Spring can be a good time to visit Florida’s theme parks for residents. The parks offer deals to get locals to visit. Kids around the country are in school so many families aren’t taking vacations to Florida this time of year. Shorter ride lines are a plus. The parks also entice music lovers by offering free concerts as a bonus with your not-so-free admission.

Right now, Universal Orlando is offering a 2 Park 3 Day Ticket for Florida Residents for $84.33 per day. Or you can opt for a 3 park, 3 day ticket that includes Volcano Bay for $95 per day. Kids aged 3-9 pay a few dollars less. If you just want to visit one park per day, the 3 day ticket is $68.33 per day or $79 for the 3 park 3 day ticket. A simple 2 park one day ticket to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure is $174. If you just want to visit one park for one day, Florida residents pay $119.

Universal Orlando has a varied list of performers for their Mardi Gras. “International Flavors of Carnaval” kicks off this weekend and runs through April 7. The concerts start at 8:30pm. This year’s lineup features a variety of pop, hip hop, dance, rock and even some disco. There really is something for everyone.

• February 3: Walker Hayes

  If you’re not familiar with the name, you definitely know one of Walker’s songs. “Fancy Like” was everywhere a few years ago and perhaps got you craving dinner at Applebees. The song went viral on Tik Tok and crossed over from being just a country hit. It reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

• February 10: All-American Rejects

  The Rejects had a disasterous performance in Tampa last summer. A performance at the Amphitheatre was plagued with audio problems. I left after 2 acts and was pretty unhappy the band didn’t offer a refund. I said at the time I’d never pay to see them again… but this show is free (sort of). You probably best know AAR for their hits like “Gives You Hell” “Swing Swing” or “Move Along.”  Given that it’s a show at Universal, I have more confidence in them having their stuff together audiowise. Universal won’t put up with the debacle that happened in Tampa last summer.

• February 17: Nessa Barrett

  Gotta be honest. I’ve never heard of Nessa. But that’s probably showing my age. She’s popular with the kids on social media. She’s got millions of followers. According to Wikipedia, she first became popular on Tik Tok and that landed her a big record deal. I definitely recognize the name of one of her producers. Blink 182’s Travis Barker worked with her a couple years ago.  Originally country singer Elle King was supposed to perform on this show but she had an incident at a Dolly Parton tribute where she admitted on stage she was “hammered.”

• February 18: KC & The Sunshine Band

  Now this act we all know. Even the kids will be dancing when Henry Wayne Casey busts out “Get Down Tonight,” “Shake Your Booty,” “Boogie Shoes,” and of course “That’s The Way I Like It.” I’m sure you’re aware the band got their name because they’re from right here in Florida. The band got their start in 1973 (the same year Q105 hit the airwaves in Tampa) so they’re celebrating 50 years together.

• February 24: Barenaked Ladies

  They had a bunch of hits in the 90s but you probably best know BNL for their song “One Week.” Chickity China, the Chinese chicken will be watching X-Files with no lights on. Harrison Ford is like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy but it’ll be two days until he says he’s sorry.  Unfortunately Steven Page is no longer with the band.

• March 2: DJ Khaled

  Probably best known with pop music fans for his collab “I’m the One” with Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled actually got his start being a radio DJ.  He’s got lots of ties to Florida.  He even has a shoe store on South Beach in Miami that opened last year.  The shop even has a recording studio.

   

• March 9: Ava Max

  Often compared with Lady Gaga, this singer had a scary moment last year.  A man slapped her at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles last summer. She posted to Twitter that the slap was so hard her eye was scratched. Videos of the incident show the man rushing the stage before security guards were able to get to him soon after the assault. It didn’t end well for the guy as witnesses say he was thrown down the stairs to the stage. Ouch.  He probably won’t try that again.

• March 10: Queen Latifah

  The hip hop legend had some awesome jams in the 90s and has gone on to have a successful acting career. She’s won a Golden Globe and an Emmy. Her song U.N.I.T.Y. was groundbreaking in confronting how women were marginalized in hip hop at the time. The lyrics were powerful and called out the men in the industry who were objectifying black women. The song ended up winning a Grammy.

• March 16: Luis Fonsi

  Another artist best known to American pop audiences for a collaboration with Justin Bieber, Luis Fonsi has an enormous following among Latin genres. “Despacito” was everywhere back in 2017. The music video has had over 5 BILLION views on YouTube. Bieber’s version tied a record set by Boys II Men and Mariah Carey for staying at the top of the charts for 4 months.

• March 17: Zedd

  Dance / EDM fans will have their own day at Universal. Zedd had his big pop breakthrough success with the songs “The Middle” and “Break Free.” The Middle got him 3 Grammy nominations. If you’re in the market for some Los Angeles real estate, he’s selling the home he bought from Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers. He’s only asking for $19 million. Architectural Digest says it’s 15,000 square feet, has 12 bathrooms and an atrium with an olive tree.

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