As far as Orlando cultural events go, the annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is one of the city’s biggest. Voted “Best Festival” by the Orlando Weekly for nine consecutive years, the 2012 Festival showcases over 500 theatrical performances over a thirteen-day period, throughout ten indoor venues at Loch Haven Park.
This year’s event, which marks its 21st year, takes place from May 16 through 28.
To attend any of the performances, you must first purchase an $8 fest button. Proceeds from these buttons are what fund the festival.
Then you can attend the actual performances, which range in price from free to $11. Any money raised by individual tickets goes to the artists performing that particular show.
In addition to ticketed performances at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 E Rollins St. Orlando, FL 32803) and Orlando Repertory Theatre (1001 E. Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803), the Orlando Fringe Festival hosts a number of interdisciplinary activities and exhibits.
Kids Fringe, held at the Mennello Museum of American Art (900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803), offers free arts and theatre activities for the whole family from 10am to 4pm on the weekends. Visual Fringe is on display throughout Festival venues, and exhibit artwork is available for purchase.
Festival hours are 4pm to Midnight on weeknights, and 10am to Midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets for Festival performances can be purchased at www.OrlandoFringe.org, or during the Festival at Box Office locations in the Lowndes Shakespeare Center and the Orlando Repertory Theatre.
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Here’s a round-up of concerts and other events happening in the Orlando area this weekend.
Friday, April 15:
Central Florida Home & Garden Show at Orange County Convention Center – $10 adults/$5 seniors & students/Free for 12 and under (save $3 by buying online); $5 after 5pm
Circle Mirror Transformation at Mad Cow Theater – $27
Druid Lord with guests at The Haven in Winter Park – $6
Moonlight Carillon Concert at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales – $5 adults/$1.50 kids (after 5pm)
Orlando Ballet presents “Carmen” at the Bob Carr P.A.C. – $15-$75
Playground Heroes with guests at Little Fish Huge Pond in Sanford – $5
Rockit Fly at The Garage Bar in Sanford – Free
Runaway Country Space Coast Music Fest feat Dierks Bentley, Eric Church and more at Wickham Park in Melbourne – $59 1-day/$89 for weekend general admission; $125 1-day/$175 weekend VIP
Suddenly Seniors: The Musical at The Plaza Theatre – $39
Three Six Mafia with guests at Firestone Live – $30
Equus at the Pointe Orlando P.A.C. – $20 / $35 (with dinner)
FedEx Music Series: Ballyhoo! and The Whitey Tighties at Wall St Plaza – $5
Florida Strawberry Festival featuring Ray Price and Jamey Johnson in Plant City – $10 fest admission / $10-$20 additional for concerts (ride tickets additional)
Freud’s Last Session at Mad Cow Theater – $24
G. Love & Special Sauce with guest at The Beacham – $25
Lucy Kaplansky with guests at The Plaza Theatre – $18
Malevolent Creation with guests at The Haven Lounge in Winter Park – $10 advance/$13 day of
Shanon McCalley artist reception at Infusion Tea – Free
Menopause The Musical at The Plaza Theatre – $43.50
A Midsummers Night Dream at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $26-$38
MLB Spring Training: Houston Astros vs. Boston Red Sox at the Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee – $15-$24
Pride & Prejudice at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $26-$38
The Seedy Seeds with guests at BackBooth – $8
Showdown at The Barn in Sanford – Free
Skatter Box at The Garage in Sanford – Free
Matt White with guests at McRaney’s Tavern – $10
Saturday, March 12:
34th Annual TICO Warbird Airshow in Titusville – $15 advance/$20 day of/$45 3-day pass
Equus at the Pointe Orlando P.A.C. – $20 / $35 (with dinner)
FedEx Music Series: Crowfield and James Boyd Band at Cocoa Beach Pier in Cocoa Beach – $5
Florida Strawberry Festival featuring Allstar Weekend and Billy Ray Cyrus in Plant City – $10 fest admission / $10-$25 additional for concerts (ride tickets additional)
Freud’s Last Session at Mad Cow Theater – $24
In Transit and guests at The Haven Lounge in Winter Park – $5
Tony Lucca with guests at McRaney’s Tavern – $10 / $30 4pk of tickets
Mardi Gras feat. Foreigner at Universal Orlando – Free with Park Admission
Menopause The Musical at The Plaza Theatre – $43.50
A Midsummers Night Dream at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $26-$38
MLB Spring Training: Atlanta Braves vs NY Mets at the ESPN World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World – $10-$42
MLB Spring Training: Houston Astros vs. Baltimore Orioles at the Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee – $15-$24
Pride & Prejudice at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $26-$38
Say Hi with guests at BackBooth – $10
St. Practice Day – St. Patrick’s Warm Up Block Party at Wall St Plaza – $5
Viva La Musica feat. Chino & Nacho at SeaWorld Orlando – Free with Park Admission
WMMO Concert Series feat. Yes in Downtown Orlando – Free
Sunday, March 13:
34th Annual TICO Warbird Airshow in Titusville – $15 advance/$20 day of/$45 3-day pass
Equus at the Pointe Orlando P.A.C. – $20 / $35 (with dinner)
Family Day at The Mennello Museum of American Art – Free
Florida Strawberry Festival featuring Easton Corbin and Lady Antebellum in Plant City – $10 fest admission / $15-$45 additional for concerts (ride tickets additional)
Freud’s Last Session at Mad Cow Theater – $24
Irish Ceili at Raglan Road at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World – Free
Menopause The Musical at The Plaza Theatre – $43.50
A Midsummers Night Dream at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $26-$38
MLB Spring Training: Atlanta Braves vs Houston Astros at the ESPN World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World – $10-$42
Orlando Jazz Orchestra at The Plaza Theatre – $20
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra presents Spring Pops in Winter Park’s Central Park – Free
Pride & Prejudice at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $20-$34
The Ready Set with guests at The Social – $15
Viva La Musica feat. Elvis Crespo at Busch Gardens Tampa – Free with Park Admission
Florida Strawberry Festival featuring John Conlee and .38 Special in Plant City – $10 fest admission / $10 – $25 additional for concert (ride tickets additional) >>
Full Circle at The Garage in Sanford – Free
Patrick Gibson at The Barn in Sanford – Free
Hydrosonic with guests at The Social – $8
Jo Koy at Orlando Improv at Pointe Orlando – $22
Menopause The Musical at The Plaza Theatre – $43.50
A Midsummers Night Dream at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $26-$38
MLB Spring Training: Atlanta Braves vs Toronto Blue Jays at the ESPN World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World – $10-$42
MLB Spring Training: Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals at the Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee – $15-$24
Pride & Prejudice at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $26-$38
The Silver Fleece with guests at BackBooth – $5
Judy Tribune and guests at The Haven Lounge in Winter Park – $5
Saturday, March 05:
Apocalyptica with Stained Angel at House of Blues – $23
Backstage Romance with guests at The Haven Lounge in Winter Park – $5
Florida Strawberry Festival featuring Jeremy Camp and Gaither Vocal Band in Plant City – $10 fest admission / $20 – $25 additional for concert (ride tickets additional)
Harlem Globetrotters at Amway Center – $42-$127
Kid Rock/Jamey Johnson at UCF Arena – $27.50-$87.50
Jo Koy at Orlando Improv at Pointe Orlando – $22
Mardi Gras feat. Lynyrd Skynyrd at Universal Orlando – Free with Park Admission
Mardi Gras Street Festival at Mojo Cajun Bar & Grill downtown Orlando – Free
Menopause The Musical at The Plaza Theatre – $43.50
A Midsummers Night Dream at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $26-$38
MLB Spring Training: Atlanta Braves vs NY Mets at the ESPN World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World – $10-$42
MLB Spring Training: Houston Astros vs. Detroit Tigers at the Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee – $15-$24
Pride & Prejudice at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $26-$38
Reset with Mot with guests at The Social – $10 18+/$5 21+
“Rock for Blood” benefit with Anyone’s Guess and more at The Haven Lounge in Winter Park – $8 (early show)
Rockit Fly at The Garage in Sanford – Free
The Scene Aesthetic with guests at BackBooth – $12
Andy Velo with Jason Tyler Band at The Barn in Sanford – Free for ladies/$7 for men
Zephyrhills Celtic Festival & Highland Games at Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City – $7
Florida Strawberry Festival featuring Trace Adkins and The Judds in Plant City – $10 fest admission / $25-$45 additional for concerts (ride tickets additional)
Menopause The Musical at The Plaza Theatre – $43.50
A Midsummers Night Dream at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $26-$38
MLB Spring Training: Houston Astros vs. NY Yankees at the Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee – $15-$24
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals with guests at The Plaza Theatre – $17
Pride & Prejudice at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center – $20-$34
Zephyrhills Celtic Festival & Highland Games at Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City – $7
