Originally developed by the Walt Disney Company, Celebration, FL is a master planned community near Walt Disney World. The design of this award-winning community includes a downtown, health center, school, post office, town hall, golf course, and a blend of townhouses, apartments and estate homes co-mingled within the same neighborhoods. Conceived as a pre-40's type of town, classical architecture prevails with garages located behind the houses and everything within walking distance. In fact, most locals can be seen walking, biking or using their Neighborhood Electric Vehicles to get around town.
LOCATION AND POPULATION:
Celebration, an unincorporated city in Osceola County, is located on the south side of Route 192, five miles south of Walt Disney World at the intersection of I-4 and U.S. Highway 192 East. Traveling east on I-4, downtown Orlando can be reached in about 30 minutes and Orlando International Airport is about 20 minutes away via highway 417. From 2000 to 2004, the population had grown rapidly from 2,736 to 9,500 residents. It is projected that the 2010 census will show a similar growth pattern.
DOWNTOWN:
Celebration Town Center, a lakeside shopping area, is home to many unique shops, restaurants and the AAA four-diamond boutique Celebration Hotel. A stroll down Market Street, the heart of Celebration's town center, offers a variety of shopping possibilities--everything from gifts and collectibles to adult and children's clothing...there's even a gourmet doggie bakery.
DINING:
After shopping or catching a movie at the AMC Celebration 2, the family friendly Celebration Town Tavern offers an extensive menu including snacks and New England seafood specialties. The award winning Columbia Restaurant, founded in Tampa in 1905, continues in its long tradition of offering fine Spanish/Cuban cuisine in an old -world setting. Cafe D'Antonio, with its lakeside view and choice of indoor or "al fresco" seating, features a menu with items representative of many of Italy's varied regions.
GOLF:
For the golf enthusiast Celebration Golf Club features a course designed by Robert Trent Jones that is both challenging for the professional and enjoyable for the amateur. Course amenities include a practice green, driving range and a practice chipping hole. There is also a 3 hole Junior Course suited for 5-9 year olds.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
If you are looking to spend some time sightseeing around Celebration, The Family Fun Station at 671 Front Street offers electric car rentals, bike and paddle boat rentals and remote control sail boats.
After enjoying a dinner at one of Celebration's many fine restaurants, nothing could be more romantic than a carriage ride provided by Misty Blue Acres Carriage located on Front Street. Rides are offered every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening from 6pm to 10pm.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Celebration Town Center, as the gathering place for the community, is home to many special events throughout the year.
Art Festival
Each spring art lovers flock to Celebration Spring Art Festival, a juried show for cash prizes. Art collectors can purchase paintings, sculpture, photography, pottery and many other types of artistic creations.
Great American Pie Festival
Town Center is also host the Great American Pie Festival sponsored by the American Pie Council. In addition to the much anticipated pie-eating contest, visitors get to enjoy the Never-Ending Pie Buffet featuring award winning pies, ice cream and toppings.
Oktoberfest
Autumn brings Oktoberfest to Celebration where autumn leaves fall each evening in the Town Center. The festival provides a chance to hop on a hayride, paint a pumpkin, dance to live music, take a stroll by the lake or just sit and people-watch.
"Now Snowing" Christmas Event
Come December it's time for the "Now Snowing" event at the festively decorated Town Center. Featuring live entertainment, carolers, horse drown carriage rides and hourly "snowfall" each evening, the town is transformed into a Winter Wonderland.
