ORLANDO — If you’re a long time fan of the Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival, or an artist eager to present their work at this spring event, there’s good news: the festival organized every May will continue to be held at Loch Haven Park, with multiple venues for shows and Fringe’s traditional outdoor Beer and Food Tent.
One very surprising change this year: a particular longtime venue is out, and that’s Orlando Shakes.
The staff at Shakes have confirmed that Orlando Fringe, which recently moved out of their office at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, the home of Orlando Shakes, opted not to renew its lease there. But the Fringe staff say the show will go on.
Where will Orlando Fringe 2027 Be Held?
Calling this change “New venues, new possibilities,” the Fringe team says the festival will continue to take full advantage of what’s available at Loch Haven Park, while expanding as well.
“Our 2027 May festival will feature four new venues, plus the return of an old favorite,” Fringe notes in its newsletter.
The festival scheduled to run in May 2027, in the two and a half weeks leading up to Memorial Day, will feature venues that include:
- Orlando Family Stage, which will continue to host the Silver, Peach, Green and Scarlet venues for Fringe artists
- Orlando Museum of Art (Gold venue)
- Orlando Science Center, a new addition to the lineup, which will host the new Magenta and Aqua venues
- The Orlando Ballet at 600 N. Lake Formosa Drive hosts the Lavender venue and a new venue on the lawn, the Citron venue
“We’re so grateful to continue to expand the Orlando Fringe within the Orlando Community, and are thrilled to share that these new venues are still located within the Loch Haven Park vicinity,” Fringe notes, while adding that parking will remain the same, and each venue is either in Loch Haven Park or within easy walking distance from it.
“While walkability will vary with individual’s needs, every festival managed venue is within half a mile of one another,” Fringe notes.
One change is the addition of more outdoor venues, like the ones traditionally held in the Food & Beer Tent.
“Citron will be a tented and enclosed venue, with air conditioning — because you’re worth it,” Fringe notes. .
What is Orlando Fringe’s New, Permanent Home?
The new venues are not the only significant changes at Fringe. Earlier this year, the Fringe staff vacated their offices at Lowndes Shakespeare Center and relocated to 634 Virginia Drive.
“We’re officially moved into our new offices,” Fringe notes. “We’ve sold the excess stuff, made numerous trips to the dumpsters, borrowed trucks, rented trucks, and been to our storage unit many, many times. We couldn’t have done this without the sweat of our staff, board, volunteers, friends, and a pack of College Hunks.”
The office can be reached by calling (407) 648-0077.
“Now it’s time to ring in a new era of Fringe Office in the heart of Ivanhoe Village, close to the intersection of Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village,” Fringe notes. “We’re just a short walk from our friends at Savoy, The Ren, Ten10 Brewing, The Center, and, of course, Loch Haven Park. We’re excited.”
Fringe will also host its annual Winterfest starting Jan. 7-10 as a Teaser show before the larger festival in May. General public tickets go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 24.
What is Orlando Fringe?
The Orlando Fringe Festival is the oldest Fringe in the nation, and in 2026 will celebrate its 35th year. It was created in 1991 by Terry Olson (who is now the director of the Orange County Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs), Andy Anthony and Rick Kunst, and held in 1992 in downtown Orlando.
The concept was simple: a festival featuring multiple theatrical shows, mostly done in venues in empty storefronts. In 2004, the festival started to relocate to Loch Haven Park, and from 2005 on, the festival has been held entirely in that park and in nearby Ivanhoe Village. It’s the longest running Fringe Festival in the United States, a 14-day festival held every spring in May, leading up to Memorial Day weekend.
Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright, and author of the book A Christmas Eve Story. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.
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