A new year often brings new beginnings — and a few goodbyes. As Orlando heads into 2026, several new businesses are preparing to launch, while others are closing their doors for good.
Mecatos Bakery and Cafe | A Colombian bakery and cafe is set to open in Winter Park in 2026. Expect baked goods, hot bites, fruit smoothies, coffee, and desserts at the former home of The Coop.
Raine’s Pizzeria | Chef Omar Perez of Gnarly Barley is bringing New York-style pizza, craft beer, and natural wines to Curry Ford Road. An opening date has not yet been announced.
Olea Taverna | Greek and Mediterranean flavors are coming to Edgewater Drive in February. Olea Taverna will take over the former The Local Bar and Grill space.
Bundle up, O-Town. Orange County is under a cold weather advisory until 9 a.m. today, according to the National Weather Service. Temporary cold-weather shelters are open and free public transportation is available. (WESH 2)
Tech
A new Orange County expressway is going electric. The State Road 516 Lake/Orange Expressway will include a 1.6-mile lane that charges electric vehicles while they drive, with construction on the charging segment beginning in 2026. The full 4.4-mile roadway is slated for completion in 2029. (NBC 6)
Outdoors
The city of Orlando is sanitizing Lake Eola Park following the deaths of twelve swans over the holidays, possibly due to an avian flu outbreak. Be sure to follow these precautions when visiting the park. (Florida Today)
Parks
Work to repaint Cinderella’s Castle at Disney World will start in January. The new look is inspired by the castle’s original facade, featuring gray, cream, and blue hues. Pro tip: Construction equipment will be out of sight by 12 p.m. each day, so take your photos in the afternoon. (FOX 35)
Sports
Football fans will flock to Camping World Stadium at 2 p.m. today for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl featuring the Michigan Wolverines and the Texas Longhorns. Psst — the stadium’s $400 million renovation is set to kick off in the coming weeks and be completed by summer 2027. (Spectrum News 13)
Arts
Next time you’re driving through Curry Ford West, keep your eyes peeled for a new mural. Created by Orlando-based art teacher Valeria Malaria, the fresh painting on the Alona’s Food Affair building includes oranges, flowers, leaves, and geometric shapes. (Bungalower)
Try This
Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog. Oscar Mayer’s Wienermobile will make a pit stop at Dezerland Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 4. Visitors can snap photos with the 27-ft-long hot dog on wheels and meet the brand’s “Hotdoggers,” aka its official ambassadors.
Read
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We asked our readers to settle several holiday debates, and when it comes to New Year’s Eve, the verdict is clear: stay home.
A whopping 90% of our readers said they’re ringing in the new year from the couch. If our event picks don’t tempt you to hit the town, cozy up with takeout from a local restaurant.
