ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Fringe Festival is back, showcasing art, music, theater, and so much more during its two-week run.

It’s the longest running Fringe fest in the country and thousands of people are expected to attend. Fringe festivals let artists perform without censorship and they are more accessible.

Artistic Director Tempestt Halstead said 100 percent of ticket sales are going back to the artists.

“It can be really expensive and unaffordable to produce new works,” Halstead said. “So, this platform is giving an opportunity to all artists in a very low risk, affordable environment to take risk and explore and push the limits as to what’s possible with art.”

Halstead says about 5,000 people attended just the first two opening days, but expect anywhere between 50,000 and 70,000 people to visit by the time the festival wraps up.

Although live theater is the bulk of it with more than 120 shows and 1,600 performers, organizers also planned free music and art exhibits.

Fringe Artist Adam Francis Proulx is performing his show, Ferry Tale. It is inspired by a true story in his hometown.

“Orlando Fringe is a really special festival, it’s got this real community feel,” he said.

People are required to buy a $10 button to access the shows, but all ticket sales go to the artists. Halstead says the button sales directly support Orlando Fringe and their operations.

After the governor vetoed $32 million in state arts funding last year, performer Darren Stevenson says every form of support matters.

“This is a critical time for us as communities, us as people, and friends and neighbors, to support each other, to support the arts, support your communities, support culture that is happening,” said Stevenson.

He is the artistic director of Push Physical Theatre, performing in his acrobatic show home, alongside Ashley Jones.

“As soon as you put your story on stage, it no longer belongs to me, it belongs to my audience,” said Jones. “So then, it’s their experience I’m cultivating and I’m playing with them and playing a story for them.”

The festival ends May 26 at Loch Haven Park with shows, programs, and an art exhibit inside Orlando Shakes.