Calendar of Events

For an exhaustive list of events beyond those listed here, check http://events.frommers.com, where you'll find a searchable, up-to-the-minute roster of what's happening in not only Orlando, but in cities all over the world.

January

Walt Disney World Marathon. About 90% of the 16,000 runners finish this 26.2-mile "sprint" through the resort area and parks. It's open to anyone 18 and older, including runners with disabilities, as long as they are able to maintain the 16-minute-mile pacing requirements. If you are unable to do so, you'll be picked up and transported to the finish line. The registration fee ($140-$160, depending on when you register) includes race entry, a T-shirt, and a program -- those who finish receive a medal, other souvenir extras, and complimentary admission to a Disney park on the Monday after the race. The final registration deadline is usually in early November (but is often at capacity several months earlier), and preregistration is required. There's also a half-marathon ($140-$160), Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge (includes registration for both marathons; $310-$350), a two-person team marathon relay ($280-$320), a Family Fun Run 5K for both kids and adults ($50; $55 with a child in a stroller), and Mickey's Marathon Kid Fest, which includes the Mickey Mile ($25 per child) and a handful of shorter races for the 13-and-under set -- including a diaper dash ($10 per child). Call tel. 407/939-7810, or go to www.disneysports.com. Early January.

April

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. This 6-week-long event showcases gardens, topiary characters, floral displays, speakers, seminars, and nightly entertainment. The festival is free with regular park admission ($85 adults, $79 kids 3-9). For more information, call tel. 407/934-7639 or visit www.disneyworld.com. The festival kicks off in late April and goes through early June.

July

Independence Day. Disney adds a bit of sparkle to the fireworks displays at all the Disney parks, which stay open later than normal. Call tel. 407/934-7639, or surf over to www.disneyworld.com for details. SeaWorld (tel. 407/351-3600; www.seaworld.com) features a dazzling laser/fireworks spectacular. There's also a free fireworks display in downtown Orlando at Lake Eola Park. For information, call tel. 407/246-2827. Other fireworks events are listed in the local newspaper, the Orlando Sentinel.

September

Night of Joy. The first weekend (Thurs-Sun) in September, the Magic Kingdom hosts a festival of contemporary Christian music featuring top artists. This is a very popular event, so obtain tickets early. Performers also make an appearance at Long's Christian Bookstore in College Park, about 20 minutes north of Disney. Admission (if you buy in advance) to the concert is $51.95 for 1 night (7:30pm-12:30am), or $92.95 for 2 nights; single-night admission at the gate is $59.95. Use of Magic Kingdom attractions is included. For concert details, call tel. 407/934-7639; for information about the free appearance at Long's, call tel. 407/422-6934.

Universal has gone head-to-head with Disney on this one, scheduling its Rock the Universe concert the same weekend (tel. 866/788-4636). Big-name Christian bands and speakers headline the event. Tickets (which include admission to the parks after 4pm) cost $59.99 for 1 night, or $85.99 for both nights of the event. Packages including both nights of celebration and 3 days of admission to the parks are available as well ($105.99).

October

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The Magic Kingdom (tel. 407/934-7639; www.disneyworld.com) invites you to join Mickey and his pals for a far-from-frightening time. In this one, you can come in costume and trick-or-treat throughout the Magic Kingdom from 7pm to midnight on any of 10 or so nights. The alcohol-free party includes parades, live music, and storytelling. The climax is a bewitching fireworks spectacular. Unlike the celebration at Universal Studios, this one is completely family-friendly. A separate admission fee is charged ($59.95-$67.95 adults, $53.95-$62.95 kids 3-9, depending on the night), and you should get tickets well in advance (saving you $6 per ticket).

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Here's your chance to sip and savor the food and beverages of more than 20 cultures. More than 100 wineries from across the United States participate. Events include wine tastings for adults, seminars, food, dinners, concerts, and celebrity-chef cooking demonstrations. Tickets for the seminars, lunches, and wine tastings run approximately $35 to $130, including gratuity; signature dinners and vertical wine tastings range from $100 to $375 (sometimes more). The event also features 25 food-and-wine marketplaces where appetizer-size portions of dishes ranging from pizza to escargot (and everything in between) sell for less than $8 each. Entrance to the festival is included in park admission. Call tel. 407/934-7639, or check out www.disneyworld.com for details. Early October to mid-November.

November

Walt Disney World Festival of the Masters. One of the largest art shows in the South takes place at Downtown Disney Marketplace for 3 days during the second weekend in November. The exhibition features more than 150 top artists, photographers, and craftspeople, all winners of juried shows throughout the country. You can listen to the music of the jazz festival or enjoy one of the many family activities, all for free. Call tel. 407/934-7639, or visit www.disneyworld.com.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. This classic holiday attraction returned by popular demand after being closed down for renovations in 2004 and 2005. Lighting up the nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios are millions of sparkling bulbs acquired from a family whose Christmas-light collection got a bit too bright for their neighbors. Sadly, Jennings Osborne, the man originally responsible for creating this spectacular display, passed away in 2011 -- but his twinkling and dancing lights remain a shining reminder of the holiday spirit he shared with the world. The holiday display runs from November to early January.

December

Christmas at Walt Disney World. During the holiday festivities, Main Street in the Magic Kingdom is lavishly decked out with twinkling lights and Christmas holly, all while carolers are greeting visitors throughout the park. Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom also offer special embellishments and entertainment throughout the holiday season, and the Disney resorts are decked out with towering Christmas trees, wreaths, boughs, and bows.

Some holiday highlights include Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, an after-dark (7pm-midnight) ticketed event ($62.95 adults, $57.95 kids 3-9). This takes place on select nights at the Magic Kingdom and offers a festive parade, fireworks, special shows, and admission to a handful of rides. Also included are cookies, cocoa, and a souvenir photo.

Holidays Around the World and the Candlelight Procession at Epcot feature hundreds of carolers, storytellers from a host of international countries, celebrity narrators telling the Christmas story, a 450-voice choir, and a 50-piece orchestra in a very moving display. Fireworks are included. Regular admission ($85 adults, $79 kids 3-9) is required. Call tel. 407/934-7639 for details on all of the above, or go to www.disneyworld.com. The holiday fun lasts from mid-December to early January.

Walt Disney World New Year's Eve Celebration. For 1 night a year, the Magic Kingdom stays open until the wee hours for a massive fireworks explosion. In the past, other New Year's festivities in WDW have included a special Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness, as well as guest performances by well-known musical groups at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Call tel. 407/934-7639, or visit www.disneyworld.com for details. December 31.

Disney in December -- No snow? No problem. Although there may be a lack of the white stuff in Orlando during the month of December (or any other month, for that matter), WDW more than makes up for it by decking the halls as only Disney can do: 11 miles of garlands, 3,000 wreaths, and 1,500 Christmas trees in all decorate Walt Disney World during the holiday season.