Here’s the Presidential Villas lowdown on what’s happening in May in Orlando, from sporting events to art exhibitions, looking at popular destinations such as Amway Arena and Hard Rock Live. You can keep up to date with great things to see and do in Orlando whenever you travel by looking up our blog and reading up on the new and exciting events we’ve found and profiled for you. It’s easy!
Sports
Amway Arena
Slam-dunk with Orlando Magic on May 20th, 24th and 26th as the famous basketball team takes on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Whether you’re new to the sport or a lifelong fan, this team always put on a great show! Alternatively, if you’re after something rather different, the official PlayStation tour is coming on the 18th, a must for dedicated gamers from all over the world.
Concerts/Live Music
Amway Arena
Chill out at the Caribbean Festival on the 24th, enjoying traditional music ranging from funky soul, reggae and chilled tunes, dancing, mouth-watering foods and lots of traditional goods to buy.
Hard Rock Live
On the 24th May, Hard Rock Live presents Delirium with Roger Sanchez, blasting tunes into the night from 8pm ‘til late, and on the 29th fans of Pink Floyd can take a nostalgic trip from 8.30pm, with live performances of tracks from their iconic ‘Wish You Were Here’ album. Live sets at Hard Rock are always an event not to be missed, so try to catch at least one during your stay in Orlando.
House of Blues Orlando
There are so many laid back and soulful blues acts on at House of Blues this month. Gavin Rossdale is there on the 19th, supported by Nico Vega. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus spring onto the stage on the 24th, supported by Fit for Rivals and Go Radio. Round things off on the 31st with Matisyahu and Les Claypool followed by Reik.
Orlando Taiko Festival 2009
This free Japanese concert takes place at The Village at Hunters Creek, where you can enjoy both musical and visual art.
Rock by the Clock
Elvis tribute act Dwight Icenhower takes on Old Town until the 27th May,
Theatre/Performing Arts
Noises Off
Garden Theatre in Winter Garden is showing this interactive comedy until the 24th May, a hilarious play-within-a-play comedy with disastrous twists and turns both on and off-stage.
The Orlando International Fringe Festival
If you’re holidaying in Orlando in May and love live events, you have come to the right place! An amazing and unconventional mix of live music, theatre, dancing and all manner of strange performance styles, the twelve-day festival runs from 14-25th May at Loch Haven Park. It runs along the same lines as the UK’s famous Edinburgh Festival, with all ticket proceeds going back to the performance artists – if you want to support new and emerging talents, this is the place to be. At the weekends, a smaller ‘Kids Fringe’ festival is a more family-friendly affair for parents with young children.
Exhibitions and Expositions
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
The Fine Art of Craft is celebrated here from the 19th, right into June. Enjoy some amazing craft exhibitions across many wonderful trades, and learn the basics of certain techniques in special workshops.
Bok Tower Gardens
“Vignettes in Paint”, a beautiful watercolour exhibition, is on at Bok Tower Gardens on the 28th May, featuring the work of acclaimed watercolour artist Robert Leedy, showcasing his fresh paintings, which cover scenes from his worldwide travels. Wander the gardens and enjoy browsing the work all day from 8am-6pm.
Orlando Museum of Art
Right through until 4th October this year, a major glass exhibition by artist Therman Statom is showing at the prestigious Orlando Museum of Art, with his installation exhibit ‘Stories of the New World’ – an interesting and new style of art. Right up until November, you can take the kids to hear Aesop’s Fables and Other Tales, both with storytelling and art. This is combined with ‘Storytime in the Gallery’ which runs until August and features the books of Jerry Pinkney – these children’s tales will enthrall your children.
The Osceola Center for the Arts
The 2009 Juried Art Exhibition runs from the 4th-29th May, featuring 55 local artists vying for the first prize of this prestigious art competition.
Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios
Star Wars fans and sci-fi enthusiasts will be in their element from the 22nd May and continuing right into June – every weekend, you can marvel at amazing memorabilia, special shows and presentations.
Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
Themed displays of plants and exotic flowers burst into bloom at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival that began in mid April and finishes on the 31st of this month, at the Epcot Center in Epcot, one of the theme parks of Disney World. If you’ve got green fingers, you can also attend workshops and talks led by gardening experts and celebrity gardeners to get you motivated to do a bit of re-potting!
The Orlando Science Center
“Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure,” a film exploring the wonders of marine life, will be playing through Spring 2009. Taking in life-forms too odd to even be featured on the Discovery Channel, some of the oddest ocean-dwelling specimens found in our world, from the frightening, vicious, and remarkable, to the downright peculiar!
