“We are excited to make this attempt at the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest gathering of people wearing tie dye on February 4. We encourage the people of Central Florida to come out to the Amway Center to help us attempt this title.” 

- Chris Heller, President

Orlando Solar Bears

Around The Horn.

• The Orlando Solar Bears are proud to announce their official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempt for the largest gathering of people wearing tie dye when the Solar Bears host the Florida Everblades on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm.
• The Orlando Magic are still far from whole, but they got a lot closer to fielding their full roster vs. Atlanta. With the returns of Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony, the Magic not only had 12 players available after having nine in Monday’s road loss to the Brooklyn Nets, but they got back two of their more prominent guards.
• Orlando Sentinel Analysis: UCF faces key questions before meeting Tulane in AAC Football Championship.
• The College Football Playoff’s Board of Managers announced Thursday that the playoffs will expand to 12-teams during the 2024-25 season. The news caps 18 months of fierce debate, after the Playoff Management Committee composed of the 10 conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick, proposed expanding the current four-team model to 12.
• Here is a look back at the 1994 FIFA World Cup hosted in Orlando.
• UFC returns to Orlando for the first time in over four years on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Amway Center with an intriguing welterweight tilt that will see No. 7 ranked contender Stephen Thompson battle Kevin Holland. Heavyweight KO artists collide in the co-main event when No. 4 ranked contender Tai Tuivasa meets No. 5 Sergei Pavlovich.
• The Florida Region of USA Volleyball announced a new business partnership with Rothman Orthopaedic Institute for the upcoming 2022-2023 season. Rothman Orthopaedics will be the Official Sports Medicine Partner for events held at Hickory Point Beach in Tavares, FL, and will provide certified athletic trainers for all Florida Region hosted beach events as well as provide additional medical staff as needed.
• There is a 'final four' of Orlando area football teams that remain in the chase for FHSAA state championships. Three of the four will travel for state semifinal games on Friday night.
• Perennial boys basketball power Montverde Academy has some catching up to do when it hosts the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference Sunshine Classic this weekend. The Eagles were knocked out of the national No. 1 perch they have grown accustomed to when they lost their opening game last week.
• Orlando Magic and Florida Blue staff members distributed 350 Thanksgiving meals at the Grand Avenue Neighborhood Center to underserved families in Orlando shortly before the holiday.
• The leader of the Orlando team reviving EA Sports College Football says the video game will launch in summer 2024, according to a report from ESPN. EA Sports’ vice president Daryl Holt told ESPN the company is working to have college players in the game and will “put as many schools as we possibly can” in it. An EA executive last year hinted the new college football game could lead to more jobs.
• USA Gymnastics has awarded the 2023 Women’s Development Program Level 9 Eastern Championships to Osceola Heritage Park, scheduled to take place May 4-7, 2023. This event will serve as the culmination of the Women’s Level 9 competitive season and feature the top athletes from across the country who qualified to compete from their respective regional championships.
• The National Women’s Soccer League announced that the 2023 NWSL Draft presented by Ally is set for Thursday, January 12 at 6 pm, and will be held during the United Soccer Coaches Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The NWSL has also opened player registration for the NWSL Draft.
• Orlando will play host to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Marathon, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced. Held on February 3, 2024, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon will be the selection event for the team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the top three female and male place finishers in the Trials who have met performance standards qualifying.

In The News.

• Nemours Children’s Health and Orlando Science Center have teamed up to host a “Teddy Bear clinic.” on December 3 & 4 from 10am-4pm. Children are encouraged to bring their teddy bears, or favorite stuffed animal, for a checkup. Medical professionals from Nemours Children’s Health will conduct “examinations” to make sure the children’s furry friends are in tip-top shape. The event is designed to help children become more comfortable with medical professionals both inside and outside a healthcare setting.
• A Central Florida couple helped the Salvation Army raise a record amount of money for its Angel Tree program. On Tuesday, News 6 hosted a phone bank that brought in over $337,000, of which $250,000 came from Scott and Carmen Moscrip. The couple is with Light Orlando, which helps the community through acts of service. The organization also holds a free Christmas concert series, scheduled from Dec. 5 thru 10 at the New Horizon Town Center.
• The Walt Disney Company's latest ride patent looks at how to add a new level of surprise to the theme park experience. The patent, "Park Ride with Drop Swing Propulsion," describes a system where a ride track can be transferred from an elevated track to a lower track with the ride vehicle on it, where the ride can continue on the new track system.
• Icon Park, a popular International Drive food, entertainment and retail destination in Orlando, has big plans in the works — starting with a new addition to its most iconic attraction. The Wheel will add a new interactive activity early next year called, "The Great Florida Road Trip: A Classic Vacation and Photo Travelogue with the Flamingo Family." Other plans include the possibility of a hotel, new restaurants, additional attractions and more.
• Universal Parks & Resorts is looking into how to enhance virtual-reality headsets and improve immersion. The theme park company, which operates Universal Orlando Resort, filed a patent dubbed, "Front and Peripheral View Lens Area for Virtual Reality Headsets," which describes a multi-lens headset. The additional lenses may help depict special effects that improve the immersion of an experience, which would enhance its overall effect.
• U.S. Army Veteran James Mead, 75, was all smiles as he watched volunteers with Home Depot and The Osceola Council on Aging work on his home in Kissimmee. From landscaping to painting, Mead said his mobile home needed a facelift. He shared he spends most of his time at home but loves to go fishing on the lake which he’ll be able to do so again now that he can walk on his new ramp.
• Three adult male manatees rescued from waters in the Florida Keys earlier this year have been returned to a Keys canal after being treated and rehabilitated at SeaWorld Orlando. Personnel from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Dolphin Research Center, Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters, and SeaWorld helped transition the trio on Tuesday from transport trucks to land and then into the water.
• The Walt Disney Company officially launched the 2022 Disney Ultimate Toy Drive in support of the Marine Toys for Tots Program. The company said the holiday initiative continues a 75-year tradition of supporting Toys for Tots, and delivering toys, hope and joy to children in need during the holiday season.

Stay Engaged.

• North America’s most popular interactive dinosaur experience is back, bigger and better than ever! The Jurassic Quest herd of photorealistic dinosaurs is ready to delight families at the Central Florida Fairgrounds during its one-weekend-only engagement, Dec. 2-4. Dinosaur fans will have the chance to experience Jurassic Quest’s most beloved and unique indoor experiences for the whole family.
• The Orange County Mayor’s Toy Drive is celebrating 12 years of giving back to the community. With families recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Ian, this year’s toy drive is more important than ever. You can help make the holiday season merry and bright for those in need by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy in person or by shopping virtually in our online store. All donations benefit Orange County youth and family agencies.
• The State of Downtown address is hosted by the Downtown Orlando Partnership each year and is attended by hundreds of Central Florida’s most influential stakeholders and downtown supporters. This signature event benefits DOP & the DOP Foundation. The program features networking and a keynote address by City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer on Dec. 7.
• The 2022 State of Osceola County, presented by the Osceola County Board of Commissioners will be hosted at Osceola Heritage Park on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The luncheon will feature a keynote address by Chairman Brandon Arrington, providing an update on the State of the County, looking back at the past year and ahead to what's in the future for our community.
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is adding a new projection mapping show called “Starflake’s Holiday Voyage” to its holiday celebration. The six-minute production will be shown on the exterior of Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, which opened at the Brevard County attraction this year. “Starflake’s Holiday Voyage” works its way through the stars, but it includes recognizable features such as NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building, International Space Station, the Artemis Moon rocket and more starting Dec. 16.
• Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act in Orange County and led by the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership, Empowering Good equips local nonprofits with the tools necessary to succeed in the post-pandemic environment. The program assists small grassroots and diverse-led Orange County non-profit organizations in focusing on impact measurement, innovation, financial management, fundraising and risk management. Applications are currently open until January 13, 2023.
• Country Thunder will come roaring back to Osceola Heritage Park in 2023 with country music superstars! Fresh off the electricity of October’s epic three-day throwdown in Kissimmee, Country Thunder will return with a jam-packed, all-star lineup featuring Cody Johnson, HARDY, Keith Urban & so many more. The show returns from Oct. 20 to 22, 2023.
• Be amazed and give back this holiday season at Night of a Million Nights, joyous holiday celebration benefiting Give Kids the World Village. Night of a Million Lights was named the "Number One Thing to Do in December in Orlando" by USA Today when it debuted at the charitable resort in 2020, and now, it’s bringing the joy to Margaritaville Resort Orlando through Jan. 1, 2023. See why you’ll want to make this year’s edition part of your holiday season plans.
• Sleigh bells are ringing and Jolly old St. Nicholas is making his way to ICON Park! From now through Dec. 24th, ICON Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland completed with all of your favorite festivities through the Santa Workshop Experience.
• Season’s streamings: Your ultimate guide to this year’s streaming holiday movies from the Orlando Sentinel.
• Music icon Barry Manilow announced dates for his limited engagement seven-city arena tour—Manilow: Hits 2023. The exclusive run kicks off on Jan. 13 and includes a return visit to Orlando’s Amway Center on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
• Universal Orlando Resort is offering a deal to Florida residents this holiday season. Florida residents who purchase a Park-to-Park ticket will get an extra day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure for free! The deal is only available online through Dec. 14, 2022.
• Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers.

In preparation for 2023 March Madness at the Amway Center, Orlando's host partners (GO Sports, City of Orlando, and UCF) welcomed members of the NCAA Men's Basketball Staff for an official site visit this week, capped off with dinner and a Magic game at the Amway Center. Thank you to all of our tourism and hospitality partners who supported the site visit and will continue to support the event in March!

GO Sports Executive Vice President Jennifer Lastik and GO Sports Executive Committee Member Caesar Lopez (Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride & Exploria Stadium) attended Orlando City's World Cup Watch Party hosted at Ace Cafe for the USA v. England match last week.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Commissioner Victoria Siplin presented GO Sports Board Member Steve Hogan (Florida Citrus Sports) with a $500,000 donation to the Florida Classic Consortium Scholarship Fund at this year's Florida Blue Florida Classic game between FAMU and Bethune-Cookman.

LPGA legend Annika Sörenstam and other competitors enjoyed "Media Day" for the LPGA's upcoming Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club.

Corporate Partner Renewals.



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Fun & Games.



• Enjoy Delightful Christmas Dining in Orlando
• The Most Festive Things to Do in Orlando during the Holidays
• Pictures: Christmas Nights in Lights drive-through attraction opens in Orlando
• Central Florida Theme Park Holiday Events Guide