Central Florida Wave
Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake, from Sanford to St. Cloud and Winter Park to Kissimmee. Local news and features for Central Florida, launched in November 2026.
Central Florida, covered the way locals live it
Most coverage of Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake is written from somewhere else, about somewhere else. Central Florida Wave was built to close that gap: a local publication that covers Central Florida the way locals actually live it, from the new spot in your downtown to the project reshaping your commute.
That means the practical things first. Where to eat this week. What is opening and what is closing. Who is building what, and what it means for your town. How to spend a Saturday without leaving the county. The businesses, events and people that make Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake more than a place you sleep.
Central Florida Wave is published by Wave Agency, a digital agency with an office in Melville, New York, and it is the sister publication of Long Island Wave. It launched in November 2026 on the same idea: a publication that is fast, free, and genuinely local to the place it covers.
If it would not matter to someone who lives here, it does not run.
Local, and nothing else
- 27 towns with their own page on centralfloridawave.com
- Four counties, Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake: our entire beat, and nothing else
- $0 to read since 2026: no paywall, no subscription fee, ever
- One email every Friday, and the Wave Locals app to come
Six things we hold to
Not a mission statement. The working rules that decide what runs on Central Florida Wave and what does not.
Local or it does not run
Every story has to matter to someone in Orange, Seminole, Osceola or Lake. We do not pad the site with wire copy dressed up as news.
Useful beats loud
We would rather tell you where to eat on Friday than chase a headline. If a reader cannot do something with a story, we ask why we are running it.
Honest about businesses
We cover local businesses because readers care about them, not because anyone paid for coverage. When something is sponsored, it says so, plainly.
Written by locals
Our contributors live here: business owners, event organizers, and people who know their towns first-hand. The door is open at Pitch a story.
The writer's voice survives
We edit for clarity and length, never to make everyone sound the same. If a piece stops sounding like the person who wrote it, we have failed at our job.
Free, and staying free
No paywall, anywhere on the site. Central Florida Wave is supported by local advertisers who belong in front of this readership, and readers never pay to read.
The latest from CF Wave
Downtown Tavares Sets Dec. 5 for Its Christmas Parade, a Skating Rink and a Movie in the Park
Central Florida Wave ·Tavares holds its free Christmas Parade and Festival downtown on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5 p.m.: the parade route, the festival lineup and where to watch.
Santa Is Riding Through Casselberry Neighborhoods for Four Nights in December
Central Florida Wave ·Casselberry's Santa Run tours city neighborhoods December 7 to 10 with a police and fire escort, bracketed by a tree lighting and a night of music at Lake Concord Park.
Clermont Rewinds to the 1980s for Light Up Clermont, Its Parade and the Enchanted Forest
Central Florida Wave ·Clermont's 2026 holiday theme is a 1980s Christmas Rewind: Enchanted Forest from Nov. 21, Light Up Clermont Dec. 4 and the downtown parade Dec. 5.
Maitland Packs Southern Rock, a Tree Lighting and Fireworks Into One December Weekend
Central Florida Wave ·Maitland's free Steeln' Peaches concert fills Independence Square Dec. 4, and Season of Light brings a tree lighting and fireworks to Lake Lily Park Dec. 5.
Fireworks and a 60-Foot Tree Kick Off Five Holiday Nights at Cranes Roost Park
Central Florida Wave ·Altamonte Springs opens the season at Cranes Roost Park on December 5 with fireworks, ice skating and a 60-foot tree, then two movie nights and two Santa concerts.
Tiffany Windows, a Boat Parade and a 74th Christmas Parade: Winter Park Sets Its Holiday Season
Central Florida Wave ·Winter Park's holiday calendar: Christmas in the Park Dec. 3, the 74th Christmas Parade Dec. 5, free Friday nights at the Morse and the Lake Virginia boat parade.
27 towns, each with its own page
The stories and the events from the places readers call home. Every town below opens its page on centralfloridawave.com.
Orange County
Orlando, Winter Park and the lake towns of west Orange
Seminole County
Sanford, Lake Mary and the suburbs along the Wekiva and Lake Jesup
Osceola & Lake
Kissimmee and St. Cloud to the south, the hills and lakes of Lake County to the west
Everything a region should have
The archive
Every story, by category and by town.
EventsToday and this weekend
What is on right now, and Friday to Sunday sorted.
PlacesWhere to go
Eat and drink, things to do, fitness and outdoors, town by town.
AdvertiseReach Central Florida
Digital placements on centralfloridawave.com, designed for you if you need it.
Events, tips and your own stories
Central Florida Wave is written with its readers, not just for them. Everything you send goes to the Central Florida newsroom; you can send it to the other Waves at the same time.
- Submit an event, or email events@wavelocals.com
- Send a news tip, or email news@wavelocals.com
- Pitch a story, or email stories@wavelocals.com
- List a business, or email listings@wavelocals.com
- Follow Instagram
- Published from 200 Broadhollow Rd, Suite 207, Melville, NY 11747
Also in the network
- Long Island Wave for Long Island · NY
- Hudson Valley Wave for Hudson Valley · NY
- Gold Coast Wave for South Florida · FL
- New York City Wave for New York City · NY
- Fairfield County Wave for Fairfield County · CT
- North Jersey Wave for North Jersey · NJ
- Jersey Shore Wave for Jersey Shore · NJ
- Front Range Wave for Front Range · CO
- LiveWell Wave on Health & Wellness
- HomeLife Wave on Home & Living
- Uncorked Wave on Wine
- Your region, if it is not covered yet
Your Wave, and every other
Pick Central Florida Wave in the Wave Locals app and it is all there: the front page, the events calendar, every one of its towns and a weekend plan. Switch to any other Wave with one tap. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Coming soon
Coming soon
Long Island Wave Long Island · NY
Gold Coast Wave South Florida · FL
New York City Wave New York City · NY
