THIS WEEK'S SCOUT REPORT
V'S SCOUT REPORT
FROM THE FIELD
This week V sniffed out something quietly special — Fred Rogers' actual campus, a dog festival worth the drive, two art weekends, and a craft beer event that has donated over $600K to pet rescues in 14 years. Big two weeks. Here's what's worth leaving the house for.
V's Feature Pick
🎨 ROLLINS COLLEGE MISTER ROGERS WALKING TOUR
When: Mon–Fri, 10 AM–4 PM through March 31
Where: Rollins College, start at Olin Library, 1000 Holt Ave, Winter Park
Cost: FREE
March 20 would have been Fred Rogers' 98th birthday — which makes this the right week to finally feature this. Rollins College has a self-guided, 5-stop walking tour of his actual campus: handwritten letters, his mother's hand-knitted sweater worn on the show, his sneakers, a 7-foot bronze sculpture, and the marble plaque reading "Life is for Service" — the one he carried a photo of in his wallet his entire life. Downloadable audio guide available.
This is the most introvert-friendly thing on this week's list. Quiet, self-paced, outdoors on one of the most beautiful campuses in Florida. About an hour. Two things to know: campus parking is limited on weekdays — park on Holt Ave or Fairbanks and walk in. This is a working campus, so be respectful. Dog-friendly status not explicitly confirmed — leash required at minimum, check before you bring yours.
Two weeks left — this ends March 31.
GET INFO →
STACKED WEEKEND callout
TWO WAYS TO STACK YOUR WEEKENDS
Saturday March 21 — the morning stack: 8 AM — Winter Park Farmers' Market (dogs welcome) 9 AM — Clermont Pups in the Park (35 min west, worth the drive) 11 AM — LiveFest at Lake Eola (back east, go early — Spring Break Saturday)
Weekend March 27–29 — the art weekend: Fri Mar 27, 6:30 PM — Uptown Art Expo Kickoff Concert, Van Halen tribute Sat Mar 28, 10 AM — Uptown Art Expo opens + Pints N' Paws in Sanford (pick one or split the day) Sun Mar 29 — Farmers' market of your choice → Uptown Art Expo closing day
Monday anchor: Audubon Park Community Market, Mar 23, 5–8 PM. Dog-friendly, low-key, local.
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
V-APPROVED PICKS
🐕 CLERMONT PUPS IN THE PARK
When: Sat Mar 21, 9 AM |
Where: Lake Hiawatha Preserve, Clermont
Cost: FREE
Annual city event — lure course, superhero costume contest (registration at the event), Puppuccino with a Cop, canine activities, and pet resource vendors.
City of Clermont runs this annually, which means city parks staff on site and actual organization. About 35 minutes west of downtown Orlando — yes it's a drive, but this is one of the better dedicated dog events in the metro area. Worth it.
🎨 UPTOWN ART EXPO — ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
When: Fri Mar 27–Sun Mar 29 | Where: Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs |
Cost: FREE
13th year — 140+ juried artists, chalk street art with People's Choice voting, and live tribute bands all weekend: Completely Unchained (Van Halen, Friday), The Broken Hearts (Tom Petty, Saturday), Ultimate Santana Tribute (Sunday). Lakeside park, international food trucks, craft beer and wine available.
Free parking in Altamonte Mall lots. Friday evening is your best bet for breathing room — Saturday afternoon crowds build fast. No pets, no coolers.
Bring a blanket for the amphitheater.
🐕 PINTS N' PAWS — HISTORIC SANFORD
When: Sat Mar 28, 11 AM|
Where: West End Trading Co., 202 S Sanford Ave, Sanford|
Cost: FREE to attend
14 years in, over $600K donated to local pet rescues — this event has earned its reputation. 100+ breweries, food trucks, live music, and vendor market along historic downtown Sanford.
Bring your dog — that's the whole point.
Attendance is free; beer tasting wristbands are $46.75 GA (21+) if you want them. From my hospitality experience, a 14-year track record with this level of charity giving means they run a tight ship.
Get there by 10:30 AM — downtown Sanford fills up fast and street parking goes early.
LiveFest at Lake Eola + TPD/Art After Dark
When: Thu–Sat Mar 19–21 |
Where: Thornton Park + Lake Nona + Lake Eola
Cost: FREE
Three ways to open the weekend. Thursday March 19 — TPD Night Market at Thornton Park, local makers, food trucks, dogs welcome.
Friday March 20 — Art After Dark Lake Nona under The Beacon, dogs on leash welcome, free garage parking.
Saturday March 21 — LiveFest at Lake Eola, 11 AM–3 PM, live music and food trucks on the east lawn. Spring Break Saturday — go early if you want breathing room.
ALSO THIS WEEK
🐕 MARKETS, A MONDAY GEM & ONE SPLURGE
Dog-friendly markets running both weekends: Winter Park Farmers' Market Saturdays 8 AM–1 PM (arrive before 8:30 AM, parking fills fast). Lake Eola Farmers' Market Sundays March 22 and 29, 10 AM–3 PM. Maitland Farmers' Market at Lake Lily same Sundays 9 AM–1 PM for a quieter alternative.
Monday anchor: Audubon Park Community Market every Monday 5–8 PM at the Stardust Video & Coffee parking lot on E. Winter Park Rd. Dog-friendly, leashed well-behaved pets welcome, pet vendors on site. Low-key neighborhood market that deserves more love — this is exactly the kind of thing locals miss because it's not on the tourist radar.
One splurge worth knowing: Fat Ham at Orlando Shakes runs through March 29 — tickets $25–45. Pulitzer Prize-winning play, a Southern-fried reimagining of Hamlet with a Black, queer lead. Culturally significant if theater is your thing.
THIS WEEK'S INSIDER TIP
Saturday March 21 — the morning stack:
8 AM — Winter Park Farmers' Market (dogs welcome)
9 AM — Clermont Pups in the Park (35 min west, worth the drive)
11 AM — LiveFest at Lake Eola (back east, go early — Spring Break Saturday)
Weekend March 27–29 — the art weekend:
Fri Mar 27, 6:30 PM — Uptown Art Expo Kickoff Concert, Van Halen tribute
Sat Mar 28 — Uptown Art Expo opens + Pints N' Paws in Sanford (pick one or split the day)
Sun Mar 29 — Farmers' market of your choice → Uptown Art Expo closing day
Monday anchor: Audubon Park Community Market, Mar 23, 5–8 PM. Dog-friendly, low-key, local.
FROM V'S FIELD NOTES
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
“The best things in Orlando aren't on the tourist map. They're on the trail — you just have to know where to sniff.” -V
Nose to the ground, locals approved. — V
Got a dog-friendly or cultural event I should know about? Hit reply.
Read this online: https://localsapproved.beehiiv.com/