Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival had its audience chanting “More weird, more weird, more weird!” during the teaser show that followed its ribbon-cutting and kicked off its 35th year. Running from May 12 to 25 at Loch Haven Park, the festival is embracing its reigning title as the longest-running Fringe theatre festival in the United States with the theme “35 Years Weird.”

Staying true to its roots, the 14-day festival remains entirely unjuried and uncensored, with performers chosen randomly by lottery. More than 1000 performances of 100 unique shows, spanning theatre, comedy, dance, storytelling, music, musicals, and visual art, promise the best of weird, wacky, and wild entertainment. In support of independent art, 100% of all ticket sales go directly back to the performers. With 11 indoor venues centralized at Loch Haven Park, plus several independent locations and site-specific spots across the city, the Fringe Festival is a lot to take in, but Pulp City has you covered.

Fringe Lawn

Those new to Fringe can dip a toe in the water and get the lay of the land by spending some time on the Fringe Lawn in Loch Haven Park. It’s free, and festival-goers can wander in and out as they please with no real commitment to anything.

The Fringe Lawn is what Loch Haven Park was built for: a fun, fantastical playground of people-watching, abuzz with the energy of an outdoor circus. There’s no entry fee, just a full schedule of free live music, comedy, karaoke, and an array of talented performers bringing the Outdoor Stage to life. Show performers mingle with patrons, promoting their next show or recovering from their last one. Festival-goers meet one another and discuss what they’ve seen and plan to see.

“The lawn is just so great because you just have a moment as you’re waiting between shows to come on the lawn, see some entertainment, get a bite to eat, grab a drink, and keep it movin’,” said Fringe Lawn producer Quentin Brown, a veteran Fringe show producer who has joined the staff for the first time this year.

Food, Drink, Music, and Merriment

About a dozen food trucks cook up everything from Greek to Filipino, Peruvian to barbecue and soul food. The lawn bar offers beer, wine, and cocktails. Not many things are more enjoyable than sipping a tasty cold beverage outside on a sunny Florida day, surrounded by wacky, wild, and weird.

“We have magicians that will be moving throughout the lawn as well as stiltwalkers and atmosphere performers, so they’re gonna bring some magic off the stage onto the lawn in the outdoor seating areas and [venue] entryways,” said Brown.

Music on the Outdoor Stage includes some returning favorites, including Orlando-based singer-songwriter Hannah Stokes and Colombian singer-songwriter and poet Leo Aether, and features new acts such as the eclectic jazz-world fusion band Golden Flower Music and the jazz quartet Narrative. 

Saturday, May 16, the stage delivered a diverse mix of entertainment, starting with colorful performances by “Goblin Market Presents: The Fringe of Orlando Drag” and tenebrum. Tod Caviness took over the stage in the late afternoon with the “Verse Vs. Verse Poetry Smackdown,” which was followed by an International Fashion Week showcase and live body painting with makeup artist Jackie Coleman. 

Highlights of next weekend include the “Fringe and Fabulous: Glitter, Glam, and Glory” drag show on Friday, May 22, featuring local favorites Angelica Sanchez and Bobby Lynch. Saturday, May 23 starts with a celebration of Disney fairy tales and fantasy and shifts to an afternoon of breakdancing during the “Bust a Move Bash” with DJ Micahel Masters.