The iconic Celebration Theater, closed for 12+ years.

The Celebration Theater opened October 25, 1996. Designed by noted modernist architect Cesar Pelli, the Celebration Town Cinema was immediately labeled by architectural pundits as an example of the Googie style of architecture. It is a post-modern interpretation of the Art Moderne style of the 1930’s-1950’s. Its two thin, round spires rising above the twin, rounded marquees that flank the theatre’s entrance are a landmark in this planned community built by the Walt Disney Company as an adjunct to Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

AMC closed this location on November 28, 2010. The current lease on the property by Lexin Realty (Lexin Capital) to AMC ended on October 31, 2021. This was the perfect time to reopen the theater as event space and movie theater.

Sadly, an agreement with Lexin didn’t happen. We hope that in the future someone will occupy the building for arts and entertainment and not more retail store or offices.

Currently, as of May 2022, Lexin has given CROA the option to lease the building. CROA has created a group to decide where a Community Center would go: The Celebration Theater, build onto Town Hall, or build something new in the Civic Corridor. They are looking into the decision with a survey of the building and hope to decide to do anything in the Spring of 2023.