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DOWNTOWN BUSINESS NEWS
Orlando 2023 Election Results
The election results from the 2023 Orlando election are in, where seats for the Orlando mayor, Orlando city commissioner District 4, and Orlando city commissioner District 6 seats were on the ballot. All three city incumbents — Mayor Buddy Dyer, District 4 Commissioner Patty Sheehan, and District 6 Commissioner Bakari Burns — won reelection this past Tuesday. Tony Ortiz of District 2 was reelected by default, since he faced zero challengers. Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer, facing three opponents on the ballot this year, handily won a sixth term in office, with 72% of the vote. Six-term incumbent Patty Sheehan, who's served on city council longer than any other city commissioner, won reelection on Tuesday with 64% of the vote (nearly 4,500 votes total), facing off against two challengers. District 6 incumbent Bakari Burns, who was first elected in 2019, won re-election with 82% of the vote. Read the full 2023 Orlando election results HERE.
Wesh OUC Marathon Food Drive Opportunity
In addition to the annual Share Your Christmas Food Drive, WESH 2 will broadcast the OUC Orlando Half Marathon on Saturday, December 2 from 7am-10am. The combination of these two exciting, community-focused events provide a great opportunity to engage neighborhoods in the City of Orlando to help give back during the holiday season. Participants are asked support the food drive by collecting non-perishable items either before December 2nd or on race day. To learn more about how to get involved or watch the marathon, click HERE!
13th Annual Toy Drive To Benefit Local Families
Orange County Mayor Demings kicked off the 13th Annual Toy Drive on Monday morning, which is open for donations now through December 4th for online shopping and December 11th for in-person donations. The Toy Drive has collected nearly 75,000 toys and gifts that directly benefit local youth since the program began. Last year, the drive collected more than 9,000 toys and serviced Orange County Neighborhood Centers for Families and 16 other local nonprofit organizations. For more information, including a complete list of drop-off locations, suggested toys for various age groups, and the link to shop online, please visit www.ocfl.net/ToyDrive.
DTO EVENTS
2023 Veterans Day Parade
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and his Veterans Advisory Council will honor the courageous men and women of the armed forces at the 24th annual City of Orlando Veterans Day Parade in downtown Orlando. Following the parade, viewers and participants can continue celebrating and honoring our veterans at the city's Veterans Day Celebration event from 1-3pm at Lake Eola Park. The celebration and veterans’ information fair will feature music, food and fun for the whole family. The opening ceremony will take place at Orange Avenue near Central Boulevard. The parade will begin at Robinson Street and Orange Avenue, turning left on Central Boulevard, left on Rosalind Avenue and ending at Robinson Street. Find out where to park and how to get around downtown here.
Festival of Trees, Enchanted Holidays
Don't miss the 37th annual Festival of Trees, Enchanted Holidays, from November 11-19th at the Orlando Museum of Art. This event features a charming, wooded wonderland to kick off the Christmas season. Ticket holders will enjoy enchanting décor, more than 30 designer-decorated trees, exceptional gingerbread houses, and wreaths. Visitors will also participate in the crowd favorite Entertaining and Design tablescapes raffle, silent auction, photo ops with Santa, and more. In addition, there will be a holiday shopping experience in Toyland, a pop-up boutique, as well as live entertainment throughout the event. Several special events are offered, including the Opening Night Party, Breakfast with Santa, and a children's Reindeer Romp party. Click here to learn more and get your tickets for this holiday event!
Jingle Eve at Ivanhoe Village
Get ready for the best party of the year for more than 20 years running - Ivanhoe Village's Jingle Eve on Saturday, November 18th! Spanning stretches of Orange Avenue and Virginia Drive, as well as Gaston Edwards Park, families and adults alike find no shortage of yuletide festivities. From beer gardens to music, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, a children’s holiday village, and special event promotions by Ivanhoe Village retailers, restaurants, and bars, the evening culminates with fireworks displayed high above the shores of Lake Ivanhoe. Jingle Eve is free and open to the public, with the exception of a premium “12 Wines of Christmas” walk. Learn more and get tickets for the wine walk HERE!