Grande Lakes Orlando, the 500-acre resort estate that is home to The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes and the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, has launched Summer by the Lake, a season-long programme of events tied to the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The celebrations run on select Saturdays and holiday weekends from 23 May to 6 September 2026, with fireworks, live entertainment and themed dining across the property, which sits in the headwaters of the Florida Everglades.
For UK business travellers, the timing is worth noting. Orlando remains one of America’s busiest conference and convention cities, served by direct flights from London, and the anniversary programme gives anyone attending meetings in central Florida this summer a ready-made reason to add a weekend either side of the working trip. With two five-star hotels sharing one estate, delegates can hold meetings at one property and unwind at the other without moving luggage.
Fireworks, robots and lakeside weekends
On event days the resort lays on live music, lawn games, laser tag, face painting, balloon artists, silent discos and inflatable waterslides, along with the return of the resort’s dancing GLO Robot. Families can join the Grande Family Classic, a field-day style competition, before evenings build to fire-dancer performances and fireworks over the lake. Guests wanting a more comfortable vantage point can book the Fireworks Oasis Grande Cabana, which comes with fresh coconuts, drinks and premium views of the display. Complimentary bikes, canoes and kayaks are available through Grande Lakes Sports for exploring the grounds, and full details of the programme are on the resort’s official summer pages.
The food and drink offer leans into the anniversary theme. Freedom Hot Dogs and Brews are delivered by cart to pool chairs, the 1776 Expedition of Seasonal Sips showcases cocktails and mocktails built around American-made spirits, and the American Cookout Classic pairs Russell’s Reserve bourbons with barbecue staples. Partner tie-ins include Moët Ice & Coconuts and the Griffy’s Glizzies food truck, while the new Sun & Spritz cabana at The Ritz-Carlton pool seats up to eight guests with Aperol Spritz carafes, margarita pitchers, Miraval rosé and Lallier Champagne. Piper by the Lake adds a private lakeside set-up with Piper-Heidsieck and butler service. Holiday weekends bring bespoke menus, including a Fourth of July buffet and a Labor Day buffet built around the resort’s on-site Whisper Creek Farm.
Wellness for the jet-lagged
The Ritz-Carlton will host a dedicated Wellness Weekend in August, alongside spa technology that may appeal after a transatlantic flight, including an Aescape robot massage and an Ammortal Chamber with red light therapy. Adults-only After-Hours Spa Pool Parties run on select Saturday evenings, and 5K runs return on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends, finishing with champagne and recovery treatments. It sits alongside Orlando’s wider line-up of new experiences for 2026, which has made the city a strong summer bet beyond the theme parks.
Booking and entry practicalities
Two packages support longer stays. The Family Escape Package includes a connecting room when the first room is booked with code E4000, while the Grande Escape Package offers up to $50 in resort credit and complimentary parking with code PSF. Anyone combining the trip with business should also check they hold a valid ESTA or visa well before departure, as set out in the government’s US entry guidance.
