Mark Baratelli

Full confession: I have been in a show at the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival almost every single year since 2006. I love this festival so…

The Florida State Fair has everything you never knew you wanted and cows. The rides are all huge and terrifying and cost way too many tickets, but those rides demand to be ridden, and repeatedly, as you walk past them, lights a-twinklin. and music a-blarin'. And don't miss the cultural displays of agricultural and socioeconomic import known as, the arts and crafts hall. I will never understand quilting. Why spend all that time doing that? Ugh. The Florida state fair runs this weekend each day starting at nine at the Florida state fairgrounds in Tampa.

A 5k you can run in your jammies and eat free pancakes at after you finish? Pass the Aunt Jemima, Jemima! It’s time for the first but not last annual Pajama Pancake 5K tomorrow 7:30am-10:30am at Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake. Start the day with a run or walk through the scenic, wooded and flat 5K course that winds through the trails of Turkey Lake Park. A delicious pancake breakfast (free to runners) awaits you at the finish line. Stay and enjoy the park for a day of family fun or eat your pancakes and go back to bed!

The giant Surf Expo is described as “All things surf” with over 26,000 attendees, 2,600 booths and 7,000 storefronts. It comes every January and September and draws buyers from specialty stores from around the world. The show features fashion shows, awards ceremonies, and demos and takes place inside the Orange County Convention Center Saturday 9 to 4.

Twenty of Orlando’s top visual artists each have a piece of art for sale at $100 or less at the “Grab N Go Art Show” at Art Services Ink tonight at 7 in Orlando.The once a year creative cacophony of vintage, jewelry, sculpture, art, handmade, paper goods and more aka Grandma Party is back Sunday 10 to 6 in the Stardust Coffee parking lot.

In the quiet mountain town of Sugar Falls, the locals are knee deep in the season: two shopkeepers in fierce competition battle it out for customers, the local post office is desperately trying to make sure cards are delivered on time, and the trees at the local tree lot dance for customers in hopes of being bought. This whole scenario is the premise for Sleigh, a live stage show performed with no dialogue by the amazing theatre troupe known as PB&J Theatre Factory. The show runs December 17th through the 21st at Rollins College. Call 407‐574‐5794 for tickets.

Tonight enjoy food from 9 restaurants and 30 wineries in an over the top lakefront setting lined with rows of white tents, palm trees at the 5th Annual…

What is dragon boating? It is twenty paddlers moving in unison, paddling together inside a long boat whose elaborate design originates in ancient China. See bunches of them race in multiple heats all day long, watch live entertainment, shop from a ton of vendors, drink at the beer garden and eat at a slew of food trucks Saturday 6 to 6 at the Dragon Boat Festival at Bill Frederick Park, 3401 South Hiawassee Road in Orlando.

Hundreds of designer bridal gowns in a wide range of sizes, styles and designers for a fraction of their normal price, along with an assortment of bridal accessories, shoes & veils will be for sale at the MIX105.1 Pink Pop-Up Pavilion aka a giant trailer you walk through, parked at the Southern Women’s Show at the Orange County Convention Center now until Sunday, 10 to 7. The Southern Women’s Show is not free, but it’s cheap. The money raised from the gowns goes towards Brides Against Breast Cancer.

Does anyone ever ask you “How’s your honey?” If so, tonight at 7:30 you can tell them “They’re fine. They’re with me watching the Hitchcock classic film “The Birds” outside under the stars at Leu Gardens.” Tickets are cheap and the Leu is located at 1920 North Forest Avenue.