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Holiday Closure:

Labor Day, Monday, September 6

 City government offices will be closed.
No trash, recycling, yard waste or bulk collection on Monday, September 6.
Services will resume on your next scheduled collection days. 
If you have questions, please call 407.656.2256. 

The public is invited to a complimentary four-day Remembrance 9-11 Tribute Exhibit as the country marks the 20^th anniversary of 9-11. The exhibit will include artifacts, photos, and video footage as well as personal accounts from survivors. Please see details below.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Winter Garden

Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) with a variety of cultural and entertainment options to honor the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. 

The City encourages you and your family to commemorate the annual celebration through food, music, dance, art, and literature. Starting in September, you will find cultural and entertainment options in several locations.

LIVE MUSIC
 
Fridays on the Plaza
7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Centennial Plaza, center of Downtown Winter Garden, Free
 
Flamenco Live Music - September 17
Don Soledad
 
Mariachi Live Music - September 24
Mariachi Internacional Tapatio Band 
 
Farmers Market
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Downtown Pavilion, 104 S. Lakeview Avenue, Free
 
Flamenco live music – Saturday, September 25
Flamenco Tropical with Jessica Pacheco
 
ART CLASSES
 
Create Hispanic Heritage Art at Winter Garden Farmers Market - Saturday, September 18
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Downtown Pavilion, 104 S. Lakeview Avenue, Free (no RSVP required)

Create Hispanic Inspired Art at SOBO Art Studio – Saturday, September 25
 
Classes are open to ALL AGES – Adults and Kids are Welcome! (1st grade and younger must be accompanied by an adult)
9:00 am -10:00 am          Mexican Bark Painting ...........  $15. Materials included
10:15 am -11:15 am        Pottery Painting.......................  $20.Materials included
11:30 am -12:30 pm        Foil Art ......................................$15. Materials included
(Members: $3 discount per session)
 
SOBO Art Gallery & Studio
127 S. Boyd Street
To register, click here 

CALL TO ARTISTS
 
SOBO Art Gallery has a special Call to Artists taking place right now for works representing Hispanic Heritage Month. Selected submissions will be displayed and available for sale at local businesses.
 
For more information, call 407-347-7996 or visit www.wgart.org.
 
THEATER
 
Man of La Mancha at Garden Theatre
Showing now through September 19
 
To purchase tickets, click here 
 
WINTER GARDEN LIBRARY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH EVENTS

Click here for list of virtual events.

WINTER GARDEN RESTAURANTS

In addition, Winter Garden is fortunate to boast a large selection of Hispanic- and Latino-owned restaurants specializing in authentic cuisine. Observe this national holiday by visiting some of your favorite eateries or venture to try something new.  .  

Click here for a sampling of these area restaurants and more information about Hispanic Heritage Month activities in Winter Garden. 
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Budget Hearings will be held in September

The City of Winter Garden will review and approve the 2021/22 budget at the following public meetings:

Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at 6:30 pm  
 
The meetings will be held at Winter Garden City Hall, Commission Chambers, and are open to the public

Living locally means patronizing locally owned and operated businesses, working within the community in which you live, buying locally produced merchandise if possible, and supporting local causes and organizations. However, most of all, enjoying all the things your community has to offer! As we head into the cooler months, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of some wonderful classes offered by our Parks and Recreation Department, attend local events and community staples such as the farmers market, and partake of the local arts scene. Don’t miss out!  

Art in Public Places Exhibit Opens at City Hall 

Did you know that the front lobby of City Hall also serves as an art gallery? The Art in Public Places Gallery displays rotating art exhibits for the public to enjoy. Regular contributors include the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, Crealdé School of Art, Winter Garden Art Association/SOBO Art Gallery, as well as general public juried exhibits several times a year. A new exhibit just went up today!

For The Love of Trees Art Exhibit

2D and 3D works that reflect our love for trees and the need to keep planting them.

September 1 – October 29
Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 5:50 pm

Art in Public Places Gallery
City Hall, 300 W. Plant Street
Free

 Live Music Every Friday

Catch live music every Friday night from 7:00-9:00 pm in the center of Downtown at Centennial Plaza.

This month’s Fridays on the Plaza musical line-up:

• September 3 - Jade Frances (Pop, Acoustic)
• September 10 - Grimes Alley (Blues, Country, Acoustic)
• September 17 - Don Soledad (Flamenco)
• September 24 - Mariachi Internacional Tapatio (Mariachi)

The more than 2,000 small businesses in Winter Garden make our city a great place to live and work. Please show them your appreciation during National Small Business Week (September 13-15) by shopping, dining, and “Living Local.”

Healthy Selfie Contest Starts Today

Join the fun of  the 5^th Anniversary Healthy Selfie Contest by snapping and submitting selfies of doing physical or mental wellbeing activities. Hosted by Healthy West Orange, enter your healthy selfies into the contest from September 1-16 for a chance to win prizes. Everyone is invited to be an online judge from September 17-20 and the winners will be announced on September 23. There is also a Healthy Selfie 5K Your Way during the month of September as well as an in-person walk/run/bike on Saturday, September 11, that will provide a great healthy selfie backdrop. For details on how to enter the contest/vote and about the 5K, click here.

Save the Date for Upcoming Fall Events

11^th Annual Rotary Poker Tournament – October 11
Outdoor Dining Month – October 1 -31
Halloween Experience Downtown – October 22-31
Harvest Sidewalk Sale & Stroll Downtown – October 23
Winter Garden Heritage & Music Festival – November 6
Health & Harvest Festival at the Farmers Market– November 6
Masonic Lodge Fall Festival and the Arts – November 6
Donut Dash 5K Run/Walk presented by WGPAL – November 6  
Challenge 22: RuckWalk 2021, American Legion Post #63 – November 13 
Craft Affair hosted by Parks & Recreation – November 20
Shop Small Business Saturday – November 27
Living Local Month -- Shop & Dine Local to Support Small Businesses – November 1-30
 
Click on links above to register and stay tuned to www.downtownwg.com/downtown-winter-garden-events for details to come.

Don’t Bag Recyclables

If you put recycling material in a plastic bag before placing it in your recycling cart, all that time spent emptying and rinsing your recyclables is wasted. When that bag gets to the sorting facility, it will be pulled out of the pile and thrown in the trash.

The sorting facility, also called a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), does not have time to  open all the plastic bags. Since the MRF does not know what is inside the bag, it will throw all bagged materials in the trash, causing all those recyclables to go to the landfill.

It is fine to collect your recyclables in a plastic bag in your home, but on recycling day,  empty the bag into the cart. This will make your recycling efforts worthwhile and you can  reuse the bag for trash or next week’s recyclables. Remember, it does not matter if the bags are clear, black, white or purple; plastic bags are not allowed in your recycling cart.

Keep it Loose, Don’t Bag Recyclables!

Questions? 407.877.5193

Schedule Irrigation System for Efficiency

The St. Johns River Water Management District recommends applying moderate amounts of water to create a healthy, drought and stress-tolerant lawn. For most Florida soils, applying no more than three-quarters of an inch of water per application is enough to revitalize the grass. Saturate the root zone and then let soil dry to encourage healthy, deep root growth. Overwatering promotes weed growth, disease and fungus.

Questions? 407.877.5193

Fall into Fun with Winter Garden
PARKS & RECREATION!

Find dates, details and fees at: Parks and Recreation or call 407.656.4155.

Tai Chi, Yoga, Martial Arts, Tennis, Softball, 50+ Activities, Special Olympics Activities, Trips, Horticulture Lectures, Guitar Lessons, Art Classes, Kickball, Preschool Activities, and more! Click here for dates, details, and fees or call 407.656.4155. 

Youth & Adult Tennis Lessons

Highly skilled instructor brings years of experience and knowledge to participants. Class space is limited, advanced registration required. Private lessons available upon
request.

Six-week session beginning September 6 and November 1
5 years and older
Chapin Station Park
501 West Crown Point Cross Road

Gentle Yoga

Great for beginners or anyone that wants to learn the basics of yoga. Yoga involves stretching and strengthening exercises, breathing techniques, and relaxing meditation.

Tuesdays | 7:15 – 8:15 pm
16 years and older
$9 City Resident; $10 Nonresident per class

Zumba

Move your hips and exercise in disguise! An exciting, dance-fitness class that features exotic rhythms set to high energy international beats.

Mondays and Wednesdays | 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Saturdays | 9:00 – 10:00 am
$5 City Resident; $6 Nonresident per class $40 City Resident; $46 Nonresident per month

Zumba Gold

Active older adults who are looking for a modified Zumba class that recreates the original moves you love at a lower-intensity.
Zumba Gold introduces easy-to-follow Zumba choreography that focuses on balance,  range of motion, and coordination.

Mondays and Thursdays
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
$3 per class City Resident; $4 Nonresident

Systema 

This Russian Martial Art focuses on self-defense methods, greater strength and endurance, patience and working with others. Winter Garden is the only place in Central Florida to practice this art used by Russian Special Forces!

Mondays | 7:00 – 8:30 pm        
18 years and older
$15 per class
$45 City Resident / $55 Nonresident per 4 – week session

Tai Chi 
An ancient Chinese exercise that emphasizes relaxation, breathe control, correct posture, balance and flexibility to develop the mind and body. One free introductory lesson in Tai Chi is offered for all first timers. For more information, please click here.

Tuesdays & Thursdays  | 9:00 – 10:00 am
$55 City Resident / $60 Nonresident per month

Super Soccer Stars
Super Soccer Stars is a soccer development program for children 18 months - 3 years old. All classes teach soccer skills in a fun, non-competitive and educational environment. Through our age - specific curriculum we use soccer to nurture and build self-confidence and team work. Each session last 4 weeks, with new sessions starting each month.  
 
Tuesdays beginning September 7, October 5, November 2, and December 7
Saturdays beginning September 11, October 9, and November 6

18 - 24 months; weekdays 5:15 – 5:45 pm, weekends 10:00 - 10:30 am
2 - 3 years; weekdays 5:50 – 6:35, weekends 10:40 - 11:20 am 

$56 City Residents; $64 Nonresidents
* First time participants require a new jersey, purchased at first session for $25

Craft Affair Vendor Sign Up for Ages 50+
If you are 50+ and interested in being a craft vendor at the popular annual arts & crafts fair hosted by the Parks & Recreation Department, sign up no later than October 20 by calling 407-656-4155. One-of-a-kind handcrafted items for sale are made exclusively by our 50+ creative friends, but everyone of all ages is invited to shop the fair.
 
Vendor Sign up Deadline: October 20 (ages 50+)
Event Date: Saturday, November 20
Time:    10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Participate in Your City

There are many different ways you can participate in your City government.  Here are some options for you to consider: 
 

VOLUNTEER

The City of Winter Garden is currently seeking volunteers for ALL Boards and Committees. There are open seats on a number of advisory boards and committees that welcome your participation. Most have monthly meetings and require only a few hours of volunteer time per month. For those interested in serving, please complete the Board Interest Form.

To find out more, contact the City Clerk’s office at 407-656-4111, ext. 2297, or stop by City Hall at 300 W. Plant St.
 

JOIN A CLASS OR LEAGUE

Sign up for one of the many classes or leagues offered by the City of Winter Garden Parks and Recreation Department.
 

ATTEND A MEETING

Attend City meetings. Join us in the City Hall Commission Chambers. Check out the calendar for upcoming meetings & events.

*The City has resumed in-person meetings. In the event you are unable to attend, there may be a temporary option to listen remotely via GoTo Webinar. Please check the individual meetings here to see if this an option for the meeting you would like to attend.  

*City Commission Meeting recordings are available the next business day following the meeting, Click here to listen.
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Local Vaccination Sites

There are a number of local options to get a COVID-19 vaccine. All vaccines are free. For a detailed list of vaccination sites, click here.

COVID-19 information for both residents and businesses can be found on the COVID-19 Resources page of the City website.