March in Florida marks Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the powerful influence women have had in shaping the state’s history. Figures like Zora Neale Hurston, a celebrated Eatonville author and anthropologist who captured the essence of the African American experience in her works, and Charlotte E. Maguire, one of Orlando’s first female doctors and a pioneer in the establishment of Florida’s Department of Health and Florida State University’s College of Medicine, exemplify the admirable figures who changed the course of history for women in Florida. Today, their work continues to inspire future generations to break barriers and create change.
Women’s History Month in Florida also serves as a moment to reflect on the state’s ongoing journey toward gender equality. From educational events to community gatherings, this commemoration is an opportunity to celebrate past achievements while recognizing the ongoing fight for equality that has not reached an end. It is also a reminder that the struggle for women’s rights and representation continues, and carrying that legacy forward is our responsibility. As we honor these women’s contributions, we commit to building a more inclusive and equitable future for everyone in Florida and beyond.
Below are some opportunities to engage with our community and Women’s History Month in District 42 and beyond:
- Sounds of the World Series: Extraordinary Women & Their Music at The Winter Park Playhouse (711 North Orange Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789) on March 6th at 7 p.m.
- In honor of Women’s History Month, The Winter Park Playhouse has teamed up with Barbara Chandler Productions to present Extraordinary Women & Their Music: Celebrating Women’s History Month, an evening celebrating women in song featuring songstress Mzuri Aboyo Aimbaye.
- Women’s History Month Virtual Conversation with Florida State Legislators is a virtual event hosted on March 7th from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Joined by State Representatives Rita Harris, Anna V. Eskamani, LaVon Bracy Davis, Johanna López, and State Senator Kristen Arrington, this event is a panel for discussing our achievements as women and exploring the work that lies ahead as we begin Women’s History Month.
- International Women’s Day at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando (325 South Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32801)on March 8th from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Join a ‘Girly’s Pool Party’ at Altira Pool + Lounge with Boozy Snow Cones and Tapas. Fashion Show Pop-ups, Artisanal Market & more. Pay tribute to all of those wonderful super women in our lives! We will be hosting yet another ‘International Women’s Day Pool Party’ at our Pool + Lounge, Altira at the Grand Bohemian Orlando.
- A Zine Opera by Chanji Kim and Keri Lee Pierson at the Timucua Arts Foundation (2000 S Summerlin Ave, Orlando, FL 32806) on March 7th and 8th from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- A chamber opera about Women, by Women, set in the world’s best living room concert hall, transformed into a European opera house for the occasion. They tell the fictional story of Liz, a 1990s historian working in the archives of a library and uncovering the stories of pioneering women featured in Fanzines. Although the women are mostly fiction, they are based on real people of history and some personal stories of the creators.
- “Sifting & Shifting” 2025 Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women Luncheon at the Adam W. Herbert University Center on March 8th at 11 a.m.
- The 2025 Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women Luncheon brings together women of diverse cultures and backgrounds in support of one another in family, business, health & wellness, mental health, education, spiritual wellness, finances and more. It’s bee featured several times on First Coast Living on Channel 12. In addition, the founder of this event was the recipient of the 2023 Jacksonville Image Innovator Award.
- Ani DiFranco Live Performance on March 8th at The Plaza (Orlando’s Milk District) from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Widely considered a feminist icon, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco is the mother of the DIY movement, being one of the first artists to create her own record label in 1990. She will be performing her folk inspired music at the event.
- Women’s History Exhibit at Kissimmee City Hall from March 10th to May 9th.
- This exhibition, hosted by Osceola Arts, seeks to celebrate the rich history and accomplishments of women in Central Florida by displaying their art. Submissions open. Free exhibit.
- Opera Festival: Helena Collective: 6/VIII: The Six Wives of Henry VIII at the Timucua Arts Foundation (2000 S Summerlin Ave, Orlando, FL 32806) on March 23rd at 7:30 p.m.
- The Helena Collective’s award-winning production, 6/VIII: The Six Wives of Henry VIII, originally produced by Opera Orlando for the 2019 Orlando Fringe Festival, will be remounted for Timucua’s inaugural Opera Festival. This original work is a powerful musical exploration of the stories of Henry VIII’s wives. Through a blend of classical and contemporary vocal works, the concert brings to life the diverse experiences of Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, and Catherine Howard, portraying their strength, struggles, and resilience.
- All Things Equal: The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg on March 23rd at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m.
- An evening with a great and compassionate icon of straight-thinking American justice emerges…an RBG who is not only “notorious” but victorious as she takes a stand for ordinary people facing the many challenges of a changing world. Bring your scrunchies, your hankies, your humor and your heart to this entertaining and uplifting play written by Tony Award-winning playwright Rupert Holmes, starring Michelle Azar as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and directed by Laley Lippard.
- Women’s History Breakfast at the Orange County Regional History Center on March 28th from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- The 6th Annual Women’s History Breakfast honors women who reshaped Orlando’s political landscape. Through the Glass Ceiling: Orlando’s Political Pioneers pays tribute to Mable Butler, Linda Chapin, Martha Haynie, Glenda Hood, and Mary I. Johnson: the first women to break top leadership barriers in the City of Orlando and Orange County. Proceeds from the event support the programs of the History Center, especially our paid HERstory: Women in History Internship. The museum’s most recent HERstory intern, Keauna Brantley, will join to share her experience.
- Women in the Arts Expo: Celebrating the Genius of Women at the Orlando Public Library ( 101 E. Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801) on March 29th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Engage with the professional fine arts community of Central Florida in a two-hour networking event cultivating inclusivity and equity for women artists. Featuring a panel of experts addressing the “how” of advancing in the fine arts. Black attire is optional.
- Balanchine, Graham, Pires by Orlando Ballet (March 27 – 30, 2025) at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (445 S. Magnolia Avenue Orlando, FL 32801) Daily from March 27th to March 30th 2025, at various times.
- Marvel at the artistry and athleticism of our incredible Orlando Ballet dancers in Balanchine, Graham, Pires, a three-part performance featuring works from two female choreographers. Witness George Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15, a piece designed for a primarily female cast, followed by Martha Graham’s Maple Leaf Rag and Alysa Pires’ Skyward.