ZORA! Festival Season | Culture, Food, Music & Fun

Discover Eatonville’s signature festival honoring its most famous daughter and much more.

More than half a century before Walt Disney World® Resort came to town, celebrated author Zora Neale Hurston grew up in historic Eatonville, just 30 minutes from Orlando’s entertainment districts. One of the first self-governing African American communities in the U.S., Eatonville honors Hurston’s memory with the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts, aka The Hurston, and the annual ZORA!® Festival Season.

Discover: African American Travel Guide

Eatonville’s signature event includes the Outdoor Festival of the Arts (Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2026), HATitude Cultural Flair (Oct. 18, 2026) and many other ways to celebrate. Here’s what you can expect from these celebrations of the arts, culture, history and education when they return.

Orlando vacation planning made easy — and free. Make a complimentary appointment with Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planners at a time and date of your choosing for the latest insider advice, special offers and more ahead of your next visit.

First presented in 1990, the ZORA! Festival Season is a multi-disciplinary, intergenerational series of public talks, conferences, movie screenings, arts education programming and more. Taking place in Eatonville and throughout Orange County, the season always kicks off on Hurston’s birthday (Jan. 7), which will be commemorated with a virtual celebration in 2026.

Discover: Orlando Events

Several other events follow in January, including the season’s signature celebration — the ZORA!® Outdoor Festival of the Arts — with still more programming scheduled through October. See what’s coming and make plans now to join the fun!

ZORA!® Outdoor Festival of the Arts

Held in the heart of Eatonville, the ZORA! Outdoor Festival of the Arts is where you need to be for the ultimate cultural experience of 2026. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, the celebration will feature incredible live performances and much more. Immerse yourself in interactive art, shop from over 80 vendors, take a journey through history, and enjoy family-friendly STEM activities.

The first day is always free and numerous ticket packages are available for Saturday and Sunday, including multiday and VIP options. Check back for more details as they become available.

Additional January Events

January 2026 programming will also include the following. Check with ZORAFestival.org for complete details.

Happy Birthday, Zora! (Jan. 7, 2026)

Celebrate Zora Neale Hurston’s birthday in a global online tribute featuring authors, artists and fans sharing stories, performances and reflections. It’s your digital doorway into the 2026 ZORA! Festival Season. Pricing: Free with RSVP.

Opening Exhibition: ‘Value Test: Brown Bag’ by Mary Graham (Jan. 24, 2026)

Ideal for art lovers and cultural thinkers, this exhibition will explore identity, resilience and heritage through contemporary mixed-media art. Pricing: Free with RSVP.

Vignettes From Let the People Sing (Jan. 29, 2026)

This enchanting revival of Zora Neale Hurston’s musical revue, From Sun to Sun, will bring her storytelling and musical genius to life through live performance and song. Pricing: $25 per person.

More ZORA!® Festival Season Events

ZORA! Festival organizers and the Town of Eatonville keep the celebration going with other events throughout the year. Check back for more details as they become available.

Gathering & Gabbing: Zora Neale Hurston Book Club, A Readers’ Choice Session (Feb. 15, 2026)

Engage in lively conversation around Hurston’s literary works and timeless themes in this book club for readers of all backgrounds. Pricing: Free with RSVP.

Conversation With the Curator: Featuring Lonnie Graham (March 12, 2026)

Enjoy an intimate evening with artist and curator Lonnie Graham offering fresh insights on Zora Neale Hurston’s artistic and cultural impact. Pricing: Free with RSVP.

Progressive Museum Tour (March 27, 2026)

This guided experience will link Eatonville’s and Maitland’s most important cultural landmarks, walking through history, art and heritage. Pricing: $30 per person (includes transportation).

Conversation With the Curator: Spring Series (May 14, 2026)

Continue the dialogue on art, culture and legacy in an evening conversation featuring guest artists and curators. Pricing: Free with RSVP.

HATitude Cultural Flair (Oct. 17, 2026)

Don your best Zora Neale Hurston-style hat for HATitude Cultural Flair. This fun event supports the ZORA! Festival’s after-school and summer academic programs for K-12 students. Pricing: $95 general admission, $150 VIP table.

If you can’t make it to Orlando during ZORA! Festival, note that historic Eatonville and The Hurston are worth visiting whenever you’re in Orlando. Downtown Orlando’s Parramore District and the City of Winter Park also have much for anyone interested in Orlando’s Black history.

Discover: Local History

Eatonville was one of hundreds of communities founded by and for African Americans in the southern U.S. between the 1880s and 1930s, and one of a handful remaining. Encompassing about 20 acres, the town is home to several buildings that were constructed between 1882 and 1946.

Discover: Black History Month Celebrations

In addition to honoring its namesake, The Hurston provides information about the community and displays work by legendary and emerging artists of African descent. Also available from the museum are tour brochures for the Zora Neale Hurston Trail, which ties Hurston’s writing to 16 sites related to Hurston’s life and 10 markers with her writing.

Discover: Juneteenth Celebrations

Last but not least, Hannibal Square was originally designated as the African American section of Winter Park when it was founded in 1881 — and became the site of one of the country’s earliest Civil Rights marches in 1887. You can explore the district’s history and other African American milestones at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center, which is operated by the adjacent Crealdé School of Art.

Discover: Things to Do in Winter Park

Discover more ways to celebrate local culture in the Theme Park Capital of the World, and take advantage of our free planning resources ahead of ZORA! Festival Season. We hope to see you there!