Central Florida residents and visitors have a mix of sports, family activities and after-dark entertainment to choose from Oct. 9-11, including events in Orlando and Melbourne.
Orlando City SC will host Columbus Crew at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. The match is themed Noche Latina, and tickets start at $25. A themed scarf representing Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico or Puerto Rico is included with qualifying tickets, according to ClickOrlando.
Also Saturday, Orlando Science Center will present three Cosmic Concert laser shows in its dome: Fright Night at 6:30 p.m., Laser Zeppelin at 8 p.m. and Rocket Man at 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 per show, are sold separately and are timed because seating is limited. The dome will be open for the performances, but other science center exhibits will not be accessible; parking costs extra.
Freehand Fest is scheduled for Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at Freehand Goods in Orlando’s College Park neighborhood. Admission is free, with food, shopping and music planned. A Beer Fest option offering unlimited 4-ounce pours from participating Florida breweries costs $35 in advance or $50 on the day of the event.
For Halloween programming, Brevard Zoo in Melbourne is holding Beware the Night on Fridays and Saturdays in October from 7 to 10 p.m. The nighttime event includes eerie lighting, foggy paths, jack-o’-lanterns and large displays. It is described as family-friendly, though some sections may be spookier than others. Admission starts at $33, while children younger than 3 enter free.
Two reservation-based Orlando activities are also available this weekend. Rage Room Orlando offers 15-minute sessions beginning at $38 in a controlled setting where guests can break items, while Great Big Game Show on International Drive starts at $40 and divides groups into two teams for hosted mini-games involving strategy, trivia and speed challenges.
In Melbourne, the Teddy Bear Picnic is set for Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wickham Park’s Regional Pavilion. The family-focused event is designed to welcome children of all abilities and is expected to include more than 70 vendors, sensory activities, carnival games and a Teddy Bear Care Village. Organizers expect close to 1,000 attendees; proceeds support CPK’s developmental guidance, caregiver support, resource navigation and Access Fund.
