FusionFest’s ninth annual multicultural festival fills Loch Haven Park on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 28–29, with world music and dance, international food, a kids’ cardboard village and a goat garden. Admission is free.
Quick Facts
- When: Saturday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 29, noon–6 p.m.
- Where: Loch Haven Park, 777 E. Princeton St., Orlando, FL 32803
- Cost: Free admission
- Parking: Free lots at 1718 and 1724 N. Mills Ave., first come, first served
Thanksgiving weekend usually means leftovers and the couch. FusionFest offers a better Saturday: a free, two-day festival in Loch Haven Park where you can catch a dance from one country and try food from another without leaving the lawn.
This is the festival’s ninth year. The organizers say more than 500 local performers take the main stage over the weekend, covering music and dance from around the world. Most programming runs 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday and 1–5 p.m. Sunday.
What to see
The festival opens at 10 a.m. Saturday with marching bands, cultural performances and hundreds of flags. After that, the Field of Flags is one of the easiest photo stops in the park. Sunday at 2:50 p.m. brings the Fashion Heritage runway, where locals show off traditional and contemporary dress.
The Visual Arts Gallery features more than 40 local artists, and muralists Nelson Cárdenas and Alberto Gómez-Gómez will be drawing live. If you’d rather hear words than watch paint, there’s a haiku competition at 1:30 p.m. and a poetry slam at 3 p.m., both on Saturday.
Bring the kids
Families have plenty to do. There’s a Family Village with giant puppets and games, and a Kids Global Cardboard Village of child-sized buildings sponsored by the American Institute of Architects. Crealdé School of Art runs 30-minute guided craft sessions. There’s also a Goat Garden from Alaska Farms where you can pet friendly goats. In the Inclusion Tent, Arts for All Florida offers art activities designed for children with disabilities.
Come hungry, and maybe learn a dance
Foods of the World runs 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Saturday and noon–5 p.m. Sunday, with international dishes and fusion twists. Food vendor spaces are sold out, so there should be plenty to choose from. World Dance workshops run 45 minutes each and are led by instructors from different traditions. There’s also an International Marketplace with handmade goods and art.
Why We’re Hyped
Free festivals this size usually ask you to choose between a stage, a food line and keeping the kids busy. FusionFest packs all three onto one park lawn, and you can try a world dance workshop between bites. It’s an easy way to spend Thanksgiving weekend outside.
The Details
- Event: FusionFest 2026, the 9th Annual Multicultural Festival, presented by FusionFest Inc.
- Dates and hours: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 29, 2026, noon–6 p.m.
- Location: Loch Haven Park, 777 E. Princeton St., Orlando, FL 32803
- Admission: Free
- Parking: Free at 1718 N. Mills Ave. and 1724 N. Mills Ave. (first come, first served); also Orlando Science Center Garage, AdventHealth McRae Garage and nearby street parking
- Highlights: Main stage music and dance, Field of Flags, Fashion Heritage runway (Sun. 2:50 p.m.), Visual Arts Gallery, haiku competition (Sat. 1:30 p.m.), poetry slam (Sat. 3 p.m.), World Dance workshops, Foods of the World, International Marketplace
- For kids: Family Village, Kids Global Cardboard Village, Crealdé arts and crafts, Goat Garden, Inclusion Tent
- Schedule: Full weekend schedule coming soon, per organizers
- Official info: FusionFest 2026 · Parking · City of Orlando listing
