september

31julAll Day04octThe Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) invites visitors to keep marking America's Semiquincentennial Till Oct 4)

Event Details

The fireworks may be over, but the celebration is just getting started. The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) invites visitors to keep marking America’s Semiquincentennial – the 250th anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence – with USA 250: 250 Years on the Road to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

While July 4 kicked off a year of national reflection, USA 250 gives Central Floridians months more to explore what 250 years of American life has looked like, through photography, painting, printmaking, collage, etching, and weaving that map the country’s landscapes, labor, movements, and ideals.

Envisioned as a road trip across the United States, USA 250 trails significant historical points of view where artists have recognized, responded to, or documented changing human experiences. The earliest painting on view hails from the late 19th-century Hudson River School and is displayed alongside works across media, extending into the contemporary era.

Doris Ulmann, Unititled Farmer with Pair of Jennies

Each wall in the exhibition corresponds to one of five geographical regions, beginning with the Southeast and moving counterclockwise through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, the North and Northwest, and concluding with the Southwest. Visitors can take the wheel and choose their own route – from photographs of the National Parks and Depression-era landscapes to paintings of American labor and Pop Art prints commissioned for the 1976 Bicentennial.

The exhibition features works by some of the most recognized names in American art, including Fritz Scholder, Grant Wood, Ansel Adams, Thomas Moran, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Indiana, and Alfred Stieglitz, among others.

“In curating this exhibition, I wanted to share a breadth of experiences across the vast landscape that is the United States. Working with images and objects from our collection that recall the latter half of the 250 years since the American Revolution, a picture emerged of a nation that progressed through the Second Industrial Revolution and ushered in scientific, technological, social, urban, rural and environmental transformations,” said Katherine Page, associate curator at OMA. “Artists have been at the forefront of visualizing and recording those changes. As we honor the 250th anniversary of an ever-evolving country, I want visitors to dream and celebrate what the next 250 years of our future could hold.”

Also on view is an extension of the museum’s Echoes of the Ancient in Contemporary Voices exhibition: Mateo Blanco’s Arhuaco Flag (2025), a naturally dyed, handwoven cotton flag created in collaboration with the Arhuaco Indigenous people of Colombia and courtesy of the artist. The American flag represents Blanco’s journey, commemorates the nation’s 250th anniversary, and reflects on the enduring spirit of a country built on freedom, resilience, and the belief that everyone’s story matters.

USA 250 is on view at OMA through October 4.

For more information about the Orlando Museum of Art and upcoming events, please visit www.omart.org.

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About the Orlando Museum of Art: Founded in 1924, the Orlando Museum of Art is a leading cultural institution in the Southeast, dedicated to stimulating creativity and intellectual curiosity by connecting people from all backgrounds and experiences with compelling art and new ideas.

Time

July 31 (Friday) - October 4 (Sunday)

Location

Orlando Art Museum

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14sep(sep 14)10:00 am20(sep 20)6:00 pmColor Days: Purple

19sep7:30 amClermont Waterfront parkrun (Free 5k)

19sep01novScreamin' Green Hauntoween

26sep7:30 amClermont Waterfront parkrun (Free 5k)

26sep9:00 am1:00 pmOakland Nature Preserve Family-Friendly Fun Day

Event Details

The Oakland Nature Preserve will welcome visitors for a day of exploration, education and family-friendly fun on Saturday, September 26, from 9 am to 1 pm at 747 Machete Trail in Oakland. The annual event serves as a fundraiser for the preserve, with all proceeds supporting its conservation, education and community outreach programs.

A special highlight of this year’s event will be the dedication of the Peggy Sias Lantz Memorial Library, celebrating a lasting legacy of learning and environmental stewardship. Visitors will also have the opportunity to receive free books during the library dedication festivities.

Guests can enjoy a wide variety of activities and exhibits designed to showcase the natural beauty and ecological importance of Central Florida. Nature enthusiasts can participate in guided birding, uplands and meditative hikes, explore the preserve’s scenic boardwalk, and learn about local ecosystems through presentations, visual displays and interactive exhibits focused on birds, insects, wildlife and water preservation.

Additional attractions include Wildlife Encounters, boat and kayak tours, educational programs, a Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) highlight, and opportunities to learn about the preserve’s DarkSky initiatives and other innovative approaches to conservation.

Families will find plenty to enjoy, with kids activities, youth art displays, giveaways and hands-on experiences throughout the morning. Visitors can also browse exhibits presented by community organizations, conservation groups and local vendors.

Fundraising opportunities will include a silent auction, native plant sale, terrarium and tank sale, and a selection of merchandise, with proceeds directly benefiting the Oakland Nature Preserve’s mission.

The event will bring together exhibitors, educators, volunteers and nature lovers for a celebration of the environment and community spirit. Whether attendees are interested in wildlife, outdoor recreation, conservation education or simply spending time in nature, the festival offers something for all ages.

Parking will be available at Family Church, with complimentary shuttle service provided to and from the Oakland Nature Preserve throughout the event.

For organizers, the day represents more than a fundraiser—it is an opportunity to connect people with the natural world, inspire stewardship and demonstrate that conservation can be both meaningful and fun. From birding and wildlife encounters to educational presentations and community exhibits, visitors can expect a memorable morning filled with discovery, learning and, as organizers like to say, “fun people having fun.”

Time

(Saturday) 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Location

Oakland Nature Preserve

747 Machete Trail, Oakland, Florida 34760

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26sep9:00 am1:00 pmNature Fest at Oakland Nature Preserve

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