After being displaced from Winter Park, street performers are being welcomed with open arms in downtown Orlando's Thornton Park neighborhood.

  • Winter Park restricted street performers to Central Park
  • Thornton Park is inviting street performers to come to their district
  • Performers need to finish their last set by 8:30 p.m.

With a harmonica and banjo in tow, Trey Miller is ready to play some good ole’ bluegrass music.

He’s now playing on Central Avenue in Thornton Park but he still misses playing on Park Avenue in Winter Park.

“One of my favorite things growing up as a musician was being able to go out, play a few songs on the avenue (Park Avenue in Winter Park) and then take the money and go to a coffee shop and enjoy an evening and relax with my buddies. It’s certainly something I miss," said Miller, the lead singer of The Harmonica Man & The Sawgrass Band.

A few months ago, Winter Park passed an ordinance banning artists from popular spots on Park Avenue, relegating them to Central Park.

Several business owners in Winter Park complained that street performers were blocking the sidewalks and playing loud music. 

However, that essence is being embraced in the Thornton Park District.

“To me, you want a vibrant neighborhood that just brings more foot traffic," said Lisa Cuatt, the director of the Thornton Park District.

“I think when people come and they just start walking the neighborhood, everywhere they turn there’s another sight to see or a thing to hear. It’s something for them to enjoy on their way to a venue, like if they’re going out for a drink or a bite to eat," said Greg Richie, who serves as the executive chef and partner at Baoery Asian Gastropub and SOCO in Thornton Park.

“We would love to see visual performers. We would love to see visual artists here. Painting, live music, maybe some dancing. Turn our sidewalks into a venue almost," Cuatt added.

The Harmonica Man said the threat of a fine means performing in Winter Park is no longer an option.

“A 100 percent yeah. Unfortunately, it’s not a lucrative business, the music industry, and so you pinch pennies where you can. It just doesn’t make sense to play music out in Winter Park if there’s a fear of legal repercussions. Nobody wants that trouble," Miller explained.

"That’s not why we play music," Miller added.

Thornton Park leaders are making sure to keep neighbors in mind. They are being mindful of noise levels, asking street performers to finish their final set by 8:30 p.m. 

Rock around the Bricks is a weekly Friday night event.