Oviedo Mall has never been shy about its reputation as one of Central Florida's more eccentric shopping destinations — and now it has the award to prove it. Orlando Weekly named the Seminole County property its 2026 Best of Orlando Staff Pick for "Best Unhinged Event Schedule," calling it a "relentlessly quirky shopping center" in its annual Best of Orlando issue.
The recognition reflects years of deliberately unconventional programming. The mall's calendar has grown to include events like Goblin Market, Mall-O-Ween, Mall Rat Market, mini comic conventions, book clubs, 5K runs, teen photography classes and large-scale geek-culture gatherings — a lineup that, by design, doesn't look much like what you'd expect from a traditional shopping center.
Marketing and Events Director Josh Gunderson, who has been with the mall for five years, said the team stopped worrying about what events a mall is "supposed" to have and started focusing on what would actually bring people through the doors. The philosophy, as he put it, is simple: "If it gives people a reason to get out of the house, find their community and make a memory here, we're interested."
Rather than running from mall nostalgia, Oviedo Mall has leaned into it — celebrating the generations who grew up hanging out in shopping centers while giving younger visitors new reasons to do the same. Gunderson noted that retail remains a core part of the business, but the broader goal is positioning the mall as a "third place" beyond work and home.
Because Orlando Weekly's pick was a staff selection rather than a reader vote, the team sees it as especially meaningful validation — though Gunderson made clear the real takeaway is more fuel for experimentation. "We won't be trying for a more hinged event calendar any time soon," he said. "This was a dangerous amount of positive reinforcement." The award was reported by MySanfordHerald.
