Free & cheap winter events in Orlando

If you are a resident of the Orlando area, or are enjoying a vacation in this part of Florida, the winter season offers a wide assortment of festivals, art walks, entertainment and other things to do in January, February and March. Most of the events we’ve listed here are free or relatively inexpensive. You may also be interested in our list of the Top 10 free things to do in Orlando.

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January

January 6 – April 22 Art with LEGO bricks, Leu Gardens, $5 – $10
January 11 Alive After 5 street party with live entertainment, local artists and food and beer. Second Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., 230 East First Street, downtown Sanford, free
January 11 Thornton 2nd Thursday Wine & Art Walk, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. second Thursdays, live entertainment and art vendors in the Thornton Park District, 617 E. Central Blvd., Orlando 32801. $15 cash for glass & map of businesses offering tastings, 407-701-9382
January 12 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music. Downtown Winter Garden. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., free
January 12 Art & Music in the Park and Food Truck Bazaar, Casselberry Lake Concord Park, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., free entry
January 13 Science Night Live Orlando Science Center, $15.95 per adult 21+
January 13, 20 & 27 Winter Music Series Lakeridge Winery Clermont, free
January 18-20 World Quilt Florida, $13 general admission, Orange County Convention Center
January 15 Unity Heritage Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Winter Park
January 18-21 Lake Apopka Birding Festival. Field trips & speakers presented by Orange Audubon Society. Free, but there are some fees for add-on events.
January 19 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music. Downtown Winter Garden. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., free
January 20 Sanford Art Walk, third Saturday of the month, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 230 E. First St., Sanford 32771, 407-302-2586, free
January 20 Sanford Food Truck Fiesta, third Saturday of each month, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Second Street and Palmetto Avenue, Sanford, free admission
January 20 Camellia Show and Festival, Mead Botanical Garden, Winter Park, free
Event postponed January 25 Artway To Haven, live jazz and local artists, fourth Thursdays, free entry, food and beverages for purchase, 5463 Gateway Village Circle, Orlando 32812
January 26 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music. Downtown Winter Garden. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., free

February

Now – April 22, Art with LEGO bricks, Leu Gardens, $5 – $10
February 1 1^st Thursdays at Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, $15, free for members, 407-896-4231 ext. 221
February 2 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music. Downtown Winter Garden. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. free
February 2 First Friday Festival Baldwin Park Sidewalk festival with artisans and vendors, family friendly and pet friendly, first Fridays 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., 4990 New Broad Street, Orlando 32814, 407-442-2666, free
February 3-4 Orlando International Guitar & Music Expo Central Florida Fairgrounds
February 3-4 Mount Dora Arts Festival, free
February 3 & 4 Museums on Us, free entry to participating museums for Bank of America & Merrill Lynch credit card and debit card. First full weekend of most months.
February 7 WineArt Wednesdays at Downtown Lake Mary, 101 N. Fourth St., Lake Mary, includes food trucks, live entertainment, beer and wine garden, 407-486-8478, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. first Wednesdays, free entry
February 8 Alive After 5 street party with live entertainment, local artists and food and beer. Second Thursdays 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., 230 East First Street, downtown Sanford, free
February 8 Thornton 2nd Thursday Wine & Art Walk, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. second Thursdays, live entertainment and art vendors in the Thornton Park District, 617 E. Central Blvd., Orlando 32801. $15 cash for glass & map of businesses offering tastings, 407-701-9382
February 8-11 Love Your Shorts Film Festival, Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, Sanford
February 9-11 28th Annual Winefest Lakeridge Winery Clermont, $10 for adults, free for 12 and under
February 9-11 Orlando Home and Garden Show. $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and retired military with ID, free for 16 and younger and military with ID.
February 9-18 Oceola County Fair at Osceola Heritage Park. Kissimmee. $5 for adults, $3 ages 5 to 11 and seniors, and free for kids 4 and younger
February 9 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music, Downtown Winter Garden, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. free
February 9 & 10 2018 BBQ Blast Apopka
February 16-17 Mount Dora Music Festival, tickets start at $25
February 17 Orlando Wetlands Festival, Fort Christmas Historical Park, 407-568-1706, free
February 17 Sanford Food Truck Fiesta, third Saturday of each month, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Second Street and Palmetto Avenue, Sanford, free admission
February 18 Blues B-Q downtown Orlando, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m., free admission
Event postponed February 22 Artway To Haven, live jazz and local artists, fourth Thursdays, free entry, food and beverages for purchase, 5463 Gateway Village Circle, Orlando 32812
February 23 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music. Downtown Winter Garden. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. free
February 23-25 Eustis Georgefest, celebrating George Washington’s birthday, free entry

March

Now – April 22, Art with LEGO bricks, Leu Gardens, $5 – $10
March 1 1^st Thursdays at Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, $15, free for members, 407-896-4231 ext. 221
March 1-March 18 Central Florida Fair, 4603 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, 32808
March 2 First Friday Festival Baldwin Park Sidewalk festival with artisans and vendors, family friendly and pet friendly, first Fridays 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., 4990 New Broad Street, Orlando 32814, 407-442-2666, free
March 2 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music, Downtown Winter Garden, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. free
March 2 Culture Pop! Art 31: Fiber, Art & History Museums Maitland, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., $7 in advance
March 3-4 Festival of The Arts, Lake Mary, 407-585-1421
March 3-4 Museums on Us, free entry to participating museums for Bank of America & Merrill Lynch credit card and debit card. First full weekend of most months.
March 7 WineArt Wednesdays at Downtown Lake Mary, 101 N. Fourth St., Lake Mary, includes food trucks, live entertainment, beer and wine garden, 407-486-8478, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. first Wednesdays, free entry
March 8 Alive After 5 street party with live entertainment, local artists and food and beer. Second Thursdays 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., 230 East First Street, downtown Sanford, free
March 8 Thornton 2nd Thursday Wine & Art Walk, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. second Thursdays, live entertainment and art vendors in the Thornton Park District, 617 E. Central Blvd., Orlando 32801. $15 cash for glass & map of businesses offering tastings, 407-701-9382
March 9 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music, Downtown Winter Garden, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. free
March 16 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music, Downtown Winter Garden, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. free
March 16-18 Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in Central Park and on Park Avenue in Winter Park, 407-644-7207, free admission
March 17 Sanford Art Walk, third Saturday of the month, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 230 E. First St., Sanford 32771, 407-302-2586, free
March 17 Sanford Food Truck Fiesta, third Saturday of each month, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Second Street and Palmetto Avenue, Sanford, free admission
March 17 Orlando Caribbean Festival, Central Florida Fair, tickets start at $30
March 17-18 Mount Dora Spring Fest, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., free admission
Event postponed March 22 Artway To Haven, live jazz and local artists, fourth Thursdays, free entry, food and beverages for purchase, 5463 Gateway Village Circle, Orlando 32812
March 23 & 24 UCF-Orlando Jazz Festival , free for UCF students, $5 for other students, $20 for public, University of Central Florida, 407-823-2869
March 23 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music, Downtown Winter Garden, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. free
March 23-25 Wine & Seafood Festival Lakeridge Winery Clermont, $10 for adults, free for kids 12 and under
March 24 Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival, Deland, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., free entry & free parking
March 24-25 Uptown Art Expo, Altamonte Springs, free entry and free parking
March 24 Kowtown Festival in Kissimmee, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., free admission
March 30 Fridays on the Plaza. Live music, Downtown Winter Garden, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. free
March 31 Spring Jazz & Art Festival.6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lake Concord Park, Casselberry, free