Article Contributed by Victory Lap PR
Published on December 11, 2025
The Revivalists’ David Shaw leads a lively Saturday night crowd in a raucous singalong. (Photo by Joeleen Hubbard for Loch & Key Productions)
Orange Blossom Revue wrapped its 11th year this weekend at Lake Wailes Park, bringing two days of music, community, and culture to central Florida. What began as a modest, grassroots barbecue gathering has steadily grown into one of the Sunshine State’s standout annual festivals. This year pushed that evolution even further, introducing an unprecedented second stage spotlighting Florida artists and a free Thursday-night kickoff concert in downtown Lake Wales.
“Each year we try to honor where this thing started while giving folks a reason to lean in a little deeper,” said Rusty Ingley, co-founder of Orange Blossom Revue. “Adding a second stage felt like the right way to champion the musicians who make Florida such a rich place to live and listen. Seeing families wander between stages, discovering new artists under those big oak trees reaffirmed to us that the festival is growing for the community, not beyond it.”
“We’ve always believed that OBR belongs to the entire community, and the downtown kickoff concert made that more real than ever,” added Reid Hardman, co-founder. “Watching Lake Wales come alive on a Thursday night reminded us why we do this. The festival’s growing, but it still feels like home.”
Over two sun-soaked days, attendees moved seamlessly between the main stage and the new sidestage, discovering Florida talent like Skinny McGee & the Handshakes, Phoenix Five, Brett Staska & The Souvenirs, and The Gnarbuckles, alongside national mainstays such as Drive-By Truckers, The Revivalists, The SteelDrivers, Grace Bowers, and Improvement Movement. Families, friends, and music lovers of all ages shared in the energy of live performances, community connection, and the festive atmosphere that has made Orange Blossom Revue a can’t miss tradition.
From the Thursday kickoff concert in downtown Lake Wales to the final notes under the sprawling oaks at Lake Wailes Park, the weekend offered a celebration of creativity, music, and culture, a reminder of why the festival has grown into a destination event while staying rooted in its community.
Orange Blossom Revue is set to return December 4-5, 2026. To stay up to date on all things OBR, visit www.OrangeBlossomRevue.com, or follow along at @OrangeBlossomRevue on Facebook and Instagram.
