Halloween Horror Nights returns with frightful fun at the end of this month. | Photo via ORLtoday
Lucky you. You just found ORLtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events that are taking place throughout Orlando each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this July.
Seasonal events
Fireworks at the Fountain | Friday, July 4 | 4-10 p.m. | Lake Eola Park | Free+ | Enjoy live music, food, and fun before the fireworks go off to celebrate the holiday.
Festivals
Peruvian Fest Orlando | Sunday, July 13 | 12-7 p.m. | Lake Eola Park Amphitheater | Free+ | Celebrate the culture, music, and flavors of Peru during this family-friendly event in the heart of Orlando.
Concerts
ATEEZ | Monday, July 21-Tuesday, July 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Kia Center | $98+ | Sing along to catchy hits like “Wonderland” performed by the K-Pop band live.
Dillon Francis | Friday, June 27-Saturday, June 28 | 10 p.m. | The Vanguard | $37+ | Catch a set by this producer + DJ and upgrade your ticket for VIP bar access.
Finally Food Truck Friday | 5-9 p.m. | Lake Eola Park | Cost of purchase | Grab dinner from a local food truck at the park and stick around for music from DTOLive.
Saturday, June 28
Yoga Nona | 9-10 a.m. | Crescent Park in Laureate Park | Free | Bring your own mat, towel, and water to this outdoor yoga class by AdventHealth.
Caribbean Culture Celebration | 2-5 p.m. | Hiawassee Branch Library | Free | In honor of Caribbean American Heritage Month, enjoy a parade, food tastings, and family festivities.
Great American Block Party | 4-10 p.m. | Lake Nona Town Center | Free | Think neighborhood block party, but bigger — enjoy food, games, live music, and a laser light show.
Sunday, June 29
Family Fun Day - Fundraiser | 1-5 p.m. | Barnett Park Pavilion #1 | Free | RSVP online to join this family-friendly event with a fire truck demo, music, games, arts + crafts, and food.
The Fray | 6 p.m. | House of Blues, Lake Buena Vista | $220+ | We may not know “How to Save a Life,” but we do know you’ll be singing along at this concert.
Monday, June 30
Monarchs vs. Smoke | 6 p.m. | UCF Softball Complex, Orlando | $12 | Cheer on our local softball team as they take on the opponents from Atlanta.
Downtown Orlando’s DTOLive program was renewed for another year, meaning locals can continue to enjoy entertainment like live music + art exhibits in public spaces. The initiative’s second year began this month — check out the schedule. (Orlando Sentinel)
Coming Soon
This week, city officials approved funding for the upcoming restaurant Outpost Neighborhood Tavern through the DTO Restaurant Program. The LGBTQ-friendly eatery and sports bar is slated to open this year across from Lake Eola. (Orlando Weekly)
Sports
Orlando City defender Alex Freeman made it onto the roster of the 2025 MLS All-Star team. The 20-year-old player is the first Lion to make the All-Star roster since 2021 + the seventh All-Star selection in club history. (Orlando Sentinel)
Development
~27. That’s how many years it’s been since Disney’s last major park opening in Florida — but maybe not for long. New planning documents show proposals for a new “major theme park,” along with two “minor” parks, new resort hotels, more shopping and dining, and an 18-hole golf course at the Orlando Resort. (People)
Closed
After 27 years in business, Daybreak Diner announced its closure this week. The permanent closure comes after the announcement of a temporary one due to renovations. No reason for the official closure has been provided so far. (Bungalower)
Mailbag
When you subscribed, you may have received an email asking for your favorite nearby restaurant — and yes, we’ve been reading every response. Reader Beverly S. said this: ”...my fav restaurant so far: Fiesta Azul Tequila House! Yummy drinks and super fresh food, all wrapped up with a lively (but not obnoxiously crazy) vibe.”
Category
Post of the Day
What do you think is Orlando’s best suburb? According to local realtor @habermanhomes, Clermont and Minneola are the most underrated. Haberman highlighted their rolling hills + lake views, outdoor vibes, more spacious real estate, and great sense of community.
Which Orlando suburb do you think is the most underrated? Let us know via the button below.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Happy National Food Truck Day, ORL. Celebrate tonight at Finally Food Truck Friday or this weekend by heading out to Kissimmee for Food Truck Haven’s event with 50+ trucks and live music — entry is totally free.
If you prefer something more low-key, I recently learned that Maitland food truck Hot Asian Buns made it onto Yelp’s list of Top 100 Food Trucks 2025, coming it at No. 89. The spot also opened a brick-and-mortar location in Sanford this past April.
