A milestone moment in college football history has inspired an inception-like celebration in Orlando’s Thornton Park neighborhood.
Debuting Friday at 4 p.m., the Citrus Bowl Lodge, what may be the nation’s first bowl-themed bar, is popping up inside the Reindeer Room, as it wraps its second year as the neighborhood’s twinkly holiday pop-up bar.
It’s the latest in a string of celebrations by Florida Citrus Sports, as it marks the 80th playing of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, a legacy that includes eight decades of gridiron tradition in Central Florida.
“The 80th playing of the Citrus Bowl has provided us with a great opportunity to celebrate the impact that this bowl game has had on Orlando. As part of that celebration, we wanted to find different ways for the community to engage with us,” said Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan.
The Reindeer Room, 808 E. Washington St. in Orlando, will operate in its holiday-themed format through Christmas Day before morphing, overnight, into a premier party destination for Citrus Bowl fans during bowl week. The game, featuring rival teams from Texas and Michigan, is set for 3 p.m. Dec. 31 at Camping World Stadium.
Amid the over-the-top bowl-week theming, fans can enjoy historic Citrus Bowl artifacts and memorabilia, vintage program covers, news clippings and archival imagery, 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 run.
The Citrus Bowl Lodge will be open daily, Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.
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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, a uniquely local way to ring in 2026 following the Citrus Bowl game and post-game Jordan Davis concert, presented by Geico.
“The Citrus Bowl Lodge is a chance for everyone to relive the history of the game in a unique way,” Hogan added. “And we couldn’t be more excited to partner with the team at the Reindeer Room to bring the concept to life.”
For more information, visit CheezItCitrusBowl.com.
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