Encouraged by overwhelmingly positive feedback from guests, artists and sponsors, Dr. Phillips Center today announced it will extend its award-winning Frontyard Festival through mid-December. The festival was originally expected to close June 12.
- The Frontyard Festival began in December 2020 and featured an array of shows in front of the Dr. Phillips Center, including Disney, Pixar and Marvel films.
- In addition to providing seed funding for the festival last year, the City, County and AdventHealth are continuing their financial support. Last month, the Orlando City Council approved up to $500,000 to support the festival’s extension.
- Earlier today, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners agreed to support the festival’s extension and awarded the arts center $500,000 in revenue recovery funding it received from the federal American Rescue Plan.
- The arts center has begun transforming the three-acre festival venue, adding an additional 500 guest boxes as well as a fifth and sixth seat option for each box, effectively more than doubling guest capacity from 2,000 to approximately 4,500.
- With most COVID restrictions easing, the boxes will be placed adjacent to one another in a contiguous row; rows will be spaced five feet apart. Masks will be encouraged for those who have not yet been vaccinated, but are no longer required in or outside the box.
- While there are no Disney films on the schedule for the Frontyard Festival as of now, the Dr. Phillips Center promises family movies and now cult-classics such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Coming to America, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and National Lampoon’s Vacation will be shown several times a month.
- To purchase tickets and learn more, visit frontyardfestival.org. And check out Jeremiah’s review of the Frontyard festival here.
The schedule:
- The arts center also shared a diverse group of festival artists already confirmed to play the Mainstage at Seneff Arts Plaza:
- July 18—Country music star Travis Tritt
- July 26—British progressive band King Crimson
- August 1—Jazz artists Dave Koz & Friends featuring Kirk Whalum, Mindi Abair and Vincent Ingala
- November 12—80s ballad band Air Supply
- November 13—Trio Mary Chapin Carpenter, Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin
- December 4: Jazz legend Wynton Marsalis with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
- December 9—Motown’s Four Tops and The Temptations
- December 11—Singer-songwriter David Foster
What’s New:
- A fun, friendly Trivia Night & Happy Hour will take place twice a month.
- In October, popular jazz brunches will return featuring The Jazz Orchestra at Dr. Phillips Center.
- Southern BBQ and street tacos will join gourmet grilled cheese, pizza and burgers on the menu; guests may continue to order from their mobile devices with food delivered directly to their box.
- Frontyard Festival merchandise such as umbrellas, seat cushions, koozies and blankets may be purchased on-site.
What they’re saying:
- Dr. Phillips Center President and CEO Kathy Ramsberger: “Watching the community experience Frontyard Festival and hearing their excitement has been incredibly rewarding—and inspiring. In every post-show survey, guests have praised the team for creating the festival and giving them a safe, secure environment in which to enjoy the arts. They’ve asked us to continue, and with support from partners like the City of Orlando, Orange County and presenting sponsor AdventHealth, we’ve figured out how to make it happen—and make it even better.”
- Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer: “Throughout the pandemic, we’ve found creative ways to be together safely and support some of our most impacted community groups, like our local artists, thanks to the Frontyard Festival. In our darkest times, this new venue was a beacon of light showing that our community was resilient in the face of unprecedented challenges and I’m happy to see its operation continue in our downtown as we continue to recover.”
- Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings: “Orange County is committed to supporting a vibrant arts community. The Frontyard Festival is an innovative way for our citizens to gather and enjoy a cultural experience while also employing a diverse array of musicians, performers and local restaurants impacted by the pandemic.”
- Sharon Line Clary, vice president of marketing and communications for AdventHealth Central Florida: “AdventHealth’s longstanding support for the Dr. Phillips Center and those who enjoy arts education in Central Florida serves to elevate our hope and renew our health—body, mind and spirit. We’re proud of our collaboration with the Dr. Phillips Center as the presenting partner of the Frontyard Festival and the joy it brings to our community. As we emerge from the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, arts and entertainment are essential to positive growth and healing, and Central Florida is fortunate to have such a welcoming venue strengthened by talented performers and artists to make us feel whole.”