Good bye 2023 👋

And just like that, another year is in the books.

Hi, friends! It’s Brenda, back in your inbox for all the Central Florida Happenings!

We’re keeping this newsletter brief! I hope you all had a great holiday break and if you’re looking for events this weekend to celebrate the new year, I’ve got ya covered.

Let’s get into what’s happening ⤵️

One of my most memorable New Year’s Eves was when my mom took our family to Sarasota to see the Pineapple Drop.

It was different than the typical celebrations we’d do in Naples, when we would just go to the beach and watch fireworks 🎆.

If you’re looking for something a little different to celebrate the new year, I put together a county-by-county list of events of fireworks, dinners and more. Click here to check it out.

And speaking of something different: you’ve heard of the Polar Plunge, but have you heard of the “DeLeon Dunk?” You can join others and jump into 72-degree water at DeLeon Springs State Park on New Year’s Day. Click here to learn more 👀.

This weekend is your last chance to experience the Magic of Lights at Daytona International Speedway.

The dazzling drive-through experience features over 1 million lights and honestly, it’s perfect for this weekend if you want to stay out of the cold but still enjoy lights 🥶.

Click here for tickets.

Other happenings:

📍 Pin your photos: We want to see fireworks! Send us photos or videos by sharing them on our PinIt! page under “Central Florida Happenings.” Be sure to include where the photos were taken. Click here to do so.

📅 Kwanzaa events in Central Florida: The weeklong celebration of African heritage and African-American culture is happening right now. Ocala and DeLand have upcoming events, including one tonight. Click here to learn more.

See you all next year (sorry, now I sound like my boss...).

Hope you all have a safe and fun weekend!

- Brenda