A landmark moment in college football history sparked a founding-like celebration in Orlando’s Thornton Park neighborhood.
Citrus Bowl Lodge, the first bowl-themed bar in the nation to debut Friday at 4 p.m., will be inside the Reindeer Room for its second year as the area’s glittering holiday pop-up bar.
This is the latest in a series of celebrations by Florida Citrus Sports to mark the 80th annual Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, a tradition that includes 80 years of gridiron tradition in Central Florida.
“The 80th running of the Citrus Bowl provided us with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the impact this bowl game has had on Orlando. As part of that celebration, we wanted to find different ways for our community to engage with us,” said Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports.
The Reindeer Room, located at 808 E. Washington St. in Orlando, will operate in a holiday-themed format until Christmas Day, then transform overnight into a premier party venue for Citrus Bowl fans during Bowl Week. The game, which pits rival teams from Texas and Michigan, is scheduled for Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. at Camping World Stadium.
Amid Bowl Week’s flashy theme, fans will enjoy historic Citrus Bowl artifacts and memorabilia, vintage program covers, news clippings and archival images, custom Citrus Bowl-branded decor and immersive design elements, custom menu items inspired by both the history of the game and this year’s competing teams, as well as special giveaways and activations throughout the bar’s operations.
Citrus Bowl Lodge will be open daily from December 26th to January 1st.
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Additionally, Florida Citrus Sports will sponsor the iconic Orange Drop as part of Thornton Park’s New Year’s Eve block party. This is a unique local way to be held in 2026 following the Citrus Bowl game and post-game Jordan Davis concert presented by Geico.
“Citrus Bowl Lodge is an opportunity for everyone to relive the history of the game in a unique way,” Hogan added. “And we couldn’t be more excited to work with the Reindeer Room team to bring the concept to life.”
For more information, visit CheezItCitrusBowl.com.
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