The Orlando Real - The Orlando Real

Universal's Holiday Parade Featuring Macy's

by Jessica Hristov

Did you know you don’t have to travel to New York City to see a big Macy’s holiday parade? That’s right – you can go right to Universal Orlando! Want even better news? It doesn’t last for one day like the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade – you can catch it every day from November 12, 2022, until January 1, 2023 - only a couple weeks left! Here is everything you need to know about Universal’s Holiday Parade! 

Image by Universal Orlando

General Info

Universal’s Holiday Parade happens every day from November 12, 2022, until January 1, 2023. Most days the parade will start at 5:30 pm unless the park closes at 6pm, in which case the parade starts at 5pm. The parade lasts for about a half hour and is always held at the…

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Oh, What Fun! Festival in Lake Nona

by Kismet Kohn

In the center of Lake Nona lies a little piece of the North Pole when the Christmas season begins! Every holiday season, Lake Nona puts on Oh, What Fun!, a free holiday festival filled with activities, food, drinks, entertainment, and a holiday market. As if that isn’t enough to entice you, right down the street there’s a Christmas tree farm where you can pick out your perfect tree. Oh, What Fun! occurs every day from December 7th to December 24th, and every weekend features a different special event the whole family can participate in!

Christmas in Florida

Oh, What Fun! is the perfect event to go to if you’re craving that winter atmosphere that’s usually difficult to get in Florida. With fake snow, dazzling lights, and Santa…

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Lights On Jeater Bend

by Marissa Potts

All the lights are shining so brightly everywhere on Jeater Bend! Located in Celebration, this is the spot to go this Christmas season for beautiful Christmas lights set to classic Christmas tunes. Don’t miss it this year as this is the last year that Jeater Bend will be hosting their Christmas festivities! 

History of the Lights

The Lights on Jeater Bend began when one creator had the idea to create a spectacular light display on his home. In 2010, this vision came to fruition in their first year. Over the years, more homes have joined in to add to the show.

The creator was inspired to create a light show that was free for families to enjoy. They have collected donations for charity every year but the goal was to provide…

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Miracle On Orange

by Marissa Potts

Get ready for some eggnog and some Christmas cheer at Miracle on Orange located in Winter Park! Hosted by The Courtesy, Miracle on Orange is a pop up Christmas bar that happens all throughout the country in select restaurants and bars. 

Atmosphere

This was my fourth year partaking in a Miracle bar event, and it gets better and better each year. My first two years I went to locations in Atlanta, and was so sad when I moved to Orlando because I wasn’t sure if there would be any here! Lo and behold, The Courtesy was the perfect place to host the Christmas festivities! Last year, Miracle on Orange was held at The Courtesy’s Downtown location, hence the name. This year, The Courtesy has moved to a bigger location in Winter Park,…

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Bacon Bitch

by Yasmene Warren

As Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok” booms through the speakers at Orlando’s “Bacon Bitch,” Alyssa J., 19, approaches the table exclaiming, “Hey bitches!” Being called a “bitch” by your server certainly isn’t at the top of your list of quality customer service, but at Bacon Bitch, it’s the highest form of compliment you can receive.

Where is it?

On Aug. 26, Orlando became home to the Bacon Bitch franchise’s fourth restaurant in Florida. Originating in Miami, Bacon Bitch is a classic American breakfast and brunch place that has been dedicated to proving that breakfast doesn’t have to be “boring” since 2017.

Bacon Bitch lies on the east side of Orlando just less than a mile away from the University of Central Florida, so you “charge on”…

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Reunion Condo Sells for $550K

by Jessica LaVigne

Luxury condominium at the Reunion Grande sells after 75 days on the market for $550,000.

The Home

Located in the Reunion Resort & Golf Club, the eleven story Reunion Grande was built in 2007 overlooking 2,300 acres of property. This condo is one of 360 located at the resort, and offers 2 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms, all fully furnished. At 1,646 square feet, this condo contains one of the most desired floor plans. As you enter, there is a large living space with a dining room, spacious kitchen, and two balconies overlooking the amenity filled resort. The master bedroom has a tub with walk in shower, walk in closet, and two separate sinks with cabinets. 

Sold

This condo was originally listed for $575,000 at the…

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Holidays at Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar

by Marissa Potts

Indiana Jones' world of adventure turns into a world full of holiday cheer at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney Springs! Here, you can enjoy a themed restaurant with a limited time menu full of holiday cookies, snacks, and cocktails. 

Atmosphere

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar is located in The Landing area of Disney Springs - my personal favorite! This is the area where Wine Bar George, The Boathouse, and Paradiso 37 are located, among others. I suggest parking in the Orange garage to get here, and also arriving early! Jock Lindsey’s is a first come first serve restaurant, so tables fill up quickly and are usually snatched up as soon as a group gets up. 

The holiday theming is apparent from even the exterior of the…

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Farmer's Market at Lake Eola

by Yasmene Warren

Sundays are for the boys, the girls, and just anybody looking to get up and get out with Downtown Orlando’s weekly farmers market at Lake Eola Park. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., you can shop among a variety of vendors for fresh food, apparel, art and more!

The Vendors

The Orlando Farmers Market is a one stop shop for all things handmade. Some of its vendors include…

Nani’s Treats & Sweets

“Satisfying your sweet tooth,” Lisa Perez has been selling sugary goodies at the Orlando Farmers Market since March of this year. At Nani’s Treats & Sweets, each cookie is homemade and hand decorated. Perez had cake slices, cookies, and even cake pops. For this holiday season, she brought out homemade gingerbread men, hand-decorated Grinch and…

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Persimmon Hollow Brewing

by Holley Long

Breweries abound in Orange County, but if you find yourself in the southwestern area of Winter Garden, there’s one you should check out. After nearly a year in business, Persimmon Hollow at the Flamingo Crossings Town Center has been a lively addition to the still new Horizon West community. 

The Brewery 

Persimmon Hollow at Flamingo Crossings is one of four locations for the central Florida-based brewery. Founded in 2014, the brewery is a place that welcomes all people to enjoy good drinks, good food, and good company. 

Persimmon Hollow is also dedicated to bringing the community together, hosting Puzzles Entertainment events throughout the week, including Jukebox Bingo and Trivia Thursday. As someone who participated in Trivia…

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Winter Park Farmer's Market

by Kismet Kohn

The Winter Park Farmers Market occurs every Saturday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM just a block from Park Avenue in the West Meadow. This market is prime for buying produce, plants, and organic foods and drinks. Even if you’re not looking to buy groceries for the week, it’s the perfect way to start the weekend!

Vendors

The vendors at the Winter Park Farmers Market can change slightly from week to week but most remain the same. The vendors are usually small businesses that are unique to the area and have better quality than many of the common chain stores.

DOGgone Gourmet Treats

The market is such a fun activity for friends and family partly because there are so many dogs around! People will bring their dogs and walk around the…

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