PLAYGROUND
Don’t be fooled! There’s a lot going on in Central Florida for kids and families. Here is a list of the best April events.
All Month Long
Blueberry Season
It’s time pick some Florida blueberries!
- Southern Hill Farms
16651 Schofield Rd., Clermont
Pick your own blueberries, fresh from our farm to your home! Enjoy hot, fresh donuts available daily and a wide range of sweet treats, as well food trucks on weekends and a Kids Zone. (Closed Mondays). - Tom West Blueberries
350 East Orlando Ave., Ocoee
Weekend activities (Saturday and Sunday) include tractor and boat rides, plus bounce house and swings. - Beck Brothers Blueberry U-Pick
12500 Overstreet Rd, Windermere - Far Reach Ranch
1255 S. Dora Blvd., Tavares
April 3: Blueberry Season Grand Opening Event
April 9: Family Movie Night & Night U-pick Event
April 17: Easter Egg Hunt at the Farm
Seven Seas Food Festival
SeaWorld Orlando
February 4-May 8
Sip and snack around SeaWorld and enjoy all that this park has to offer.
Freaky Friday The Musical
Orlando Repertory Theatre
April 1-May 8
Disney’s Freak Friday The Musical is here! A mom and teenage daughter magically swap bodies for a day — what could go RIGHT?
Easter Bunny Dive Show
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
Thursday at 1 p.m., April 7-28
Visitors can watch the Easter Bunny divers under water feeding and interacting with hundreds of species of fish and other creatures. Guests are also welcome to participate in the Eggciting Discoveries Scavenger Hunt in search of the five colored eggs hidden around the aquarium.
April 1-3, 2022
Brew & View Family Night: Encanto
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company
Friday, April 1, 6:30 p.m.
Check out our review of the Brew & View Family Night at Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company here.
Outdoor Movie Night: How to Train Your Dragon
Leu Gardens
April 1, 8:30 p.m.
This is the best time of year to enjoy an outdoor movie in Orlando’s most beautiful garden. Bring some food and your own seating. Note: alcohol is permitted! Gardens open at 6 p.m. and the movie starts at 8:30 p.m. It is best to arrive 30 minutes prior to movie time to give yourself enough time to walk through the garden and get set up at the movie location. Cost: $7 adult, $5 child (4-17 years of age), plus tax and online fees.
Kids Night Out
Central Florida Zoo
April 2, 6:30-10 p.m.
The fun begins at the Discover Center for kids ages 5-12. Everyone will enjoy meeting cool animals and taking a flashlight tour of the Zoo. Kids will play games, make a craft and snack – all before the grownups come back! Members: $25 per child; Non-members $30 per child
Family Fun Campouts
Geneva Wilderness Area
April 2-3; Saturday 2 p.m.-Sunday 9 a.m.
Learn to camp in a fun, family-oriented event. Meals included! There will be tent-pitching assistance, cast iron cooking, a wildlife program, fishing, s’mores over a campfire and more. Register online at recreation.seminolecountyfl.gov. This event is tailored for families with children ages 5 – 13. Limited to 40 participants. One tent per family. Tents can be provided for an additional fee.
Spring Fiesta in the Park
Lake Eola Park
April 2-3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mingle with artists and crafters from around the country as they line the streets around the park, savor the flavors from a variety of food vendors and enjoy live entertainment for the whole family. Admission is free!
April 4-10, 2022
Boutique for a Week: Mom’s Night Out
910 S. Winter Park Dr., Casselberry
April 6, 8-10 p.m.
Enjoy a fun and extended night of shopping catering to moms. The event will include music, special vendors, and giveaways. Boutique For a Week is a children’s consignment sale specializing in the highest quality of nearly new children’s clothing, toys, educational materials, infant equipment, nursery furniture, maternity clothing, and MORE!
Art in the Afternoon: Story Quilts
Orlando Museum of Art
Friday, April 8, 1-2:30 p.m.
In this workshop for kids ages 7 to 13, students will review the art of James Ransome and his talent of using patterns, shapes and colors to design vibrant works of art that help tell a story. Kids will view Ransome’s original illustrations from the book, Clara and the Freedom Quilt and create their own quilt that tells a story through symbols, shapes and colors. Participants will design a mixed media quilted collage by cutting, gluing and learning basic stitching techniques.
Absolutely Avalon
Avalon Park
Saturday, April 9, 5-9 p.m.
Celebrate diversity in Downtown Avalon Park with international food, music, kid’s activities, community performances, a laser light show and more.
Date Night Idea:
Brews Around the Zoo
Central Florida Zoo
April 9, 5-9 p.m.
Get ready to raise a glass! This adults-only event features stations with over 30 craft beers and live music. Plus, a seltzer station and wine tastings. Food is available for purchase. Early access and VIP ticket holders get in at 4 p.m. General admission: $50; Early Access Ticket: $70; VIP Ticket: $150
Egg-Ceptional Family Festival
Center Lake Park, Oviedo
April 9, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
The City of Oviedo is bringing back old school family fun at this Easter themed festival. Kids games, competitions, activity tables, egg decorating and music. Tickets are $10 per wristband for kids only and includes all activities.
Yo, Ho, Ho! Let’s Go!: Theatre for the Very Young
Dr. Phillips Center
April 9, 12 p.m.
Orlando REP presents this a 30-minute adventure with a pirate on the high seas following a treasure map! Parrots, crabs, mermaids and more join the fun.
Sunset Cinema: Jungle Cruise
Crane’s Roost Park
April 9, 8 p.m.
Enjoy a relaxing and cozy movie night under the stars! Bring chairs and blankets for the whole family to watch Jungle Cruise in Cranes Roost Park. This event is free to the public. Concessions are available.
The Prego Expo
Rosen Shingle Creek
April 10, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
A day full of fun, games, education, and shopping! If you’re a first-time mom that doesn’t know where to begin, or a parent of 6 who feels like their starting all over again — The Prego Expo has you covered. Meet industry experts and receive answers to all of your pre- or post-birth questions. There will be 50+ vendors eager to talk with you and help you find what products will work best for your growing family.
Earth Explorers: Choose Your Own Expedition
Dr. Phillips Center
April 10, 12 p.m.
UCF Theatre for Young Audiences graduate students present a devised performance to explore and celebrate our earth, its resources and our relationship with our environment. This show is recommended for children ages 5 and up.
Sensory-Friendly Sunday: Space Spectacular
Orange County Regional History Center
Sunday, April 10, 12-4 p.m.
Sensory-friendly fun for the whole family! Explore Florida’s important role in space exploration and NASA history while enjoying themed activities throughout the museum. Presented in partnership with Autism Society of Greater Orlando. Free admission on Sensory Sundays for individuals with valid proof of ASGO membership.
Spring Festival & Easter Egg Hunt
Green Acres Farm of Oviedo/Geneva
Sunday, April 10, 12-4 p.m.
Celebrate spring at the farm petting and feeding animals, crafting, bounce house fun, an easter egg hunt and more. $5 admission, advanced ticket purchase required.
Free Family Funday
Mennello Museum
Sunday, April 10, 12-2:30 p.m.
Visit the museum for free admission, docent led tours of the galleries and a fine art project! Each Free Family Funday has a different theme based on the current exhibition in the museum. In April, participants will be screen printing tote bags, learning about the artistic techniques and coming away with the perfect tote to celebrate our eARTh!
April 11-17, 2022
Storytime at the Zoo
Central Florida Zoo
Wednesday, April 13, 10-10:30 a.m.
Enjoy animal stories at the Zoo along with a special visit from an animal ambassador. Programs will be presented by the Orange County Library System storytellers. This free program is designed for pre-school age children. Please note that this event is rain or shine and will be moved inside during inclement weather. Zoo admission is not included or required to attend.
Shrek The Musical
Dr. Phillips Center
April 14–16, 7 p.m.
Based on the Dreamworks film, Shrek The Musical is a Tony-Award-winning hilarious adventure that brings the beloved characters from the film to the stage. With the help of his loyal sidekick, a talking donkey, Shrek learns that he’s not the only one that feels like a misfit and finds out what true love really means.
Oviedo Night Market
Oviedo Brewing Company
Friday, April 15, 5-10 p.m.
Stroll through the parking lot of Oviedo Brewing Company outside Oviedo Mall to check out local vendors, artisans and more. Grab some food, listen to live music and enjoy craft brew while you peruse through small business booths.
Kid’s Night Out: Pokemon Night
Florida Film Academy
Friday, April 15, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Kids ages 7-12 can enjoy a pizza and movie making fun as kids celebrate Pokemon’s 25th anniversary! Students work together as a team and make original short films during this popular Friday night event. Students can come in costume, bring props and cards for trading. Tuition: $50 per child
Autism Walk & Family Fun Day
Orange County Convention Center
Saturday, April 16, 8 a.m.-Noon
Celebrate National Autism Awareness Month with a fun day of food, smile, game/prizes, resource fair, 4,000 egg hunt and a whole lot more! For information on how to register, email us at contact@asgo.org.
Earth Day Tour
Seminole County Solid Waste Management Central Transfer Station, Longwood
April 16, 9-10 a.m.
Find out what happens to your trash and recycling after it’s picked up curbside at this free guided tour of the Central Transfer Station in Longwood. Seminole County’s Solid Waste Management team will show visitors where trucks unload waste, recyclables and yard refuse to be sorted, and talk about how hazardous waste items like chemicals and old electronics are recycled or disposed of. Pre-registration is required – space is limited!
Hippity Hop Adventure
Central Florida Zoo
April 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Enjoy a live DJ, goody bags and activities. Plus, photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny inside the Wayne M. Densch Discovery Center! All event activities are included in general Zoo admission.
Meet the Easter Bunny
Winter Park Village
Saturday & Sunday, April 16 & 17, 2:30-6:30 p.m.
The Easter Bunny will be roaming Winter Park Village over the weekend. Enjoy a day out with the family enjoying yummy food, valet parking, excellent shopping, and selfies with the Easter Bunny!
Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt
The Alfond Inn
Sunday, April 17, 2022
Seatings at 10 a.m. &. 1 p.m.; Egg Hunts at 11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Get dressed up on Easter Sunday for a buffet style feast and egg hunt.
Easter Fest by Tutu Tales Party Productions
My Enchanted Events Venue
Sunday, April 17, 12-2 p.m.
Hop on over and meet Mr. and Mrs. Bunny! Take your own pictures or purchase a photography package. The toddler play area will be available throughout the event. Kids can enjoy our bounce house, activity table and soft play zone. Munch away on some fresh popcorn and refreshments. Stick around for some fun and egg-citing activities – and go home with a basket full of eggs and prizes!
April 18-24, 2022
Saving the Planet with Plants (Homeschool Class)
Leu Gardens
Wednesday, April 20, 10 a.m.
Explore all the ways we depend on plants through some interactive take-home projects, and visit some very important plants in the gardens. Ages 8-12 years old. Home school classes are priced for one adult and up to two children to attend. Cost per class: $25 per household ($20 Leu Members).
Autism Evening of Illusions
Museum of Illusions Orlando
Wednesday, April 20, 6-8 p.m.
Museum of Illusions Orlando is partnering with Autism Society of Greater Orlando to celebrate Autism Awareness Month. Museum of Illusions Orlando invites guests with autism the opportunity to visit and participate in an evening filled with sensory-friendly illusions. During the evening of illusions, MOI Orlando will turn down the music and dial down the distractions to make the museum more sensory-friendly. Tickets are $16.99 per guest, and must be booked in advanced.
Middle School Spring Music Festival
Windermere Preparatory School
April 21, 6:30 p.m.
Windermere Prep’s Fine Arts Department will be hosting a free Middle School Spring Concert at the Cypress Center for the Arts. While tickets are free, there is reserved seating.
The Color Run 5K – Orlando
Osceola Heritage Park
April 23, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Calling all dreamers, believers, and magic-makers! Get up and glow with us for the Happiest 5K on The Planet. In 2022, The Color Run is celebrating those who make the world brighter, healthier, and happier.
Baby Goat Yoga
Wildflower Farm, Orlando
April 23, 9 a.m.-10 a.m.
Enjoy a fun and relaxing time at the farm! Yoga session (with a licensed instructor) will be held in the pasture, accompanied by adorable baby goats. Before or after the session (depending on time of day) it’s mealtime for the kids, and that means a nice warm bottle that you will get to help serve. Feel free to take selfies and cuddle with your new BFF! Ages 8yrs and up. Admission is $22 per person.
Party for the Planet
Central Florida Zoo
April 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day at the Zoo by exploring our planet’s amazing and diverse wildlife through interactive environmental education activities, fun activities, games and crafts for the whole family. Connect to nature and conservation in the community and be inspired to become conservation heroes to help protect this beautiful planet. This event is included in general Zoo admission.
Central Florida Earth Day
Lake Eola Park
Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Central Florida Earth Day is an exciting day of colorful and educational exhibits and activities. A family-friendly, dog-friendly, and smoke-free event, Earth Day is the biggest and best Earth Day festival in Central Florida.
Harlem Globetrotters
Addition Financial Arena
April 23, 2 p.m.
Performers, comedians and the Harlem Globetrotters create a show like no other. See the Globetrotters’ signature ankle breaking moves and rim-rattling dunks. Your family is sure to have an unforgettable night!
8th Annual Mount Dora Blueberry Festival
Donnelly Park
April 23 & 24, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Local Blueberry Farms will sell berries freshly picked from their farms along with fresh blueberry products. Crafters, live music, pancake breakfast, blueberry beer, wine and a blueberry pie eating contest will also be featured at this FREE event.
Royal Tea Party: Under the Sea
Venue on the Lake / Maitland Civic Center
Saturday, April 23, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Join the Little Mermaid and dozens of her character friends for a spectacular show at the 8th annual Royal Tea Party produced by Tutu Tales Party Productions!
Apopka Art and Foliage Festival
Kit Land Nelson Park, Apopka
April 23 – 24
What better way to celebrate a Florida spring weekend than this adorable showcase of original artwork and expertly grown foliage that ranges from bonsai to begonias to butterfly plants? Pick up a handmade hat or a beautiful glass garden ornament while dancing along to lively folk and acoustic bands and letting the little ones hit the kids play zone. Many foliage cultivators and experts will be on hand to give tips on keeping your green, leafy babies healthy, and student artists and musicians will be showing off their best work.
Donut Fest Orlando
Orlando Brewing
Sunday, April 24, 1-5 p.m.
Donuts + Beer = The Sweetest Festival in Town
Love Donuts? Who doesn’t? Enjoy beer? Us too! So, take your date to the sweetest event in town! Enjoy a Sunday Funday while sampling donuts, enjoying beer, coffee and more with a fun-filled tasty event! Ticket prices will increase closer to the event. There are special (kids) designated driver tickets (2 and up). No strollers.
Music in Bloom
Windermere Preparatory School
April 26, 6:30 p.m.
Windermere Prep’s Fine Arts Department will be hosting “Music in Bloom” a free High School Spring Concert at the Cypress Center for the Arts. This particular production will host Craig Fitzpatrick, a local composer, and World Premier of “To See Behind Walls”, a piece created specifically for the Windermere Prep Wind Ensemble. While tickets are free, there is reserved seating.
April 25-30, 2022
Art Walk
Windermere Prep School
April 25, 6-9 p.m.
Stroll around WPS campus to see artwork from students of all grades. The event is free to everyone. The Cypress Center for the Arts will house food trucks and fun activities for this event. No tickets are needed.
Hammered: A Thor and Loki Play
Windermere Preparatory School
April 28, 6:30 p.m.
Windermere Preparatory School’s Fine Arts Department Presents “Hammered: A Thor and Loki Play” Tickets for “Hammered” are available on https://teachtix.com/wps/hammered-a-thor-loki-play-marvel
Evening Exchange
East End Market
Friday, April 29, 5-9 p.m.
A local market featuring 15+ vendors and live music.
St. John’s River Festival of the Arts
Historic Downtown Sanford
April 30-May 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Over 150 acclaimed local, regional and national artists will gather in the heart of Sanford for a weekend of art appreciation and education. As guests stroll the streets, they’ll have opportunities to shop artist booths, view live “Art-In-Action” demonstrations, try hand crafted food from different cuisines at the Culinary Arts Food Court and enjoy live acoustic tunes and craft beers as the festival goes on.
The Great Duck Derby
Mead Botanical Garden
Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
A quacktacular day of family fun for everyone featuring little yellow rubber duck races.
O-Town Spring Fest
Lake Lorna Doone Park
April 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Florida Department of Health in Orange County & Partners invite you to celebrate National Minority Health Month at the O-Town Spring Fest in giving our community a boost! This is a free Community Event for the whole family with health screenings, music, food trucks, dance contests, kids zone, giveaways, COVID vaccines, voter registration, fun workshops, (1) $50 gas card giveaway every hour.
Spring Fling
Rollins Art Museum
April 30, 12-4 p.m.
Inspired by the exhibition, American Modernisms, we will have three art making stations, public tours, a youth story time, and snacks! This event is free and open to the public. Art activities are open to a variety of ages, including kids, teens and adults! Art Station One: Monotype Printmaking, Art Station Two: Meditative Drawing, Art Station Three: Soldering Workshop (for ages 9+), story time featuring books about modern art is at 12:30 p.m.
The Night of Destruction
Orlando Speedworld
April 30, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.
Come see School Bus Figure 8 Racing, Monster Truck Action, a Hard-Hitting Demo Derby and a night of full contact racing.
St. Johns River Festival of the Arts
Historic Downtown Sanford
April 30 – May 1, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Come experience art at the 11th annual St. Johns River Festival of the Arts in the heart of Historic Downtown Sanford. Artists from all over the country will be on hand toshowcase their art, offer educational demonstrations, and give guests the opportunity to create their own works of art. Enjoy gourmet tastes at our ‘Culinary Arts Court’ while you listen to the sounds of acoustic performers and sip from a selection of beer.
Cupcakes & Princesses
The Naked Cupcake, Lake Nona
Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Come join the fun and have your little one decorate their own 4-pack of princess-themed cupcakes alongside two princesses from Dreams Do Come True! Princesses are available for cupcake decorating and photo opportunities. Pre-Ticketed event: $35
College Park Spring Fest
Edgewater Drive
Saturday, April 30, 5-11 p.m.
College Park Spring Fest takes over Edgewater Drive with a creative and fresh vibe, featuring music headliner SWITCH. The annual community street festival is “pedestrian-only” between Smith Street to Winter Park Street and guests will enjoy great live music, creative activities, diverse food trucks, beer garden, and the local shops and restaurants open onto the street.
Night of Gold
Fun Spot America, Orlando
Saturday, April 30
Night of Gold is a Christian event featuring live music, food, faith and fellowship at Fun Spot America!
LEGO NINJAGO Days
Legoland Florida Resort, Winter Haven
April 30 – May 22
Get ready to unlock your “inner ninja” by showcasing your skills during LEGO® NINJAGO Days with exclusive in-park activities PLUS meet-and-greets where you can “become the ninja.”
Heather Reneau