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ORLANDO, Fla. —
This weekend downtown Orlando will be bursting with excitement for the first time since before the pandemic.
“We are very excited to see these events return. I mean last year there was practically zero events,” said Kelly Allen, with the Downtown Development Board.
The busy weekend kicks off Friday with Immerse an outdoor extravaganza where people enjoy just about every kind of art there is: from still art to performing art. Immerse runs through Sunday,
Saturday offers Viva Orlando, with food and music happening across the street from the Amway Center. Meanwhile, inside the Amway Center is the IHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, a concert that will feature several Latin bands.
Finally, at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center is Synapse, a tech industry conference.
Meanwhile, Keith Lay set up a string of music machines along sidewalks that he controls with his backpack.
“I call this my distance music apparatus,” Lay said.
He’s a digital conductor, using harmony with live performers to bring a different sound to each block. He calls the experience distance music and says it helps bring people together.
‘I feel lucky. I feel blessed to be in this town. This town has been great to me, Lay said.
Those who live in Orlando can’t way to join the fun.
“I’m excited for the weekend. I love seeing all these events going on and being able to do different things and just get out there,” Jessica Seekamp said.
“It’s nice to get out in public and feel comfortable and having an outdoor experience, like this is so wonderful because everybody can still feel safe and enjoy themselves. Back to normal is this close,” Claire Sullivan said.
The events also means tens of thousands of people will be in downtown Orlando competing for the over 26,000 parking spaces and dealing with road closures.
Closures include South Pine, Church, Livingston and Anderson streets, as well as parts of Orange Avenue.
There is always the option of catching a free city bus to downtown.
“A person’s worst nightmare is you come down here late and the event you were hoping to go to has already started. That is why we are encouraging individuals to please look at the map on the website. It lays out the timing of road closures. It also lays out the detour routes as well as where you can park and easily get to your destination,” Allen said.
Click here to check road closures ahead of the event.