I hear people complain that there is no culture in Central Florida! I say that is absolutely not true! Winter Park is very proud of its Arts profile. We have a unique and diverse culture which is reflected in the broad spectrum of outlets and opportunities Winter Park and Orlando have to offer. Each year, the City hosts two Sidewalk Art Festivals, one in the Spring and another in the Fall. The Spring Festival is the most popular and most widely known.
Winter Park Museums
Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden
The Albin Polacek Museum & Sculpture Garden one of the foremost examples of arts in Winter Park. This museum and its lakeside garden holds an art collection focused on American representational sculpture with over 200 works by Czech-born American sculptor Albin Polasek. Every year, the Polasek hosts “Winter Park Paint Out” in which about 25 of the finest “plein air” artists will be seen painting around Winter Park and Orlando, capturing landscapes, city scapes, and landmarks in oil, acrylic, watercolor and pastels.
Albin Polasek Museum
Winter Park Paint Out
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
The Morse offers the world’s most comprehensive collection of of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Tiffany is famouse for his gorgeous stained glass windows, but how many know that he designed jewelry, furniture and architectural elements. Many examples of these creations are on exhibit at the Morse. Most impressive is the chapel room featuring windows, a mosaic baptismal font, altar and columns, entirely designed and executed in Tiffany’s studios restored and reassembled in a specially built room at the Morse.
Morse Museum
Cornell Fine Arts Museum
The Cornell Museum, which has a place of honor on the campus of Rollins College holds more than 5,000 pieces from antiquity to contemporary, this museum houses one of the oldest and most distinguished collections in Florida.
Cornell Fine Arts Museum
Hannibal Square Heritage Center
This museum tribute to contibutions of Winter Park’s historic African American Heritage and through an award winning collection,seeks to research and preserve the rich history of Winter Park and is a tribute to the rich heritage of the past, present and future contributions of the Winter Park African-American community. The center Founded in 2007, and is run by Crealdé School of Art. Heritage Center is located in a historical neighborhood on New England Avenue two blocks west of Park Avenue, between Virginia and Pennsylvania Avenues.
Hannibal Square Heritage Center
The Alfond Inn
The Alfond is a fully integrated art hotel displaying pieces from the Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art at Rollins College. The first Wednesday of every month, the Inn hosts a Happy Hour Art Tour.
Alfond Inn
Casa Feliz Historical Home Museum
Built by famed architect, James Gamble Rogers, Casa Feliz was saved from demolition and moved from its original site across Interlachen Avenue to its present home on the southern edge of the Winter Park Golf course. The story of the move is very interesting and a testament to the Historic Preservation Board of Winter Park. Casa Feliz is a popular venue for weddings, receptions and special events.
Casa Feliz
Winter Park Historical Museum
The Winter Park Historic Museum is housed in the building of the Winter Park Farmer’s Market, which, in a former life, was the original train station for this city. This seeks to research and preserve the rich history of Winter Park, specifically the progression of the hotel industry in Florida and how it changed with the time from back water with no air conditioning to the modern day.
Historical Museum
Orlando Museums
Loch Haven Cultural Park
777 East Princeton Street, Orlando
Loch Haven Cultural Park represents full emersion into the arts with 10 venues to experience the visual, theatrical and scientific arts. On 45 Acres nestled between two lakes, Loch Haven serves as the region’s premier cultural park. From Shakespear to modern dance and modern art to non-traditional stagecraft, this jewel in Orlando is a delightful alternative to the attractions that define Orlando, worldwide.
- Orlando Shakespeare Theater
- Orlando Museum of Art
- Orlando Repertory Theatre
- Orlando Musem of Art
- Orlando Fire Museum
- Mennello Museum of American Art
- Orlando Ballet
- Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival
- Ivanhoe Village Mainstreet District
- Orlando Science Center
Theaters
Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College
Named after the english-born actress, Annie Russell, this theatre serves as the home of the thriving theater and dance program at Rollins College.
Annie Russell Theatre
Fred Stone Theatre
Proudly hosting the student-produced second stage series, performances at the Fred Stone are free and open to the public. Seating is limited and available first come, first serve.
Fred Stone Theater
Enzian Theater
A single-screen cinema café offering primarily independent and foreign films, the Enzian exists to entertain, inspire, educate and connect the community through film. Officially in Maitland, just to the north of Winter Park, this theater is a single screen cinema café and home of the Eden Bar and the Florida Film Festival.
Enzian Theater
Winter Park Playhouse
A non-profit, professional music theatre, the Winter Park Playhouse produces a variety of musical comedies, revues and cabarets.
Winter Park Playhouse
ORLANDO
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Opened in 2014, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts offers an expansive range of activities, performances, classes and venues for special events. The Center houses four theatres with seating ranging from 2731 to 294. The building occupies two city blocks and is truly Orlando’s arts center!
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Bob Carr Performing Arts Center
Until the Dr. Phillips Center opened in 2014, the Bob Carr was Orlando’s official performing arts theatre since 1926. It has been overshadowed by its new sibling, but is home to the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. It is also a venue for contemporary musical concerts, in its 2500 seat auditorium.
Bob Carr Performing Arts Center
GARDENS
To be truthful, Winter Park is just one city-wide garden spot. Each city park is a garden spot and then there are actual gardens. Central Park has a Rose Garden with a peacock fountain as the center piece. There is beauty wherever you look in this charming Central Florida city. But visiting the formal gardens is definitely a treat.
Kraft Azalea Garden
Evocative the Old Florida, this 5.22-acre public garden is located on the shore of Lake Maitland and is open year round from 8 a.m. until dusk. Considered Winter Park’s secret Garden is shaded by enormous cypress trees enhanced by the azaleas that bloom in February through April. This is a favorite Winter Park wedding venue, with the beautiful Excedra as the focal point with Lake Maitland behind it.
Kraft Azalea Garden
Mead Botanical Garden
This city garden is also popular spot for weddings and other special events. It is a 47 acre natural habitat City of Winter Park park. It provides a wonderful opportunity for tranquility in with hiking trails, a boardwalk, creek, tall pine trees, a greenhouse, butterfly garden and pond. Here you could see turtles, fish and wading birds or enjoy a relaxing yoga sesson in a glorious garden setting.
Mead Botanical Garden
Harry P. Leu Gardens
Regardless of the time of year, there is something wonderful happening at this 50 acre garden in Orlando, just to the south of Winter Park. Whether you are just looking for a place to take a stroll, plan a wedding or partake of any of the many seasonal activities this garden offers, Leu Gardens is definitely an oasis in an urban setting.
