ArtsFest, a production of United Arts of Central Florida, is one of our favorite annual Orlando events. This year, the celebration of Central Florida arts and culture takes place for the entire month of February 2012 and includes 302 completely free events held in 87 locations throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. But with so many great free events, how can you possibly decide on what to see? See our 2012 Non-Ticketed Picks
Last year, we offered up a list of the best ticketless events of the festival. Since this is the largest ArtsFest to date and first to feature a Ticket Lottery, here are our picks for the top ten "Tickets Are Limited Events" of ArtsFest 2012, in order of date.
All events below are completely free. However – they all require you to register for the Ticket Lottery; the deadline for which is this Saturday, January 21. (So what are you waiting for? Register today!) Keep in mind that if you don't get tickets to any of these events through the lottery, or are low on the standby list, you could always try your luck by showing up to the venue – early – and playing the waiting game. Sometimes, this works! Not always, but sometimes.
Thurs. 2/2: 8 pm
Fri. 2/3 & Sat. 2/4: 8 pm & 10:30 pm
Thurs. 2/9: 8 pm
Fri. 2/10 & Sat. 2/11: 8 pm & 10:30 pm
Thurs. 2/16: 8 pm
Fri. 2/17 & Sat. 2/18: 8 pm & 10:30 pm
Thurs. 2/23: 8 pm
Fri. 2/24 & Sat. 2/25: 8 pm & 10:30 pm
Wet. Water. Raw. Sushi. Sexy. Rock. Plymouth. Roll. Dinner. Music. Loud. Powder. Flanery. Light. Shiny. Glitter. Mariah! Flying. Spaghetti. Splash. Mermaid. Ocean. Cruiseship. Titanic. Iceberg. Lettuce. Salad. Newman's. Mariko. Laliberté. Destiny. Internationale. Drive. Just. See. It.
Fri. 2/3: 7 pm
You can select tickets to either the Sat 2/4 performance or the Fri 2/3 dress rehearsal, both at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre. But we suggest attending this rehearsal, since Music Director Christopher Wilkins is sure to stop conducting at some point and go over a section of Beethoven or Stravinsky's music again, allowing you to observe the process of creating their performance. If you're into that sort of thing. Which we are.
Fri. 2/3 - Sun. 2/5: Visit www.StarliteFilmFest.com for times
We attended the media preview for this niche film festival, produced by genuinely nice person Michael Poley, at the charming Garden Theatre, and have high hopes for its inaugural outing. But is it *really* possible to produce a memorable independent feature-length film in Central Florida on a budget of $100,000 or (usually much) less? The answer lies in the past.
Sat. 2/4: 11:30 am & 1:30 pm
To-Do List: 1) Roll out of bed. 2) Put on some clothes. 3) Grab your date from the night before and take 'em down to the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts (not the one under construction in Downtown Orlando; the original one – overlooking Lake Ivanhoe). 4) Watch in awe as Central Florida's only professional ballet company rehearses their latest incarnation of "Battle of the Sexes," with "more passion and athleticism than ever before." 5) The following Friday, while everyone else is watching Orlando Ballet's performance at Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, stay in bed with your date from the week before and rehearse some of the moves you saw.
Sat. 2/4 & 2/25: noon - 4:30 pm
Hopefully there's a shuttle bus involved for this four-and-a-half hour tour (!) across the Orange County art landscape, lead by Orlando arts legend Terry Olson. While the seven art museums aren't listed, we assume that means OMA, Cornell, Mennello, Morse, Polasek, Maitland and... and... ugh! What's the seventh art museum, Terry?!
Mon. 2/6 & Tues. 2/7: 6 – 6:40 pm
"The oldest, funniest and impoviest festival in Orlando." – TheDailyCity.com.
Full disclosure: We produce it.
Sat. 2/11: 6:30 pm, 8 pm & 9:30 pm
His ArtsFest event last year wowed us. And once again, the most eclectic offering of this year's ArtsFest belongs to Mr. Feldman. Brian wrote on Facebook that this will be his final Orlando project until 2025, making it a true can't miss. If you can get in.
Sun. 2/12: 3 - 5:30 pm
Jazz at The Abbey should make for a soulful Sunday afternoon.
Sun. 2/19: 2:30 - 4 pm
Would you say that we're biased towards dance in Orlando by including three dance events in our top ten list? If so, we'll take it. Dance is wonderful; especially when the word Voci appears before it. This environmental staging throughout the grounds of the Mennello Museum should validate our "prejudance" once and for all. Dance!
Sun. 2/26: 3 - 6 pm
Last year, Thunder Hug presented a staging of a short puppet play based on O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi." This year, Thunder Hag helps you create and learn how to operate your very own working marionette so that you can present your own puppet play. Next year, your audience will sell their shoes in order to have enough money to get to your performance, and you will sell your marionette in order to afford to do your show. How's *that* for a twist ending?
We've also put together an additional list, featuring our picks for the top ten "Non-Ticketed Events" of ArtsFest 2012, where no tickets or lottery registration is required. You can find that list here.