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Why Anthem Exists — An Owner’s Note on Pulse, Community, and Queer Joy
A personal note from Mike Vacirca, co-owner of Anthem Orlando, written for the 10-year mark of Pulse. Adapted from an interview with Patricia Tolley. Anthem Orlando opened in October 2025 in the heart of downtown Orlando at 100 North Orange Avenue. But the concept started before we ever opened the doors. Anthem was born from…
Cinco de Mayo in Downtown Orlando 2026 — Where to Celebrate
Downtown Orlando has a way of turning a Tuesday into something worth remembering. On May 5, 2026, Cinco de Mayo lands mid-week, which means bar patios will be packed, margarita specials will be flowing on North Orange Avenue, and the Wall Street Plaza area will have the kind of energy usually reserved for weekends. Whether…
Orlando Fringe Festival 2026 — “35 Years Weird” Comes to Loch Haven
Orlando Fringe Festival returns May 12–25, 2026, with a theme that suits it perfectly: “35 Years Weird.” For two weeks, Loch Haven Park transforms into a sprawling outdoor arts village hosting more than 1,000 ticketed performances across theater, dance, comedy, and everything that defies easy categorization. If you’ve never been, this is the year to…
Milk Run 5K 2026 — Running Through Orlando’s Milk District
Saturday, May 2 starts before most people’s coffee has brewed — with a 5K through one of Orlando’s most beloved neighborhoods. The Milk Run winds through the Milk District, that tree-lined stretch east of downtown where old bungalows share blocks with indie coffee shops and low-key bars. It is a morning race that feels more…
Memorial Day Weekend in Downtown Orlando 2026
Memorial Day Weekend — Friday May 22 through Monday May 25, 2026 — is the unofficial kickoff to summer in Central Florida, and downtown Orlando treats it accordingly. Three nights of signature programming fill the Orange Avenue corridor and Wall Street Plaza, rooftops stay open late, and brunch spots brace for some of the heaviest…
Spooky Empire May 2026 — Orlando’s Horror Convention Returns
Spooky Empire is back in Orlando for Memorial Day weekend, May 29–31, 2026. Three days of horror film celebrity meet-and-greets, autograph signings, a sprawling vendor floor, film screenings, costume contests, and enough pop-culture nostalgia to keep you occupied from the moment the doors open until they shut. Whether you’re a lifelong horror devotee or a…
Gay Days Orlando 2026 — Your Complete Guide
Gay Days returns to Orlando June 4–7, 2026, bringing tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ travelers and locals together for one of the world’s most beloved queer events. Theme parks by day, pool parties and dance nights after dark, and a downtown scene that runs well past midnight — Gay Days weekend is peak season for…
The Pride Cup 2026 — Orlando’s LGBTQ+ Sports Tournament
Every first weekend of June, Orlando hosts one of the most vibrant LGBTQ+ sports events in the Southeast. The Pride Cup draws competitors from across Florida and beyond for a multi-sport, multi-venue tournament — and when the final whistle blows each evening, the city celebrates just as hard as it competed. Whether you play, cheer,…
Girls in Wonderland 2026 — Orlando’s Queer Women’s Festival
June in Orlando has no shortage of reasons to be here, but Girls in Wonderland stands apart. Billed as the country’s premier music and lifestyle festival for queer women, it draws thousands of attendees from across the country for a long weekend of daily concerts, pool parties, comedy shows, and brunches — all anchored at…
Pride Bar Crawl Orlando 2026
On Saturday June 20, 2026, the Official Pride Bar Crawl Orlando takes over downtown, kicking off around 4 PM at Underground Public House and moving through the heart of the city’s nightlife district. This is a full evening event — an organized crawl through participating bars, each offering themed drink specials and a shared sense…