,” and Puccini’s “Quando Men Vo” from “La Boheme.” A $5 donation is encouraged. For more information, call 407-620-0975.

Get a healthy start to the New Year by participating in the fourth race of the Track Shack Running Series, the Park Ave. 5K, at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, in Winter Park’s Central Park. Celebrate the enjoyment of living a fit and healthy lifestyle by participating in this race through beautiful Winter Park! Cost is $33 to $40. For more information, call 407-896-1160.

JAN. 21

Listen to 40 young, classically training singers compete to get the opportunity to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions/Vocal Competition, Florida District. This free event welcomes donations, and will be held at Trinity Preparatory School’s Auditorium, 5700 Trinity Prep Lane, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional details, call 407-922-4688 or email [email protected]

JAN. 26

Our world today is divided, bifurcated between the zero-sum binaries of win/lose, good and evil, either/or, profane and holy. Franciscan activist Richard Rohr invites us to see beyond these social entrapments toward the beauty of paradox, a hopeful horizon of unitive consciousness where everything belongs, at the Gladdening Light Symposium 2017. He will be joined by Haitian surrealist painter Frantz Zephirin. It will begin with an opening reception Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. and will run through Jan. 29. All events will occur within close proximity to downtown Winter Park and Rollins College. The cost is $330 for the entire weekend, although some lectures are priced separately. The Ó Súil-leabháin brothers will give a free performance Saturday at 8 p.m. in Tiedtke Concert Hall on the Rollins College campus. For a complete schedule of events and registration details, call 407-647-3963 or visit gladdeninglight.org

JAN. 27

Come out to “Side by Side: a celebration to pause and honor the gifts of our community” presented by First Congregational Church of Winter Park & Rollins College in partnership with City of Winter Park & Winter Park Chamber of Commerce from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 27 at Knowles Memorial Chapel, located at 1000 Holt Ave. in Winter Park. Enjoy refreshments outside the chapel near the rose garden at 9:30 a.m.

JAN. 29

Olga Kern is recognized as one of her generation’s great pianists, and she’ll be performing at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29 at the Tiedtke Concert Hall in Rollins College.

With her vivid stage presence, passionately confident musicianship, and extraordinary technique, the striking pianist continues to captivate fans and critics alike. She jump-started her U.S. career with her historic Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, the first woman to earn this distinction in more than thirty years. Tickets are between $35 and $55. For more information, call 407-646-2559.

ONGOING

It’s a Christmas spectacular on New Broad Street! The McBride family in Baldwin Park is happy to present its annual light show at their home at 4564 New Broad St. – this year with 30,000 lights. The family is collecting donations – and matching the amount raised by 100 percent – to donate to Audubon Cares, which is an effort by the Audubon Park Elementary School PTA to help students in need at APES and other schools in the greater Orlando community. The display is complete with a snow machine running on Saturday nights, and hot cocoa and cookies for sale on select nights.

Running through Sunday, Jan. 8, the city of Winter Park will host Winter in the Park, the city’s annual holiday ice skating rink at Central Park West Meadow on the corner of New York Avenue and Morse Boulevard. Winter in the Park will be open Monday through Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m.; Friday, 3 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. See website for extended school holiday hours. All-day admission is $12 and includes skate rentals. Group discounts are available for 20 or more people. Rental options are available, though reservations are required for private parties. For more information, call 407-599-3203 or visit cityofwinterpark.org/witp

The Florida Blue Center at 434 N. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park has several ongoing classes. Tai Chi classes are every Monday at 3:30 p.m. Zumba classes are every Wednesday at 6 p.m. For more information, call 407-441-2020.

Come join a six-week horticulture program with
lectures, demonstrations, and participation starting in January 2017 at the Orlando Garden Club, located at 710 E. Rollins Street in Orlando. Attend one program or all six! Units two, three, four and six are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is
$90 for six classes or $20 for individual classes. To sign up or to receive a list of the classes offered, email [email protected]