A February morning in Orlando starts at 13°C (55°F), warming to 24°C (75°F) under mostly clear skies. Daylight runs from 07:07 to 18:12. Universal Mardi Gras launches with parades and concerts, while SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival and the Bach Festival Society concerts in Winter Park draw local crowds. Valentine’s Day sees a spike in dining demand. It’s the driest month—ideal for walking and outdoor events. Crowds remain light except on holiday weekends, and cool evenings invite cozy meals. Book ahead for festival weekends and romantic dinners.
Pro tips for visiting Orlando in February
• Reserve Universal Mardi Gras Saturday concert tickets weeks in advance—headliners sell out quickly. • Book Valentine’s Day dining at Disney’s signature restaurants 60 days ahead for best tables. • Go early to SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival for shorter food stall lines. • Head to Winter Park’s Bach Festival Society concerts for affordable, high-quality music. • Avoid President’s Day weekend if you want the lowest crowds and prices. • Choose weekday park visits for minimal waits. • Pack a light sweater for cool evenings—temperatures can dip after sunset. • Skip outdoor pools unless heated; water is still chilly in February.
What to eat in Orlando in February: Seasonal delicacies
1/5
Bacalaítos (Salt Cod Fritters)
Bacalaítos are lace-edged Puerto Rican fritters made from desalted shredded salt cod folded into a seasoned batter and fried crisp. February fits because Lent-season cooking begins to dominate menus from late winter into spring. Eat them hot and order a second round if you’re sharing, they cool fast. Available at Caribbean restaurants, including El Chinchorreo De My Friends.
Cuban black bean soup simmers dried beans with sofrito, cumin, and bay leaf, finished with a little vinegar and traditionally served over white rice. February works because Orlando’s winter weather stays cool and dry, and this is peak comfort-food season. Go for lunch, it’s common as a daily special. Available at Black Bean Deli in Winter Park.
A Cubano layers mojo-roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, and yellow mustard on Cuban bread, pressed until crisp. February is a good month because Orlando’s winter visitor season keeps Cuban cafeterías busy at lunchtime, so turnover is high and sandwiches come off the press constantly. Pair it with a soup for a full meal. Available at Cuba Libre on International Drive.
Mofongo is fried green plantains mashed with garlic, olive oil, and pork crackling, then formed and filled with pernil, shrimp, or stewed chicken. February fits because the mild, dry weather makes it easy to spend an evening exploring Orlando’s Puerto Rican dining scene beyond the parks. Order it with a sauced protein, it drinks up broth well. Available at Guavate on Alafaya Trail.
Tostones are green plantain slices fried, pressed flat, then fried again until crisp, usually served with a garlic mojo dip. February suits them because cooler nights make restaurant-hopping in Orlando’s Latin neighborhoods more comfortable than summer. They’re best as a shared starter while you wait for a main dish like mofongo. Available at Puerto Rican restaurants across Orlando, including Guavate.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, ZORA! Outdoor Festival of the Arts, Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, Dragon Parade and Lunar New Year Fest
👥
Crowds
Fewer tourists, shorter queues at attractions, and a quieter overall vibe, as locals may be on holiday.
🧳
What to pack
Light sweater, jeans, umbrella for rare showers, comfortable walking shoes, sunhat, scarf for evenings.
🍽️
Seasonal treats
Bacalaítos, black bean soup, flan de queso, pan con bistec, Florida strawberries, hot Butterbeer
Festivals and events in Orlando this February 2026
A park-wide performing and visual arts season at EPCOT, with Broadway concert sets, galleries, and interactive installations. You’ll notice the art-themed food marketplaces across World Showcase. It’s included with admission, but dining events and prime weekends book early.
A multi-day arts and heritage festival honoring Zora Neale Hurston across Eatonville and Winter Park. Expect visual art, live music, food, and community programming that feels far from the resort corridor. Go early in the day for easier parking and shorter vendor lines.
Universal’s multi-week Mardi Gras season combines a nightly parade of illuminated floats with bead throwing and an international food marketplace. Saturday nights add concert headliners that drive the biggest crowds. The parade is in park admission, but concerts often need separate tickets.
A long-running classical music festival hosted at Rollins College, staged around choral and orchestral concerts in Knowles Memorial Chapel. The experience feels local and tradition-heavy, not tourist-driven. Choose dates early, because prime weekend concerts and seats tend to sell first.
A three-day arts takeover of Downtown Orlando streets and venues, mixing projection art, live music, and interactive installations in non-traditional spaces. It’s designed for wandering between blocks, not sitting in one hall. Go early on the first evening to see more before peak foot traffic.
A major agricultural fair in Plant City, often done as an Orlando day trip, built around fresh winter strawberries, livestock exhibits, and a carnival midway. Big entertainment acts bring evening crowds. Go on a weekday if you can, weekend traffic and parking lines can slow the day.
A Princess-themed runDisney race weekend at Walt Disney World with a half marathon plus 5K and 10K events and a costumed runner scene. The courses run through resort areas and parks, so it doubles as a spectator event. Expect early morning starts, road closures, and higher hotel demand in the Disney zone.
A Lunar New Year parade and street-festival day in Orlando’s Mills 50 District, anchored on East Colonial Drive. Expect lion dances, dragon performances, food vendors, and community programming tied to the neighborhood’s Asian-American businesses. Go earlier for easier parking and to see performances before the densest afternoon crowds build.
A short-and-feature film festival hosted at UCF’s Nicholson School of Communication, with screenings, director panels, and industry-facing programming. It’s a useful window into Central Florida’s film community beyond the tourist core. Buy tickets early for evening blocks, and plan transport, UCF is a drive from Downtown and the resort corridor.
Plan ahead: must-visit experiences for Bali in February
![[Special Promo] Kennedy Space Center Florida Admission Tickets](https://cdn-imgix.headout.com/media/images/7f6dd5c223169da71f959c82dc4a590b-1647---Orlando---Admission-Tickets-to-Kennedy-Space-Center---14.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&w=507.59999999999997&h=336.59999999999997&q=90&crop=faces&fit=crop)
