Orlando events at another best-kept secret – Mead Gardens, Winter Park

I’ve shared numerous venues in and around Central Florida that are some of the best kept secrets when looking to book unique locations for special events. Although some of my recommendations fall within the mega-production venues that can simply be found in first four pages of any Orlando events web search. Here’s another one of those locations that you may not have heard too much about, Mead Gardens, Winter Park.

Located a very short distance west of downtown Winter Park, nested within some of the most beautiful Oak hammocks in Central Florida, is a city owned and maintained botanical wonderland known as Mead Gardens. Named after the internationally known horticulturalist, Theodore Mead the garden was founded in the early 1940s. This is the perfect location to produce some of the most memorable events in the Central Florida area. For those with GPS capability, the physical address is 1500 South Denning Drive, Winter Park, FL 32789. The park is open to the public 365 days a year from dawn to dusk with plenty of free parking.

The garden is very versatile when thinking about producing events. Comprised of three separate facilities, the first venue can accommodate as many as 300 guests in the outdoor Ampitheater. In addition to the Ampitheater, there is an indoor, 3,000 sf. Winter Park Garden House that is also available for events. This facility is equipped with a full kitchen, including full size ovens, micro-waves, and 

-->refrigerator/freezers for catering almost any event. The Garden House can accommodate up to 175 guests. Also on-site is a covered picnic area that is ideal for children’s parties and family reunions.

In addition to the on-site venues, immediately adjacent to the gardens is a fourth venue that can be contracted for events. The Florida Federation of Garden Club’s facility is perfect for weddings, receptions, banquets, and any public or private functions. Contact and booking information is available on Mead Garden’s website. If you’d like to check out an upcoming event at the gardens, take a look at, "The Great Duck Derby". This event features a series of rubber duck races and a ton of free family activities on Saturday, February 23, 2013, from 10 am to 2 pm. The World Famous Peabody Hotel Ducks, which are an Orlando event by themselves, begin the festivities with a march to the Amphitheater at 10:00 am.

Now, get out there and enjoy some great Orlando events!