Lake Eola Park: Swan Boats, the Fountain and What Happened to the Swans

Lake Eola Park is the postcard of downtown Orlando: a 0.9-mile loop around the lake, the lit-up fountain in the middle and the skyline behind it. It's free, it's open late, and it's the easiest break from the theme parks in the city. One big change in 2026: the swans are gone, at least for now. Here's what to know.

Lake Eola at a glance

• Address: 512 E. Washington St., Orlando, FL 32801
• Hours: 6 AM to 11:59 PM daily
• Cost: free
• Loop: 0.9 mile on the sidewalk around the lake
• Restrooms and playgrounds: yes, with separate playgrounds for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12

What happened to the Lake Eola swans?

Swans had lived at Lake Eola since 1922, and they were the park's symbol. In May 2026, after avian flu killed nearly 30 of the birds and with a big park renovation coming, the City of Orlando paused the swan program. The last 42 swans were moved out on July 25, 2026. The city hasn't set a date for them to return. Wild birds still visit, and the swan boats are still on the water.

Lake Eola swan boats: price and hours

The swan-shaped pedal boats are the park's signature, and the city runs them:

• Price: $15 for 30 minutes, card only
• Seats: up to 5 (1,400-pound limit per boat)
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 7 PM, last rental 30 minutes before close; closed Mondays
• Booking: first come, first served, no reservations

Weekend afternoons have the longest lines. Go in the morning, or around sunset for the best skyline views.

Lake Eola fountain show times

The Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain went up in 1957 and was rebuilt after a lightning strike in 2009. It runs a light and music show nightly, about 6 minutes long, at around 8 PM and 9:30 PM (later in summer). Grab a spot on the west side of the lake for the skyline behind it.

Lake Eola Sunday farmers market

The Orlando Farmers Market sets up at the southeast corner of the lake (Eola Drive and Central Boulevard) every Sunday, 10 AM to 3 PM: produce, baked goods, plants and food stalls. Some older listings say it runs until 4; the city's page says 3. More markets in our Orlando farmers markets guide.

Christmas at Lake Eola

Every year the city lights a giant Christmas tree at the lake, with a light and music show at the tree every night from December 4, 2026 through January 6, 2027, at 5:45, 6:45, 7:45, 8:45 and 9:45 PM. The 2026 Tree Lighting Celebration is Friday, December 4, 2026, from 5:30 to 9:30 PM, and it's free. Music starts at the amphitheater at 5:30 PM, and the main stage show starts at 7 PM and leads up to the lighting. See our Christmas in Orlando guide for the rest of the season.

Lake Eola parking

The city lists street parking around the park. You pay Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM, and it's cashless: use the ParkMobile app, text or phone instead of a meter. The city lists $2 for each of the first two hours, $3 for the third and $4 for the fourth in November 2026, with a six-hour limit. There are also garages within a few blocks with their own pricing. On weekends and event nights, arrive early or take a rideshare.

Lake Eola Park rules

• Don't feed the wildlife.
• No glass, no fishing, and bikes only where posted.
• Pets stay off the benches and picnic tables and out of the lake.
• No alcohol in the park without a city permit.

What to pair with Lake Eola

• Eat: Downtown Orlando food tour loops past the lake; our food tour guide compares it with two others.
• Walk: Thornton Park, just east of the lake, has cafes and brick streets.
• Date night: a swan boat at sunset, then the fountain show. More in our date ideas guide.
• More free stuff: Free things to do in Orlando.

Lake Eola vs a day out of town

Lake Eola is the best free hour or two in Orlando. If you want real Florida wildlife instead of a city park, Boggy Creek's airboat tours head into open marsh to look for wild alligators and birds, about 30 minutes south of downtown, and our link takes 10% off.

Paying for parking near Lake Eola

Street parking around the park is cashless now. The city's on-street parking page says you pay through the ParkMobile app, by text or by phone, using the zone number on the nearest sign.

• When you pay: Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM. It's free from 8 PM to 8 AM, all day Sunday and on city holidays.
• What it costs: the parking rates page lists $2 for the first hour, $2 for the second, $3 for the third and $4 for the fourth in November 2026, rising from there up to a six-hour maximum. ParkMobile adds a small service fee.
• City garages: listed at $2 an hour for the first four hours and $3 an hour after that, with a $20 daily maximum, card only.
• Event nights: the city says garage and lot rates can run $10 to $20 depending on how close you are to the event.

Always read the sign at your space, since the city notes rules can vary by block. Sunday is the easy day: street parking is free and the farmers market is on.

Getting to Lake Eola without a car

The city's own advice for big nights at the lake is to skip the car. Its event pages point visitors to SunRail, rideshare, bike share and the free downtown LYMMO circulator.

The LYMMO Grapefruit Line serves Lake Eola, Thornton Park, the SunRail station, City Hall and the Kia Center. LYNX lists it as running Monday to Friday from 6 AM to 8:25 PM and weekends from 8 AM to 8:25 PM, about every 15 minutes on Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sunday. Hours can be extended for special events.

Accessibility and finding your way around

• Swan boat dock: on the west side of the park at 195 N. Rosalind Ave., across from Relax Grill. The city's swan boat page says a wheelchair accessible boat is available and a wheelchair lift has been installed at the dock. Pets and service animals can ride. Boats go out weather permitting.
• The loop: the park page lists a paved walking path, picnic tables and restrooms, and marks the park as disabled accessible.
• Farmers market: southeast corner, at Eola Drive and Central Boulevard. The city's market page points to paid garages on South Osceola Avenue and North Eola Drive if the street is full.
• Amphitheater and Christmas tree: both on the Rosalind Avenue side, on the west edge of the park.

For anything dated, start with the city's Lake Eola page. It lists every upcoming event at the park with times and addresses.