October has arrived, and International Drive is buzzing with excitement as the weather cools down, providing a much-needed break from the summer heat and humidity while bringing cooler sunny days that make for the perfect temps for experiencing everything I-Drive has to offer. From celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month to indulging in thrilling expos and getting into the Halloween spirit, there’s something for everyone on I-Drive this October!
If you’ll be visiting this month, check out these exciting events happening this month to take your trip to Orlando’s Most Dynamic Neighborhood to the next level!
Hispanic Heritage Month
Kavas Tacos
Kavas Tacos may be newly opened at Pointe Orlando, but this new dining destination has already made a name for itself for offering guests good food and vibes, serving up a diverse menu with Tex-Mex flavors and playful takes on Mexican street fare!
For Hispanic Heritage Month, Kavas Tacos has put together a specially curated 3-course menu, priced at just $40 per person. To start, choose between Flautas, Ceviche, and Black Bean Empanadas. For the main course choose from Chicken Flautas, Skirt Steak, or Mezcal Mango Salmon. And save room for dessert because whether you choose their Coconut Tres Leches, Churro Donut Sammies, or Cookie and Horchata, it’s sure to be a sweet end to your dining experience.
For each menu sold during this Hispanic Heritage Month special that is available through October 15th, $2 will be donated to the Santiago & Friends Family Center for Autism. Making it the perfect way to indulge in the sumptuous flavors of Hispanic heritage while also benefiting a great local charity! Learn more here.
ProTip: Be sure to stick around for their nightly entertainment featuring fire dancers and more. The first show starts at 7 pm every night!
Cuba Libre Orlando
A long-time favorite for authentic Latin eats, amazing live entertainment, and an impeccable atmosphere that transports guests to an Old Havana courtyard, Cuba Libre is also offering a special meal to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Head to Cuba Libre with your favorite person, significant other, friend, or family member, and order up their Cuban Roast Pork Feast for Two through October 15th, and they’ll add on two complimentary classic desserts to go with it!
Their Cuban Roast Pork Feast for Two is a quintessential dish to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, featuring citrus-marinated pork shoulder that is slow-roasted for 10 hours and then shredded. At service, they crisp up the pork in a pan with the reduced cooking juices and then top it with onion-caper mojo, maduros, and crispy pork belly chicharrone before being served to your table in a custom-made ceramic pig grill! The meal includes a side of white rice and black beans. For your complimentary desserts, choose from some of their most popular dessert items, including Arroz con Leche, Cuban Flan, and Tres Leches.
If you’ll be dining at Cuba Libre for National Hispanic Heritage Month on a Friday or Saturday night, be sure to stay late to enjoy live Latin entertainment for a Latin-inspired night full of dinner, drinks, and dancing! Learn more about their Hispanic Heritage Special here, and peep what late-night entertainment will be happening during your visit here.
Expos Galore!
International Drive is known for hosting a diverse range of expos, and October is no exception. Whether you’re planning a wedding, fascinated by prehistoric creatures, or eager to spruce up your home and garden, there’s an expo just for you!
Orlando Home and Garden – October 6th – 8th
Tackling some home improvement projects this year? The Orlando Home and Garden Show is a must-attend, bringing everything you need to turn your next home improvement and outdoor projects from fantasy to reality!
With thousands of square feet of exhibitors, you’ll find the latest in products and services for everything from builders, contractors, materials, decks, pools, spas, entertainment systems, storage, plants, landscape displays and materials, kitchenware, and so much more!
Throughout the expo enjoy family-fun activities and entertainment, like live animal demos brought to the expo by Gatorland and Cool Zoo, animal adoptions, a make-and-take craft section, and so much more!
It’s a fun time for everyone in the family – and will surely be a productive weekend where you will find everything you need to crush your next home improvement or outdoor living project! Learn more today!
Jurassic Quest – October 20th – 22nd
Calling all Dino lovers! Embark on a journey through time as you encounter life-size dinosaurs for the perfect family adventure! If playing with adorable baby Dinos, excavating fossils, training a raptor while surrounded by behemoths like the sky-scraping Spinosaraus and the King himself, Tyrannosaurus rex, sounds like a fun time to you, you’re not going to want to miss the Jurassic Quest expo coming to the Orange County Convention Center on October 20th!
Jurassic Quest is the world’s largest and most popular Dino event, featuring unique and exciting experiences for the whole family! Observe a herd of life-size animatronic dinosaurs and enjoy a day of fun with the whole family at this world-famous expo coming to Orlando this October. Learn more and get your tickets now before they go extinct!
Bridal and Wedding Expo – October 22nd
Have you already set the date for your big day? Just engaged? Looking forward to your significant other popping the question? Or maybe you work in the wedding planning and event industry? The Bridal and Wedding Expo is a fun time for everyone and a productive weekend that offers soon-to-be brides everything they need to make their wedding dreams a reality!
Previous attendees to this popular annual expo have called the event “one-of-a-kind”, a “pre-wedding shower”, the “party before the party”, and the “best decision they ever made!”
Enjoy spectacular bridal fashion shows, live DJ and band demos, and food samples among hundreds of vendors featuring everything needed for your big day. Find the latest wedding trends, enjoy fun activities, learn about various honeymoon destinations, and so much more! Everything you need to plan your big day can be found at this expo, returning to Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center on October 22nd, from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Get all the details and get excited for the return of this fan-favorite event!
Halloween Haunts
It wouldn’t be October without some spine-tingling Halloween festivities. If you’re looking for details on theme park Halloween festivities, check out this Spooky Season on I-Drive blog post.
But, if you’re hoping to hit the town and enjoy some Halloween festivities this October, there are plenty of options to choose from!
Lucky Leprechaun Halloween Party on October 7
Take to I-Drive’s only Irish-owned & operated pub! Test your luck on October 7th with a night of mischief and merriment at their annual Halloween Bash. There will not be a cover charge for this event, and children are welcome. Enjoy an optional dinner buffet in between games, giveaways, and more! Get a free collectible Guinness glass to take home as a keepsake from the evening, and come dressed in your Halloween best for a chance to win the male, female, and child costume contests! The party starts at 7 pm. Get the details today!
Halloween Velvet Session at Hard Rock Hotel on October 20th
Experience the one-of-a-kind musical experience that is Velvet Sessions at Hard Rock Hotel, with a spooky twist, on October 20th! Journey former lead vocalist, Steve Augeri will be performing live in the lobby, with live performances of hit songs like “Don’t Stop Believing,” “Faithfully,” “Anyway You Want it”, “Open Arms,” “Who’s Crying Now,” “Separate Ways,” and more favorites! Enjoy specialty cocktails, passed appetizers, and a Halloween costume contest with rockin’ prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners! It will be a night of music and fun in one of the coolest hotels on the planet, with special add-ons like meet-and-greet tickets available for purchase. Learn more today and start making plans!
Howl at the Moon Halloween Party on October 27th
Join the eerie fun at Howl at the Moon, a popular dueling piano bar and nightlife destination on I-Drive. Enjoy live music, drink specials, shareable bucket drinks, costume contests, games, and an unforgettable night of revelry. Get the details here.
Trick or Read at Gods & Monsters on October 28th
Dive into a world of comics and collectibles with a Halloween twist at Gods & Monsters – a popular comic book store, home to Orlando’s only post-apocalyptic bar! From 11 am to 12 am, enjoy 10% off storewide, plus two free trick-or-read comics per person, a costume prize raffle, trick or treating, and a costume after-party at Vault 5421! Then, for guests 21 and up, from 8 pm to 1 am, head to the Vault for themed drink specials, cosplay bartenders, spooky tunes and videos, cosplay cage-dancing, and door prizes for everyone in costume! Have somewhere else to be? The doors open at 3 p.m., so come early and pre-game during Happy Hour which features 20% off all drinks at the bar! Learn more about this event that perfectly combines comics, creativity, and costumes for a unique celebration of the spooky season in the heart of Orlando!
Family Pubkin Fest at Pub Orlando on October 29th
Pub Orlando is the go-to spot for pub fare, ambiance, and cold beers poured from their pour-your-own beer wall! And this October, back for its third year, is their annual Family Pubkin Fest! Gather at this popular Orlando pub located in the heart of Pointe Orlando on October 29th at 12 pm to enjoy an interactive DJ, games and prizes, face painting, a magic show, costume contests, trick or treating, drink specials for guests over 21, delicious bites, and so much more! Plus, the event is dog-friendly outside, so bring your pup along for an afternoon of fun! There will even be a dog costume contest!
Tin Roof Halloween Weekend on October 29th
Tin Roof Orlando is one of Orlando’s favorite local music joints, a haven for music lovers and artists alike, where the setting is casual, the cold drinks are always flowing, and the menu boasts better than bar bites to enjoy the sound of live talent nightly! And on October 29th, they’ll be hosting a Halloween Weekend Celebration! Enjoy live music, mouth-watering food, and fantastic drinks at Tin Roof’s Halloween weekend celebration that will feature live music all weekend from Soundscarper, Leonard Brothers Band, Actual Bank Robbers, R.A.D., Stereo FM, and more! Get the details and get ready to celebrate Halloween like a rock star in the center of the action at ICON Park Orlando.
October on International Drive promises an eclectic mix of cultural celebrations, expos to inspire your creativity and festive Halloween celebrations that will have you soaking in all the wicked wonders of the spooky season in the heart of Orlando. Whether you’re dancing the night away at a Hispanic Heritage Month fiesta, exploring the past with dinosaurs, or embracing the spooky season, I-Drive has something exciting in store for every visitor. Don’t miss out on the fun; see our events calendar for all the exciting events happening on I-Drive this October, and start planning an unforgettable adventure on International Drive!