Orlando Fringe Mini-Fest returning to center stage January 7-11, 2026
The 10th anniversary event will feature 20+ local, national and international shows to create a cozy, curated experience.
TEN YEARS OF ITS SEASONAL FESTIVAL. THE WINTER MANIFEST BRINGS FOUR DAYS OF MORE THAN A DOZEN THEATER, DANCE, MUSIC AND ART EXPERIENCES TO GUESTS ALL IN ONE LOCATION SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO LEAVE THAT AREA. SO HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE UPCOMING CELEBRATION IS ORLANDO FRINGE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TEMPEST HALSTEAD AND ALSO A FEATURED ARTIST, MICHELINA MOAN. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING IN THIS MORNING. THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. SO THIS IS EXCITING TEMPEST. FOR ANYONE WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ORLANDO FRINGE WINTER FEST. WHAT IS IT? SO ORLANDO FRINGE WINTER FEST IS A SMALLER VERSION OF OUR FESTIVAL THAT HAPPENS IN MAY. IT’S ONLY FOUR DAYS AND 20 PLUS ARTISTS, AND IT’S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE GET TO CURATE THIS ONE. WHEREAS IN THE MAY FESTIVAL IT’S ALL DONE BY LOTTERY. SO I GET TO ACTUALLY GO ON THE CIRCUIT, GO TO CANADA AND EUROPE TO GO AND SCOUT ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO COME TO THIS FESTIVAL. SO VERY CURIOUS, CURATED EXPERIENCE. YES. OKAY. ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAT YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SPECIFICALLY COMPARED TO THE SPRING ONE? THERE’S SO MANY GREAT SHOWS. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ARTISTS TO EXPLORE AND TRY DIFFERENT THINGS AND NEW THINGS. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A OLYMPIC TRIAL BREAKDANCER DOING HIS FIRST SOLO SHOW. WHAT? YES, YES. SO THERE IS A LOT OF AMAZING ARTISTS COMING TO THIS FESTIVAL. WE HAVE AWARD WINNING FROM THE BEST OF FEST AT ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA FRINGE AND BEST ARTISTS FROM EDINBURGH FRINGE, WHICH IS THE BIG FRINGE. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF AMAZING ARTISTS. OKAY, THESE ARE LIKE TOP PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO OUR TOWN. THIS IS EXCITING. OKAY, MICHELINA YOU ARE PART OF A SHOW THAT’S CALLED THE ROOMS WE CARRY. CAN YOU ELABORATE? I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN FOLLOW UP THOSE INCREDIBLE. YOU. CAN YOU JUST. YEAH. SO. SO MY SHOW IS WITH MY FELLOW DANCER CHRISTINA RAMOS AND OUR TECH, KYLIE TAYLOR, WHO’S ACTUALLY GOING TO TECH OUR WHOLE SHOW ON STAGE WITH US. SHE’S GOING TO BE IN THE SHOW. OKAY? AND THE SHOW IS ALL IMPROV BASED. SO IT’S STRUCTURED AROUND THE IDEA OF DIFFERENT IDENTITIES, PERSONALITIES, THINGS WE’VE EXPERIENCED IN LIFE, BEING ALMOST LIKE A ROOM YOU CAN GO IN AND OUT OF. SO THE THREE OF US HAVE OUR OWN ROOMS, BUT FROM THERE WE JUST FEEL THE MUSIC THAT WE’VE PICKED TO REPRESENT OUR EXPERIENCES. AND THEN FROM THERE, MAKE IT UP IN THE MOMENT. OKAY. YEAH. SO IT’S A LITTLE BIT OF IMPROV, BUT WHAT KIND OF PREPARATION GOES INTO SOMETHING? SO A LOT OF OUR STUFF IS TECH BASED. SO OUR TECH WHO IS TAKING ON THE STAGE, SHE IS A GENIUS. AND SHE WILL COME UP WITH IDEAS ON SPECIAL EFFECTS, PROJECTIONS, DIFFERENT LIGHTING SOURCES, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND WE’RE JUST INSPIRED IN THAT MOMENT OF WHAT SHE DOES WITH THE TECH. SO IT’S A LOT OF LIKE, THIS IS GOING TO BE HERE. YEAH. AND THEN THAT’S IT. SO WHEN YOU’RE INSPIRED BY SOMETHING, ARE YOU ALSO INSPIRED WHAT SHE’S DOING AND WHAT THE CROWD’S GIVING OUT? LIKE YOU’RE IN A BAD MOOD. IS THAT INSPIRATION COMING THROUGH? WHICH IS WHY OUR SHOW IS SO COOL, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE SHOWTIMES, IT COULD BE A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IT’S IMPROV BASED. SO IT’S EVERYTHING. IT DEPENDS ON THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. IT DEPENDS ON OUR MOOD, HOW WE FEEL, THAT MUSIC IN THAT MOMENT, OH, THAT’S A TEASE. YOU GOT TO WATCH BOTH BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO GET. I LOVE THAT, THAT IS VERY COOL. TEMPEST, FOR INFORMATION ABOUT DATES AND WHERE THIS ALL IS, WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW? SO IT’S GOING TO RUN JANUARY 7TH THROUGH THE 11TH AT ORLANDO SHAKES. IT’S ALL IN ONE CONVENIENT LOCATION. WE HAVE THREE VENUES. PARKING IS FREE. WE WILL HAVE A FOOD TRUCK AND SOME LIGHT BITES. AND YOU CAN ALSO GRAB A DRINK AT OUR BAR. ALL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT ORLANDO FRINGE DOT. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT? YOU GOT FOOD, DRINKS, ARTISTS, ALL THAT STUFF. OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO PUT A LINK FOR ALL OF THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE WESH.COM. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO
Orlando Fringe Mini-Fest returning to center stage January 7-11, 2026
The 10th anniversary event will feature 20+ local, national and international shows to create a cozy, curated experience.
Updated: 9:46 AM EST Dec 30, 2025
The Orlando Fringe Mini-Fest is returning January 7-11, 2026, for it’s 10th anniversary at Orlando Shakes. The event will feature 20+ local, national and international shows to create a cozy, curated experience.Orlando Fringe Artistic Director, Tempestt Halstead, and Winter Mini-Fest Artist, Michelina Moen join WESH 2 News to preview the event. Click here to learn more.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
The Orlando Fringe Mini-Fest is returning January 7-11, 2026, for it’s 10th anniversary at Orlando Shakes.
The event will feature 20+ local, national and international shows to create a cozy, curated experience.
Orlando Fringe Artistic Director, Tempestt Halstead, and Winter Mini-Fest Artist, Michelina Moen join WESH 2 News to preview the event.