Three inflatable penguins have popped up in downtown Orlando. They are on display through June 19, 2025. SeaWorld Orlando teamed up with the Creative City Project to bring these giant birds to Downtown Orlando.
In June, guests to SeaWorld Orlando will have the rare opportunity to get up close to Emperor penguins in real life. For more than 40 years, SeaWorld San Diego has been the only place in North America to see and learn about these majestic birds. Now, the Emperors are coming to the East Coast and will call the Orlando park’s Antarctica penguin habitat home.
Creative City Project first launched the massive, inflatable Big City Birds installation with local artist and Bungalower Editor-in-Chief, Brendan O’Connor when seven giant pigeons “landed” on rooftops across Downtown Orlando as part of DTOLive. That first initiative took place from August to October 2024.
the streets of Downtown Orlando are seldom crowded , but the few pedestrians I saw while doing this sketch tended to not look up. If someone saw me sketching then they would turn and look up, surprised to see a penguin. One African American fellow carrying a bible, approached me. He said it was a blessing that he found me sketching at that spot. That morning he had reached out to God, saying he wanted to get back into the habit of creating art. I let him know of my one sketch a day habit and suggested he do the same. Part of me thought a sermon was about to follow, but he just thanked me and offered a fist bump. “Have a blessed day.” he said as he walked away.
A father and son stopped below the penguin. The boy looked up in wonder while the dad scrolled endlessly on his phone. Two workers were putting up a banner at a night club. The banner announced wild parties coming up in the week before July 4th.
Orlando Urban Sketchers are going to have a Penguin Sketch hunt on June 14, 2025 from 10am to noon. They are meeting at 30 South Orange Avenue and then branching out to sketch the three penguins. There will be a sketch throw down after sketches are done. It is a great way to get out and meet local artists. Unfortunately I will be in New York State at the time.
The three location where you can spot these Penguins are at,
- Areo: 60 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 (Adult Penguin – 14’ tall)
- 55 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801 (Adult Penguin – 14’ tall)
- 30 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 (Baby Penguin – 10’ tall)