Get Ready! Orlando Fringe Returns May 18.

The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, a diverse collection of performers and art forms, will return to Loch Haven Park starting May 18! After canceling the 2020 event due to the ongoing pandemic, this year’s Festival will return with new shows, new safety protocols, and lots of artsy fun!

What is Orlando Fringe?

Orlando Fringe is a two-week performing arts festival, including a wide variety of ticketed performances, two free outdoor stages, visual art, and kids’ activities. Fringe Festivals are generally defined by alternative or experimental pieces of art, and they exist all over the world. However, Orlando’s Fringe Festival is the longest running event of its kind within the United States.

What makes Fringe so special?

Orlando Fringe is totally unique when compared to other local theater events. Firstly, Orlando Fringe is uncensored. You truly never know what could happen onstage – allowing performers, writers, and other artists complete freedom to express themselves and their messages. While this level of expression can be overwhelming for some audiences; there’s also the opportunity for incredibly beautiful pieces that literally could not happen in any other circumstance. But no matter the result, a Fringe performance is always a special experience that you won’t soon forget.

Secondly, Fringe artists are chosen by lottery, not by audition. This provides every artist – regardless of experience level, artistic style, or demographic – an equal opportunity to perform their work.

Most importantly, however, seeing a Fringe show is perhaps the best way to support local theater as 100% of ticket sales are given directly back to the artists. Even during difficult and challenging times (like a pandemic), the Orlando Fringe Festival is constantly searching for opportunities to increase a performer’s audience reach and promote an artist’s success. For example, ticket sales from the upcoming DigiFringe (a virtual version of the in-person festival) will help performers and creators recoup lost income due to decreased theater capacity during the main event. (We’ll talk more about DigiFringe and safety protocols later.)

With the high demand for theme park entertainers and artists, Orlando is brimming with amazing talent and passionate performers. There is no better way to enjoy this wellspring of creativity than at Orlando Fringe!

Pandemic Safety

The Orlando Fringe Festival is, of course, concerned with the overall safety and security of its guests, volunteers, staff, and artists. Please remember the following guidelines when visiting Fringe:

• EVERYONE MUST WEAR A MASK. This applies to every single person at the Festival (even onstage performers). There are no exceptions.
• Temperature checks are required. Before entering your first venue, you must answer a few COVID-related questions and submit to a temperature screening. Once you pass a checkpoint, you will be given a color-coded wristband – allowing you to bypass additional screenings at other Festival venues. You will only be required to pass one temperature check per day.
• Theater capacity will be limited to 30-50% to reduce potential exposure for both patrons and performers. Buy your tickets early!
• Please follow good pandemic practices. Maintain a six foot distance, wash your hands, and sanitize often.

Orlando Fringe Festival Events

Each year, Orlando Fringe is full of events for all ages, preferences and performing arts styles. Let’s take a look at what we can expect in 2021! (You can also reference this year’s Digital Festival Program!)

Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival

The primary Fringe event, of course, is the main theater festival featuring a huge variety of onstage performances. From burlesque to comedy, musicals to drag; there is something for everyone. Visit the virtual program to view this year’s show titles and descriptions. If you visit the show schedule, you can sort the productions by several categories, including genre! This might be a helpful tool to sort through the available options.

But don’t forget that this is Fringe! Don’t stay in your comfort zone; take a chance on something new! With ticket prices ranging from free to only $12, Fringe shows are accessible to most budgets. Take a risk, and you just might find a new passion or hidden treasure!

Where is the Fringe Festival?

Most of the festivities take place in Loch Haven Park. If you’ve never been, this park provides a perfect setting for a theater festival. There’s a central Fringe Lawn, surrounded by three host buildings with several stages and shows in each. Select performances do occur outside the main festival area in either artist chosen locations or “Bring Your Own Venue” (BYOV) stages. The BYOV sites include The Abbey near Lake Eola or HÄOS on Church Street. Shows occurring in these venues will be clearly marked.

The Fringe Lawn area hosts two free, outdoor stages with performances such as musicians, comedians, visual artists, and more. While these performances do not require a ticket, tips are greatly encouraged and will be given directly to the artist. On the lawn, you’ll also find food and drink vendors, including an impressive variety of draft beer, cocktails, and even non-alcoholic specialty drinks including the Marg-NA-rita and Cos-NO-politan! Of course, you’ll need some food to go with all those yummy beverages! Food vendors will include Shadrach’s Fiery Furnace Pizza Co, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Jimmy Bear’s BBQ, and more!

If you’re looking for a more private way to enjoy the Fringe Lawn atmosphere, consider renting one of the Party Pods! These reservations include a canopy tent with light, two purple Adirondack chairs, a small table with two orange chairs, cooler with ice, four cans of beers or seltzer of your choice, continued cocktail service, and a souvenir beer pitcher. A reserved tent will be yours for the entire Festival day!

Prices are $149 for a weekday rental (except for Memorial Day). Weekday time slots run from 5pm – 1am. Weekend rentals (including Memorial Day) are $249 and run from 12pm – 1am. Pods are located throughout the lawn, as seen on the map below:

Tickets for Festival Performances

Tickets to all available shows can be purchased online starting TODAY, April 19th. If you miss buying your ticket online, you might be able to pick one up at the Festival Box Office. However, this won’t apply to sold out performances or BYOV shows.

ALL SHOWS REQUIRE A BUTTON AND TICKET FOR ENTRY. In order to see any of these much-anticipated performances, you MUST buy both a ticket and a button. Buttons support Orlando Fringe and help make sure the Festival happens again next year. But remember that only one button is necessary for admittance to all the shows. You’ll only need to purchase a button once – regardless of how many productions you decide to enjoy. You can pick up your button at the Festival Box Office or Information Table.

Also, don’t forget the five minute rule! All ticket sales will stop five minutes before curtain, and you won’t be admitted into the theater once the pre-show announcements are completed and the doors are closed. Parking in this part of Downtown Orlando can be challenging, so make sure you arrive early to allow for delays. If you find parking quickly and arrive at the Festival ahead of schedule, you can always enjoy the outdoor stages and grab a refreshment!

Kids’ Fringe

Kids’ Fringe is a free, child-focused arts event taking place from 10am-2pm on May 22-23 and May 29-30. Located at the Orlando Garden Club, Kids’ Fringe includes short, indoor performance and outdoor activities.

If you plan to see an indoor show, be sure you arrive early! In order to control capacity and enhance safety procedures, seating will be monitored by a free ticketing system (kind of like Fast Pass) on a first come, first serve basis. Ticket distribution begins 15 minutes before each performance.

Visual Fringe

Orlando Fringe Festival doesn’t just celebrate the stage! In this year’s virtual Visual Fringe gallery, you can peruse a variety of uncensored and unjuried artwork – all available for sale! And just like performance ticket sales, 100% of any online purchases go directly to the artist.

While the main gallery has moved online, Loch Haven Park will still include select visual arts experiences. There will be a small art market, where you might even get to the meet the artist in person. On the Fringe Lawn, you’ll find some featured visual art demonstrations; such as impromptu portrait creations, mural painting, and even an oversized kaleidoscope.

Check the virtual program for up to date information.

DigiFringe

If you’re either unable or too uncomfortable to visit the in person Festival this year, you can still enjoy many of the amazing shows! DigiFringe will run from June 4-18 with recorded versions of each production (or at least those wishing to participate). As always, 100% of these digital ticket sales will be given back to the artists – allowing them to recoup some of the lost revenue due to reduced theater capacity for the live performances. Stay tuned! More details on DigiFringe to come!

Important Things to Know About Orlando Fringe Festival

• YOU MUST PURCHASE A BUTTON TO ENTER ANY SHOW. There will be no exceptions.
• View the sortable show schedule here, and don’t be afraid to try something new!
• Show capacity is limited! Buy your tickets early.
• While the outdoor shows are free, tipping is encouraged and will support the artist.
• If you are sensitive to certain content, be sure to check the ratings. Fringe is uncensored, so many shows may contain adult material.
• Leave enough time to find parking. Free spaces are limited. Paid parking is available at the AdventHealth Garage.
• Get to the venue early. Once the preshow announcements are done and the doors are closed, there will be no further seating.