VISUAL ARTS

Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. This lakeside museum, open since 1961, is dedicated to preserving works by the famed Czech sculptor for whom it was both home and studio for more than a decade. The museum offers tours of Polasek’s home from Tuesdays to Saturdays and of the adjacent Capen-Showalter House three times weekly: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m., and Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. Continuing through August 17 is Je, Niko Huru? Threads of Freedom, an exploration through self-portraiture by Njeri Kinuthia of her coming of age in Kenya that utilizes a variety of media from charcoal to embroidery. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $3 for students and free for children. 633 Osceola Avenue, Winter Park. 407-647-6294. polasek.org.

The Art & History Museums of Maitland. The Maitland Art Center, one of five museums that anchor the city’s Cultural Corridor, was founded as an art colony in 1937 by visionary artist and architect J. André Smith. The art center, located at 231 West Packwood Avenue, Maitland, is Central Florida’s only National Historic Landmark and one of the few surviving examples of Mayan Revival architecture in the Southeast. Continuing through October 5 is Return to Espero, which demonstrates how a near-death experience served as a catalyst for Smith’s artistic reinvention. And continuing through July 13 is Loss, an exhibition of works by Florida sculptor Mike Massaro that delves into themes of change, loss and rebirth. Admission to the art center’s galleries is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students (ages 5 to 17) and free for children ages 4 and under. Maitland residents receive a $1 discount. The Cultural Corridor also includes the Maitland Historical Museum and Telephone Museum at 221 West Packwood Avenue, and the Waterhouse Residence Museum and Carpentry Shop Museum, both built in the 1880s and located at 820 Lake Lily Drive. 407-539-2181. artandhistory.org.

Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. With more than 19,000 square feet of gallery and public space, the Morse houses the world’s most important collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany creations, including jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass and an entire chapel interior originally designed and built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Continuing in celebration of the chapel’s 25th anniversary at the museum are two exhibitions: After the Fair, which follows the previously neglected ecclesiastical masterwork’s incredible journey from Chicago to Winter Park; and Fathers of the Church, a glass mosaic on loan from The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass in New York that was also crafted for the Columbian Exposition. Other current exhibitions are Arts & Letters, which explores the all-but-lost art of letter-writing; World’s Fairs Vignette, a display of glass, art pottery and furniture as well as ephemera salvaged from the Columbian Exposition along with the chapel; View of Oyster Bay, a notable example of Tiffany’s artistry in leaded glass that has been on extended loan from the Morse to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; The American Arts & Crafts Movement, which features distinctive furniture, metalwork and design created during the turn of last century; and Fascinating Clutter: American Taste During the Reign of Victoria, which explores the rich, romantic aesthetic landscape of the 19th century and how industry, expansion and war influenced personal and artistic expression. Also illuminated are Lamps & Lighting: Tiffany and His Contemporaries, a showcase of Tiffany’s most innovative and iconic designs; and Vignette, a collection of décor items from the Ayer Mansion in Chicago, one of Tiffany’s most complete residential design commissions. Another ongoing exhibition is Revival & Reform: Eclecticism in the 19th-Century Environment, which provides a rare look at the diversity of decorative arts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with pieces by Tiffany, William Morris, Frank Lloyd Wright and others. Regular admission to the museum is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $1 for students and free for children younger than age 12. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.

Crealdé School of Art. Established in 1975, this nonprofit organization on Winter Park’s east side offers year-round visual-arts classes for all ages taught by more than 40 working artists. Visitors may take a self-guided tour through the campus’s lakeside sculpture garden, which includes more than 60 pieces of contemporary outdoor art and related educational panels. Continuing through August is the school’s 44th Annual Juried Student Exhibition, which features outstanding works in drawing, digital and film photography, ceramics, fiber arts, jewelry, painting, sculpture and more. Admission to the school’s galleries is free, although there are fees for art classes. 600 Saint Andrews Boulevard, Winter Park. 407-671-1886. crealde.org.

Rollins Museum of Art. The Rollins College campus is home to one of the most eclectic collections of fine art in Florida, including ancient artifacts, contemporary collections and Central Florida’s only paintings by European Old Masters. Continuing through August 31 are two exhibitions: Masks & Mirrors: Reflections of Femininity in Photography, a selection culled from the museum’s collection that spotlights the interaction of gender and technology between the early use of photography and the dawn of the Internet; and Sacred Land, a photographic exhibition that seeks to capture both the ancient and contemporary soul of Israel. And continuing through January 4, 2026, is Portrait of a Movement, which builds upon recent scholarship and ongoing revivals to offer a more nuanced interpretation of the Bloomsbury Group (a cadre of British writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists in the early 20th century). Guided tours are at 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at the nearby Alfond Inn, where a selection of more than 400 works is on view from the museum’s Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art. Happy Hour tours of the Alfond Collection are held on the first Wednesday of most months at 5:30 p.m. If you prefer historic works, Throwback Thursday tours are offered at the museum from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of most months. Admission is free, courtesy of PNC Financial Services Group. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2526. rollins.edu/rma.

Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Art. Eatonville is strongly associated with Harlem Renaissance writer and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston, who lived there as a girl and recorded her childhood memories in her classic autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road. The museum that bears her name provides information about the historic city and sponsors exhibitions that feature the works of African American artists. 344 East Kennedy Boulevard, Eatonville. Admission is usually free, although group tours require a reservation and require a charge. 407-647-3307.
zoranealehurstonmuseum.com.

PERFORMING ARTS

Annie Russell Theatre. “The Annie,” on the campus of Rollins College and in operation since 1932, begins its 93rd season with Iphigenia in Aulis (September 25 to 28), a “transadaptation” of Euripides’ Greek tragedy by Anne Washburn. Up next is Let the People Sing (November 13 to 16), the result of extensive research to bring Zora Neal Hurston’s musical revue (originally performed at the college in 1933) back to Rollins. The Hurston musical is followed by POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive (February 12 to 22, 2026), an R-rated political farce; and Anastasia: The Musical (April 16 to 19, 2026), a loose adaptation of the animated film about a young woman with a mysterious past struggling to survive after the Russian Revolution. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m., 4 p.m. or 2 p.m., depending upon the day of the week. Individual tickets are $25. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2145. rollins.edu/annie-russell-theatre. 

Winter Park Playhouse. Winter Park’s only professional, nonprofit theater kicks off its 2025-26 season with Jerry’s Girls (August 9 to 31), a celebration of composer Jerry Herman featuring songs from Mame, Hello Dolly!, La Cage aux Folles and more. The Herman musical is followed by Forever Plaid (September 26 to October 19), an off-Broadway hit that pays homage to the close-harmony musical groups of the 1950s; Honky-Tonk Angels Holiday Hoedown (November 14 to December 20), a country Christmas comedy; From My Hometown (January 23 to February 21, 2026), a rags-to-riches story including R&B classics from James Brown, Otis Redding and Jackie Wilson; and The Pin-Up Girls (March 20 to April 25, 2026), which weaves almost a century of pop music together with a romantic and patriotic storyline. Performances are slated Thursdays to Sundays, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from $20 for students to $46 for evening shows. 711 Orange Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-0145. winterparkplayhouse.org. 

FILM

Enzian. This cozy, nonprofit alternative cinema offers a plethora of film series. Tickets are usually $12 for regular admission; $10 for matinees, students, seniors and service members (with ID); and $9.50 for Enzian Film Society members. Children under age 12 are admitted free to Peanut Butter Matinee Family Films, shown on the fourth Sunday of each month at noon. Other series include Saturday Matinee Classics (the second Saturday of each month at noon), Cult Classics (the second and last Tuesday of each month at 9:30 p.m.) and Midnight Movies (every Saturday night). FilmSlam, which spotlights Florida-made short films, takes place most months on the second or third Sunday at 1 p.m. 300 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland. 407-629-0054 (information line), 407-629-1088 (theater offices). enzian.org.

Popcorn Flicks in the Park. The City of Winter Park and Enzian collaborate to offer classic, family-friendly films free in Central Park on Park Avenue. These outdoor screenings are typically held on the second Thursday of each month and start at 7 or 8 p.m. Don’t forget to pack a picnic and bring blankets or chairs. 407-629-1088. enzian.org.

HISTORY

Casa Feliz Historic Home & Venue. This stunningly restored Spanish farmhouse-style home, designed by acclaimed architect James Gamble Rogers II, is now a community center and museum. Free open houses are hosted by docents on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course), Winter Park. 407-628-8200. casafeliz.us.

Hannibal Square Heritage Center. Established in 2007 by the Crealdé School of Art in partnership with residents of Hannibal Square and the City of Winter Park, the center celebrates the city’s historically African American west side with hundreds of archival photographs, original artwork and oral histories that are collectively known as the Heritage Collection. The center also offers a walking tour of Hannibal Square, Now and Then, with Fairolyn Livingston, chief historian. Tours, which are offered on the third Saturday of each month from 10 to 11:30 a.m., require reservations; the cost is $10, or $5 for those with student IDs. 642 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-539-2680. hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org.

Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida. The center is dedicated to combating antisemitism, racism and prejudice, with the goal of developing a moral and just community through educational and cultural programs, permanent and temporary exhibitions, archives and a research library. The center’s ongoing exhibition, Tribute to the Holocaust, is a collection of artifacts, videos, text, photographs and other works of art related to this horrific genocide. Admission is free. 851 North Maitland Avenue, Maitland. 407-628-0555.
holocaustedu.org.

Winter Park History Museum. The museum’s new exhibition, Echoes of Expression: The History of Art & Culture in Winter Park, salutes the creativity that established and continues to define the city. Echos of Expression features a visual timeline of the city’s arts and cultural movement, a stage for monthly performances, an art gallery, a library of books by local and visiting authors, and an interactive children’s area on stage. The exhibition takes place under a sound dome, where the voices of past visiting writers, poets, journalists, scholars and actors can be heard. Admission is free. 200 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-2330.

HOLIDAYS

30th Annual 4th of July Celebration. Head to Central Park West Meadow on July 4 for patriotic music performed by the Bach Festival Choir and Brass Ensemble. There’ll also be apple pie (of course) and watermelon ices along with games and other kids’ activities from 8:30 to 11 a.m. If you want to start celebrating even earlier, enter the annual Watermelon 5K run, which begins at 7:30 a.m. on Park Avenue. Military personnel and their family members receive a race bib and a $10 discount on the 5K registration fee. 407-599-3463. For information about the race, check trackshack.com. For information about other Independence Day activities, check cityofwinterpark.org.

LECTURES

Central Florida Anthropological Society. Do you want to preserve Florida’s historic heritage? Are you curious about prehistoric Florida? Join the CFAS on the third Monday of most months for this new lecture series at the Winter Park Library, which highlights current anthropological and archaeological investigations with a special focus on Central Florida. After a summer hiatus, the next meeting is slated for September 15. Enjoy light refreshments and socializing when the doors open at 6:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 7 p.m. Admission is free. 1050 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. cfasorlando.com.

Life Explorers Speakers Series. Hosted by Mead Botanical Garden, this speaker series features programs for adults interested in expanding their knowledge on a variety of environmental and cultural topics. Meetings are usually held on the second Thursday of the month, with upcoming dates slated for July 10, August 14 and September 11. Admission is free. 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407-622-6323. meadgarden.org.

Morse Museum Wednesday Lecture Series. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art regularly invites recognized scholars in the field of late 19th- and early 20th-century art to speak on topics related to the museum’s collection and exhibitions. Call or check the website for upcoming dates and subjects. Programs take place at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free. 161 West Canton Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.

University Club of Winter Park. Nestled among the oaks and palms at the north end of Park Avenue’s downtown shopping district—a block beyond Casa Feliz—is another historic James Gamble Rogers II building, this one home to the University Club of Winter Park. The club’s various activities, including lectures, are open to the public, although nonmembers are asked to make a $5 donation each time they attend. (Some meetings include a buffet lunch for an added fee.) For a full schedule of meetings and speakers, check the website. 841 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-6149. uclubwp.org.

MUSIC

Bach Festival Society of Winter Park. Central Florida’s longest-running performing arts organization and one of America’s first festivals to celebrate the works of Johann Sebastian Bach (and others), the society kicks off its 91st season next spring, but dates had not been announced at press time. Performances are usually held in Knowles Memorial Chapel or the John M. Tiedtke Concert Hall on the campus of Rollins College. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2182. bachfestival.org.

Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts. For a full schedule of events and news about the grand reopening of the venue, which took over the former Winter Park Library, check the website or see page 94. 460 East New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-636-9951. bluebambooartcenter.com.

Candlelight Concerts at Mead Garden. Enjoy live music by candlelight in Mead Botanical Garden’s Azalea Lodge. String quartets perform a selection of works by a particular artist or dedicate a program to a special theme. Upcoming concerts include Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop Favorites on July 25, Queen vs. Abba on August 22 and The Best of Joe Hisaishi on September 19. Ticket prices start at $49. 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407-622-6323, meadgarden.org.

Central Florida Folk. This Winter Park-based nonprofit is dedicated to promoting and preserving live folk music, primarily through concerts usually held on the last Sunday of each month (unless a holiday intervenes) at 2 p.m. Upcoming dates are slated for July 20, August 31 and September 28. The group’s primary venue is the Winter Park Library, 1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. A donation of $15 for nonmembers is suggested. 407-679-6426. cffolk.org.

Music at the Casa. The Casa Feliz Historic Home and Venue presents some of the area’s most talented performing artists, including opera singers, jazz guitarists and flamenco dancers. Concerts are held either outside in the courtyard or in the Polly & Thaddeus Seymour Parlor. Tickets are $12. 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course), Winter Park. 407-628-8200. casafeliz.us.

Performing Arts Matter. This nonprofit organization collaborates with various organizations to promote performances for and by local musicians. It supports various groups, including the Maitland Symphony Orchestra, Maitland Market Music, the Maitland Stage Band, the Bravo Chamber Orchestra and the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra. For a full schedule of events, call 321-303-1711 or visit pamatter.org.

MARKETS

Maitland Farmers’ Market. This year-round, open-air market—held each Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.—features fresh produce, seafood, breads and cheeses as well as plants, all-natural skin-care products and live music by Performing Arts of Maitland. The setting on Lake Lily boasts a boardwalk, jogging trails, a playground and picnic areas. 701 Lake Lily Drive, Maitland. itsmymaitland.com.

Winter Park Farmers’ Market. The region’s busiest and arguably most popular farmers’ market is held every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Central Park West Meadow—located at the corner of New York Avenue and Morse Boulevard—and offers baked goods, produce, plants, honey, cheese, meat, flowers, crafts and other specialty items. 200 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. cityofwinterpark.org.

WRITING

Orlando/Maitland Writers Group. Join fellow scribes for lectures by guest speakers and discussions led by local authors. The local chapter of the Florida Writers Association meets on the second Thursday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Upcoming dates are slated for July 10, August 14 and September 11 at the Maitland Public Library, 501 South Maitland Avenue, Maitland. floridawriters.org.

Storytellers of Central Florida. Experienced and fledgling storytellers gather to share stories and practice their craft on the first Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Winter Park Library. Upcoming dates are slated for July 1, August 5 and September 2. 1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. 321-439-6020. storytellersofcentralflorida.com.

Wednesday Open Words. One of the area’s longest-running open-mic poetry nights is held every Wednesday at 9 p.m. at Austin’s Coffee, 929 West
Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park. 407-975-3364.
austins-coffee.com.

Writers of Central Florida or Thereabouts. This group offers various free programs that attract writers of all stripes. Short Attention Span Storytelling Hour, a literary open-mic night, meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of most months at Stardust Coffee (1842 Winter Park Road, Winter Park). Upcoming meetings are slated for July 9, August 13 and September 10. Orlando WordLab, a workshop that challenges writers to experiment with new techniques or methods, meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Winter Park Library (1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park). Upcoming meetings are slated for July 23, August 27 and September 24. meetup.com/writers-of-central-
florida-or-thereabouts.

BUSINESS

Connections. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce at local eateries, Connections provides local businesspeople and entrepreneurs an opportunity to network, socialize and share ideas. Upcoming meetings, held the fourth Wednesday of most months, are slated for July 16, August 20 and September 5 (locations TBA). Admission is $35 for members and $50 for nonmembers. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/connections.

Good Morning, Winter Park. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, these gatherings feature coffee and conversation about community issues. Upcoming meetings, held the first Friday of most months, are slated for July 11, August 1 and September 24. Networking begins at 8:45 a.m. followed at 9:15 a.m. by a 45-minute program. Admission, which includes coffee, is free, but registration is required. Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/good-morning-winter-park.

Winter Park Outlook. The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce’s annual regional issues summit convenes on September 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Alfond Inn. The focus will be the local shortage of attainable housing. 300 East New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/winter-park-outlook.

Winter Park Professional Women. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, these meetings—held the first Monday of most months from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.—feature guest speakers and provide networking opportunities for women business owners. Topics are related to leadership development, business growth and local initiatives of special interest to women. Upcoming meetings are slated for August 4 and September 8. Tickets, which include lunch, are $35 for chamber members and $50 for nonmembers. Reservations are required. Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/winter-park-professional-women.

NATURE

Keep Winter Park Beautiful. Volunteer to help the city keep local watersheds beautiful all season long with cleanups held throughout the year. Call or check the website for dates and locations. Litter grabbers, safety vests, gloves and garbage bags are provided at City Hall, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. Volunteers should contact kwpb@cityofwinterpark.org for more details and to complete a waiver. 407-599-3364. cityofwinterpark.org.

Winter Park Garden Club. The club’s general membership meetings, which always offer something intriguing for lovers of gardening and the great outdoors, are typically held the second Wednesday of each month from September through May at 10 a.m. Field trips and other community events are also held throughout the year. All meetings are at the club’s headquarters at 1300 South Denning Drive. For more information about the club, which was founded in 1922, and its upcoming programs, call 407-644-5770, check winterparkgardenclub.com or email winterparkgc100@gmail.com.