Florida bursts into action in the springtime, as families travel on spring breaks, people sell their homes and move to new locations and tourists begin the summer vacation season early! For this reason, both Orlando and Jacksonville offer an overabundance of outdoor festivals, specialty events, concerts, live entertainment and more! With such a wide variety of themes, there is definitely something in this list for everyone to enjoy.

Outdoor Events:

This April and May, visit SeaWorld Orlando for the annual 2010 Viva La Musica! This event celebrates Hispanic culture with live performances of Latin musicians and dancers, while serving up traditional Hispanic cuisine and showcasing original Hispanic exhibits. Performances begin at 4 p.m. daily in Seaworld’s Bayside Stadium. For more info, call 407-363-3359.

Plan to attend a Jacksonville Suns baseball game as an affordable day at the ballpark! The Jacksonville Suns are a minor-league team affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and they play at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. For tickets, call 904-367-1423.

If you’re bummed that we have to wait a couple years for another Olympics, plan to attend the World of Nations Celebration from April 29 to May 2 in Jacksonville, where over 25 countries come together to showcase and celebrate cultural values and entertainment. For more information, call 904-630-3690.

From May 20 to May 31, attend the Orlando International Fringe Festival taking place in Loch Haven Park and other venues around downtown Orlando. This festival includes over 500 performers and 70 theater companies showcasing uncensored, cutting-edge musical performers and creative works of art. For more information, visit www.OrlandoFringe.org or call 407-648-0077.

Throughout the season of spring, the Jacksonville Riverfront comes alive with seafarers and landlubbers! Sail Jacksonville is an annual event that displays tall ships from around the world. Activities include the Pirate Battle for Treasure, seamanship demonstrations, live entertainment and more. For exact dates and continual updates, visit Coj.net.

From May 23 to May 23, May 28 to May 30, June 4 to June 6, and June 11 to June 13, visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort for the annual Star Wars Weekend 2010! Meet dozens of your favorite Star Wars characters while participating in a plethora of Star Wars activities, trivia contests, collectibles and pin trading, thrill rides and more! For more info, visit www.StarWars.com.

Visit the heart of downtown Jacksonville between May 27 and May 30 for the annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival! This free event draws tons of jazz enthusiasts each year to experience live performances from renowned jazz performers and from locals! Special highlights include the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, the ‘Round Midnight Jazz Jam, Jazz Talk, Sunday jazz brunches and more! Visit Coj.net for more information.

For a small-town festival atmosphere, head out to Zellwood, located Northwest of Orlando, for the 2010 Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival on May 28 through May 30. This festival has it all, from corn-eating contests and live country entertainment, to carnival rides, games, arts and crafts and more. For more info, visit www.ZellwoodCornFestival.com.

On May 31 at 10 a.m., plan to attend Memorial Day Observance at the Veterans Memorial Wall, 1145 East Adams Street. Listen to keynote speakers and family tributes while watching the wreath presentation and hearing the 21-gun salute. There is no better way to honor the local heroes who have and are still protecting our country’s freedom. For more info, call 904-630-3680.

Indoor Events:

From April 30 to May 16, visit the Mad Cow Theatre for the Orlando Cabaret Festival, which features 40 different shows in areas of jazz, pop, Broadway and more. Many notorious entertainers have performed at this event in the past, including Jaimie Roberts, Amy Baker, The Lascivious Biddies and more. For a listing of performers this year, visit www.OrlandoCabaret.com.

On a rainy day, head to a concert in Orlando or Jacksonville, both offering ample options, which include:

• Uncle Kracker on April 26 at The Club at Firestone, Orlando
• Goo Goo Dolls on April 27 at Hard Rock Live, Orlando
• Elvis Costello on April 27 at Florida Theatre, Jacksonville
• Ben Harper and Jack Johnson on April 29 at Florida Theatre, Jacksonville
• Loudon Wainwright lii on May 1 at Plaza Theatre, Orlando
• Flogging Molly on May 1 at Florida Theatre, Jacksonville
• Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum on May 6 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
• The Spill Canvas on May 11 at The Social, Orlando

A list of Broadway shows is also available for the Florida spring season:

• Xanadu from April 27 to May 2 at the Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando
• Grease from April 27 to May 2 at the Moran Theater-Times Union Performing Arts Center, Jacksonville
• Chicago from May 21 to May 23 at the Moran Theater-Times Union Performing Arts Center, Jacksonville
• Spring Awakening from May 18 to May 23 at the Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s featured city: Pembroke Pines, Florida!

The second most populated city in Broward County, Pembroke Pines is an award-winning area that offers the best of South Florida living! Residents of this community enjoy access to A-rated schools, numerous parks and recreation opportunities, shopping, dining and championship golf courses like Grand Palms Golf Club.

Commuters will love the convenience and proximity of I-75 allowing easy access to all major South Florida highways. For beach lovers, a mere 20-minute drive east leads to South Florida’s most beautiful sandy shores, including the vibrant Hollywood Beach and its new and revitalized boardwalk.

Take a look at these Buy Owner properties currently for sale in Pembroke Pines!

• $397K: 4 BDRM, 2.5 BA Single-Family Pool Home with Lake Views
• $246K: 3 BDRM, 2 BA Single-Family Home in Guard-Gated Community
• $109K: 2 BDRM, 2 BA Lakefront Condo in 55+ Community
• $89,900: 2 BDRM, 2 BA Raised Mobile Home with Lot

Image Credit: NewCondosOnline.com

This autumn, don’t stay cooped up inside your home just because you don’t know what else to do! Every city offers endless opportunities for fun, even when summer comes to an end. To prove it, the Buy Owner Blog will be featuring a Local Fall Events entry for each major city that we cover. This first post in the series starts with Chicago, the third largest city in the States!

As the hot summer season in the Midwest changes into a cool autumn, take this opportunity to enjoy the changing leaves and the fall festivals! Upcoming holidays will come and go, so don’t let the next couple of festive months slip by without enjoying them to your fullest ability.

• FESTS are abundant in all areas during fall weekends filled with perfect climate. Most of Chicago’s independent neighborhoods and suburbs have their own fests, usually with proceeds going to local charities. Check out your town’s website for dates.

Particular fest favorites in the area include:

Navy Fear: The famous Navy Pier envelops its dock in Halloween decorations and activities. Enjoy fireworks every Friday night, attractions for young kids and for older kids, a frightening walk down Dock Street and more! Navy Fear is opened Oct. 5 to 8, 12 to 14, 19 to 21 and 24 to 31.

Country Line Orchard is located right across the Indiana border and is just one of many orchards in the Chicagoland area. A favorite Midwest fall activity includes spending a day at an apple orchard or pumpkin farm. Not only do you get to ride a tractor out to the orchards or pumpkin patches, but most farms also include a country shop that sells fresh cinnamon apple donuts, homemade jams, candles, squash, fudge, apple cider and much more! Petting zoos, corn mazes and pony rides are common bonuses. Most orchards are open through October and some into November.

Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America will spook your senses as you walk through the decorated theme park. Not only are all the rides and roller coasters opened on weekends through October, but the park features haunted houses, costumed workers and spooky decorations.

Oktoberfest celebrations are abundant in the area, but highlighted places to celebrate include The Berghoff Restaurant right downtown and the Chicago Brauhaus in Lincoln Square. Both of these facilities create a real German celebration with authentic food, beer and live music.

• PARADES offer a unique, special atmosphere one day a year! Each parade celebrates something unique and therefore has something special to offer.

Famous upcoming parades:

Halloween Happening Parade on Oct. 25 presents a fun, unique atmosphere with the most outlandish costumes you may ever see! Costume contests and trick-or-treating for kids are a couple examples of the fun this parade brings with it.

The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival & Parade on Nov. 22 celebrates the moment when Chicago switches on its impressive holiday lights throughout the city. Come together with other fellow Chicagoans and celebrate this festive moment!

The Thanksgiving Parade on Nov. 27 is one of the most famous Chicago parades of them all! Thanksgiving morning provides hours of Chicago’s main streets blocked off for the enjoyment of bands, blowup figures and important guest appearances. Santa ends the parade, leaving you with a jolly feeling to go home with.

• CHICAGO SPORTS have possibly never seen as much excitement as in this year’s month of October! Not only are the Chicago Bears storming back to Soldier Field for their 2008 season, but both Chicago baseball teams are in a race for post-season playoffs! More options include seeing the brutal ice-capades during a Blackhawks hockey game or a fast-paced basketball excursion from the Chicago Bulls. Both teams play at the United Center. Visit individual team websites for the chance to buy tickets.
• BROADWAY SHOWS are in full swing at Chicago’s glamorous theatres, which include the historic Oriental Theatre, the Cadillac Place Theatre and more. Visit Ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets.

Upcoming fall shows include:

The ever-so-popular Wicked that offers an unknown explanation of the Wizard of Oz witches in pre-Wizard of Oz days. Showings of Wicked run through Jan. 25, 2009.

The powerful Jersey Boys that gives an insider’s look at Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons rise to fame. Showings of Jersey Boys begin on Oct. 5, 2008.

The new, sexy Dirty Dancing smash is having its pre-Broadway U.S. premier right here in Chicago! Showings for Dirty Dancing began on Sept. 28, 2008.

• CONCERTS are permanently plentiful in the city of Chicago. To experience the various types of venues, plan to attend a concert at each one. The Metro presents an area for young viewers to enjoy emerging underground bands, the House of Blues offers a contemporary, lively atmosphere and the Aragon Ballroom provides entertainment in a historic site. Tons of unique venues exist to make each of your concerts a unique experience. No musical genre is forgotten in the great city of Chicago. Search Ticketmaster.com for upcoming shows that interest your tastes.

Upcoming shows include but are surely not limited to:

Madonna, Oct. 26-27 at the United Center

Celine Dion, Nov. 4 at the United Center

Jack’s Mannequin, Nov. 9 at the Bottom Lounge

Jason Mraz, Nov. 22 at the Aragon Ballroom

Enjoy the perfect fall breeze while taking a free ride in a windowless trolley, or rent a trolley for a specific outing.

Join a bar crawl to meet new people and to try new cocktails, or plan your own bar crawl with old friends. Pubs fill the area of Bucktown, sports bars fill the lively streets of Wrigleyville and upscale bars and clubs fill the famous Rush Street.

Don’t want to participate in an organized tour? Rent a Segway and cruise around the lakefront as an independent or with family and friends. These electronically stable machines with two wheels definitely offer a unique one-of-a-kind experience.

Shopping & Dining

You will find luxury purchases and must-need items all inside The Galleria Mall! Nestled in one of the largest business districts in the country, this shopping center has everything you could need or want! It also happens to be the largest mall in the entire state, and it is sometimes referred to as the Houston Galleria to distinguish it from other destinations that boast a similar name. However, this mall is anything but ordinary! It is also the seventh largest mall in the country! All the shops and restaurants are in a completely enclosed building that is always expanding. New stores pop up, brand-new dining areas open and customers are always satisfied with their shopping and dining experiences at The Galleria.

One of the premier restaurants in Houston, Vargos combines the senses! Your mouth will water for the delectable meals, your eyes will gaze at beautiful gardens and your nose will take in the aromas of the flourishing flowers and the fabulous foods. Enjoy casual dining or host your next big event at this luxurious dining facility. Vargos can accommodate both an extravagant and an intimate affair. Its legendary storybook setting is pleasing to the eye, and its exquisite menu will leave you wanting more.

The Arts

• Museum Exhibitions

Museum of Texas History: The Heritage Society @ Sam Houston Park

– June 10 – July 27, The Road to the Promised Land: Martin Luther King Jr. & the Civil Rights Movement
– June 10 – September 28, Interwoven Traditions: The Spiritual Journey from African to African American
– August 5 – September 28, Snapshots of Houston History from the Bob Bailey Studios Collection

Museum of Printing History

– Friday, June 20, Comic Books: A Visual History, 6 – 8 p.m.
– Through July 19, Houston Architectural Trilogy: Photography of Valentin Gertsman

• Music & Theatre

Woodlands Pavilion

– Friday, June 13, Houston Symphony, 8 p.m.
– Saturday, June 14, Chicago & Doobie Brothers, 7:30 p.m.
– Saturday, June 28, Stone Temple Pilots, 8 p.m.
– Friday, July 25, Foreigner & Bryan Adams, 7:30 p.m.
– Saturday, August 2, John Mayer, 7 p.m.
– Friday, August 15, Dave Matthews Band, 7 p.m.

Hobby Center

– Tuesday – Saturday, June 3 – 14, Sweeney Todd, varying times

Verizon Wireless Theatre

– Tuesday, June 10, Lifehouse, 7 p.m.
– Saturday, June 28, Bob Saget, 8 p.m.
– Thursday, June 17, Cinderella, 8 p.m.
– Sunday, June 29, Stone Temple Pilots, 7 p.m.

• Sporting Events

Astros MLB Baseball

Tuesday, June 10, against the Milwaukee Brewers, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, June 11, against the Milwaukee Brewers, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday, June 12, against the Milwaukee Brewers, 1:05 p.m.
Friday, June 13, against the New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, June 14, against the New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m.
Sunday, June 15, against the New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m.

——– ROAD TRIP——–

Tuesday, June 24, against the Texas Rangers, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25, against the Texas Rangers, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday, June 26, against the Texas Rangers, 1:05 p.m.
Friday, June 27, against the Boston Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, June 28, against the Boston Red Sox, 6:05 p.m.
Sunday, June 29, against the Boston Red Sox, 1:05 p.m.
Monday, June 30, against Los Angeles Dodgers,

Comets WNBA Basketball

Saturday, June 14, against the Seattle Storm, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, June 16, against the Atlanta Dream, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 18, against the Washington Mystics, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 26 against the San Antonio Silver Stars, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 28, against the Indiana Fever, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 5, against the Sacramento Monarchs, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 17 against the Minnesota Lynx, 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, July 19, against the Los Angeles Sparks, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 22, against the Phoenix Mercury, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 24, against the Detroit Shock, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 26, Chicago Sky, 7:30 p.m.

Dynamo MLS Soccer

Sunday, June 8, against the Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 12, against the New England Revolution, 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 26, against the FC Dallas, 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 2, against the Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 16, against the Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 20, against Chivas USA., 8 p.m.
Sunday, August 31, against the Chicago Fire, 6 p.m.

Have you recently purchased a home from Buy Owner or have you been looking to acquire a property from the nation’s leading FSBO company?

If you are moving to a new city, or even a new state, and you are not sure what do for fun, then let the Buy Owner Blog be your guide! Helping you kick off the summer, the Buy Owner Blog will feature tons of info on the major Buy Owner cities near you!

Whether you want to catch a Bulls game in the Windy City or find ongoing Mardi Gras celebrations in the Big Easy, the Buy Owner Blog will be your shopping, dining and entertainment headquarters!

Not sure where to find a Buy Ownerproperty? Head to Buyowner.com and search for whatever location you’d like!