ORLANDO, Fla. – Hundreds of artists will take over downtown Orlando next week as part of Creative City Project’s IMMERSE performing arts festival, featuring live performances, “creative encounters” and more.
The three-day festival kicks off on Friday, Feb. 21, and runs nightly from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. with daytime shows on Sunday, Feb. 23.
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Headline performers for the festival this year are Blue Man Group, Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney, and award-winning Broadway star and recording artist Michael James Scott.
“IMMERSE is about creating experiences audiences can’t have anywhere else in the world. Only at IMMERSE can you see Cirque du Soleil artists flying high above a city, Blue Man Group bringing their energy to the streets, and Michael James Scott performing with fireworks that match his big, joy-filled spirit. It’s an event unlike any other,” Creative City Project founder and artistic director Cole NeSmith said in a statement.
Here’s everything to know about this year’s festival:
Performers
Hundreds of performances will span 10 city blocks throughout the festival, featuring the three headline performers as well as other groups, such as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Jeremy Kittel, Opera Orlando, Central Florida Community Arts and Orlando Aerial Arts.
To see the full list of performers, click here.
The Creative City Project said the programming is mostly appropriate for children, though the last couple hours of the event, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., "may tend toward PG-13."
Interactive art
There will be interactive art installations throughout downtown that you can snap a photo with and immerse yourself in the “world of wonder,” event organizers said.
"Lay in the grass under the dome of pulsing projections, swing from an illuminated cloud, slide through the heart of a unicorn… experience the unexplainable."
Where
There will be stages and areas throughout downtown Orlando that you can enjoy acrobats, dancers, musicians and more.
Here’s where:
- Orange Avenue between Central Boulevard and Anderson Street
- Church Street
- Pine Street
- Magnolia Avenue
- City Hall, Dr. Phillips Center Seneff Plaza and the Frontyard, Seaside Plaza, Duncan Plaza
New this year, there will be an IMMERSE Fest Market on Magnolia Avenue between Central Boulevard and Church Street.
Parking information
The streets are closed to vehicles so people can safely move through the event.
Downtown Orlando has multiple parking garages throughout the area. Here are the ones closest to the festival area:
- Library Garage on Central Boulevard
- 55W Garage on Pine Street
- Garage at City Hall
- City Commons garage
- Garage at Rosalind Avenue and Jackson Street
- Jefferson Street garage
Ticketing
You can reserve a free ticket to enjoy IMMERSE.
There are VIP experiences and a full experience ticket package that are available for purchase online.
To register or purchase, click here to check out tickets.
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