The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival 2025 is currently underway, running from May 13 to May 26 at Loch Haven Park and satellite venues throughout the city. Now in its 34th year, the festival continues to be a major fixture in Central Florida’s cultural calendar. This year’s theme, “Let Your Fringe Flag Fly!”, encourages artists and audiences alike to embrace individuality, freedom of expression, and the transformative power of the arts.

What Is the Orlando Fringe Festival?

Founded in 1992, the Orlando Fringe is the longest-running fringe theatre festival in the United States. It operates on a completely unjuried and uncensored model, meaning any artist who applies and pays the entry fee is given space to perform. There is no selection committee or content restriction, which results in a lineup that is broad, experimental, and often unpredictable.

Supporting artists is a central goal, as the festival gives all ticket sales directly to performers, unlike other arts events. Over time, it has developed into a well-known place for creators and viewers, attracting talent worldwide.

Festival Highlights

Performances

In 2025, the festival features over 1,000 ticketed performances. Genres span a wide spectrum, including:

Theater
Dance
Comedy
Musicals
Cabaret
Spoken word
Puppetry
Multimedia and experimental performance

Performances take place throughout the day in venues large and small, with shows typically running 30 to 90 minutes.

Visual Fringe

An open-access visual arts exhibition that operates alongside the stage performances. The works on display—ranging from painting and sculpture to mixed media and installation—are available for purchase, with 100% of proceeds going to the artists.

Kids Fringe

Held on weekends only, Kids Fringe offers free, family-friendly activities including performances, crafts, storytelling, and interactive workshops. It’s designed to introduce younger audiences to the arts in a hands-on, engaging way.

Fringers of the Future

This program gives middle and high school students the opportunity to present original work during the festival. The initiative fosters early engagement in the performing arts and allows young artists to develop their skills in a real-world setting.

Outdoor Stage

The Outdoor Stage features free live music, dance, drag shows, spoken word, and other performances in a casual lawn setting. Complemented by food trucks and a beer garden, it serves as the festival’s social hub.

Attendance & Ticketing

Fringe Button: A one-time $10 purchase that is required to attend most ticketed shows. Proceeds help fund the festival’s infrastructure.

Show Tickets: Prices range from free to $15. All proceeds from ticket sales go directly to the artists.

Free Events: Many events—especially those on the Outdoor Stage and at Kids Fringe—are free and open to the public.

Festival Venues

The 2025 festival is centralized in Loch Haven Park, using a mix of traditional and alternative performance spaces. Key venues include:

Lowndes Shakespeare Center – A multi-stage venue and central administrative hub.
Orlando Family Stage – Home to a range of performances for all ages.
Orlando Garden Club – Dedicated to Kids Fringe programming.
Renaissance Theatre Company
The Starlite Room @ Savoy
Ten10 Brewing Co.
Other local spaces, bars, and community centers also serve as venues.

Key Dates

April 14 – Local Artist Teaser Show at Orlando Shakes; general ticket sales open.

May 13 – Ribbon-cutting Ceremony marks the official start of the festival.

May 14–26 – Full run of scheduled performances and activities.

May 26 – Patrons Pick Day, when encore performances of the most popular shows are presented, followed by the Closing Ceremonies.

Economic and Community Impact

The Orlando Fringe Festival not only supports creative expression but also contributes significantly to the local economy:

Draws tens of thousands of attendees annually.
Provides direct financial support to artists through ticket sales.
Generates increased revenue for local businesses in the hospitality, food, and retail sectors.
Offers inclusive programming that supports underserved communities and provides access to the arts regardless of background or ability.
The festival remains a rare platform for artists to showcase unfiltered work while helping foster a more vibrant, inclusive arts ecosystem in Central Florida.

For More Information

Visit the official Orlando Fringe website for:

Detailed schedules
Artist bios
Venue maps
Ticketing information
Accessibility services

As it has since its foundation, this year’s Orlando Fringe Festival supports artistic freedom, new approaches and the local community. With so many shows, events and activities open to everyone, it continues to be an important cultural event in the area and shows how Orlando is growing as an arts center.

🎭 Orlando Fringe Festival 2025: A Vibrant Celebration of Creativity and Community

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