Gay Days, Kids & Family Expo set for weekend
Florida’s summer sun has a tendency to dry up the big gatherings, but this weekend has a solid selection of options for fun, most of them for people of all ages.
If you have a brood that is antsy to get out of the house (and not if you’re looking to buy one, which is always the first thought I have when I see this annual event), take them to the Florida Kids and Family
Expo (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive in Orlando, $6, mycentralfloridafamily.com).
It’s more than just a place to check out the latest vendors of family tech and entertainment (and, again, not a place to preview families you’d want). There are also five bounce houses, bumper cars, meet-and-greets with Star Wars characters, train rides, dodgeball, wrestling, laser tag and more things that seem like I would appreciate even without kids. I wish there was somewhere I could get a family to take.
Gay Days are in full swing and there are plenty of activities whatever your family situation (times and locations vary, Expo with Welcome Booth is at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, 8001 International Drive in Orlando, gaydays.com). Participants can check the website for which theme parks to hit for #RedShirtDays. Or you could bring the kids to the Two Spirit
Family Fun Carnival on Saturday (11 a.m.-3 p.m., Wyndham Orlando Resort).
Some events are adults only, such as the XXX Bingo and (ironically) the Puppy Mosh, so check the age rating before heading out.
Another event for the whole house is the 25th annual Harvest Grape
Stomp (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards, 19239 Highway 27 N. in Clermont, $10 adults, free for ages 12 and younger, lakeridgewinery.com).
Kiddies might not be able to join in on the tastings, but they can stomp the stuff the classic way, enjoy the live music and play cornhole while mom and/or dad have a well earned glass of vino.
The only festival where the little ones are specifically forbidden is downtown Orlando’s MargaritaFest (5-9 p.m. Saturday, Wall St. Plaza, 25 Wall St., $20-$35, wallstplaza.net). Back for its 10th year, the festival’s first three hours include unlimited margarita samplings from 20 different varieties with live reggae music throughout.
It’s a whole weekend where you don’t have to stay cooped up in your house, which, for those of us with broken air conditioners, is always nice to hear.