Festival FAQs

The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is the largest, longest running Fringe Theatre Festival in North America. As an event with international presence, we rank among the top 5 Fringe Festivals in the world alongside Edinburgh, Scotland and Adelaide, Australia.

The vibrant success of the Edmonton Fringe Festival is thanks to the more than 43,000 Artists who have bravely taken an artistic risk with us since we exploded onto the scene in 1982. It’s thanks to the more than 550,000 Fringers who celebrate with us every August. It’s thanks to the more than 1,000 Volunteers who continue to help build one of North America’s most influential arts movements.

Offering 200+ indoor theatre shows and 20+ Outdoor Artists across 38 venues over just 11 days, our Festival has deep roots in the community. We are proud to call the heart of Old Strathcona home.

Did you know?

As a charitable arts organization, Fringe Theatre brings community together through the power of storytelling. We support Artists by giving them the tools and platform they need to wow you, entertain you, move you, and challenge you. That’s why Fringe Artists receive 100% of their Festival ticket sales!

The 43rd Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival returns to the heart of Old Strathcona August 15 – 25, 2024!

Located in the heart of Old Strathcona, Edmonton Fringe is the perfect way to experience all the area has to offer. Our key landmarks are the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns (10330 84 Avenue) and ATB Park (known as Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park or Gazebo Park, located at the concern of 104 Street and 83 Avenue). While you’re here, we enthusiastically recommend you check out the awesome nearby shops, restaurants, and businesses. Visit oldstrathcona.ca for a list of local businesses to shop, dine at, and explore.

With more than 38 venues hosting theatre performances, Festival activity stretches from the beautiful French Quarter to the bustling Downtown core to creative beat of 124 Street.

Bike or Walk: Make the most of these precious summer days by biking or walking to Festival. Bonus: you won’t have to pay for parking! Bike lock up is available around Old Strathcona. Be sure to bring your own lock. PLEASE NOTE! Festival activity interrupts regular bike path usage along 83 Avenue. Please be mindful of detour routes during Festival.

Free Fringe Shuttle: Running every day of Festival, our free Fringe shuttle will get you from the main Festival Grounds to venues in the French Quarter and back again.

High-Level Street Car: Operating on a special Fringe schedule, the historic Streetcar connects Downtown to Old Strathcona via the tippy-top of the High-Level Bridge, giving you a one-of-a-kind view of our beloved river valley before dropping you off right in the heart of our main Festival Grounds. BONUS! Heading to the Sea Change Granite Club or Metro Cinema to catch a show? Ask your Streetcar operator when you board to make a special stop. They’ll be happy to accommodate! Visit edmontonstreetcars.ca for more info.

Edmonton Transit Service: Riding ETS is a great way to get to Fringe – in fact, they’re our preferred transportation partner! Take routes 4, 8, 404, or 701 along Whyte Avenue or Gateway Boulevard to get to and from our main Festival Grounds. Plan your route by using the ETS Trip Planner. Visit edmonton.ca/transit for more info.

DATS: Dedicated Accessible Transit Service (DATS) drop-off is available near the Festival Grounds on 103 Street and 83 Avenue – please contact DATS directly to book: edmonton.ca/transit.

Parking: Please respect our neighbours and resist the temptation to park in the residential streets surrounding Festival Grounds. Check out the list of nearby paid parking lots at https://oldstrathcona.ca/visit.

Festival Grounds

August 15 (Thurs): 6:00PM – 12Midnight
August 16 (Fri) – August 24 (Sat): 12Noon – 12Midnight
August 25 (Sun): 12Noon – 8:00PM

First Aid

August 15 (Thurs): 6:00PM – 12Midnight
August 16 (Fri) – August 24 (Sat): 11:00AM – 12Midnight
August 25 (Sun): 11:00AM – 8:00PM

Information

August 15 (Thurs): 6:00PM – 10:30PM
August 16 (Fri) – August 24 (Sat): 11:00AM – 10:30PM
August 25 (Sun): 11:00AM – 7:00PM

Merchandise

August 15 (Thurs): 6:00PM – 11:00PM
August 16 (Fri) – August 24 (Sat): 12Noon – 11:00PM
August 25 (Sun): 12Noon – 7:00PM

KidsFringe

August 16 – 25: 10:30AM – 5:30PM

Fringe Theatre Administration Office

August 15 (Thurs) – August 24 (Sat): 9:00AM – 9:00PM
August 25 (Sun): 9:00AM – 8:00PM

Tickets and Passes go on sale Wednesday, August 7:

• in person at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns (10330 84 Avenue) at 12Noon

• online at fringetheatre.ca or over the phone at 780-409-1910 at 12Noon

Show tickets range from $5 to $20.

Some shows offer special pricing for the littlest Fringers, Students, and/or Seniors. Our listed tickets (in the Festival Guide and online) are inclusive of the ticket price and service fee. What you see is what you pay.

Did you know Artists set their own ticket price? 100% of that ticket price goes directly into their pockets.

As a charitable organization, Fringe Theatre charges a service fee of up to $5 per ticket to support basic Festival operations. Our service fee helps us continue to amplify Artists’ stories by providing them with the infrastructure they need to share their art with you.

Festival passes allow you to reserve up to two (2) tickets to any Festival or Holdover Series performance.

• Frequent Fringer Pass: $160 for ten (10) tickets

• Double Fringer Pass: $320 for twenty (20) tickets

• Fringe Champion Pass:  $20 for $5 off all tickets to participating shows

Snag your pass online, by phone, or in person. Passes go on sale Wednesday, August 7 in person at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns (10330 84 Avenue), online at fringetheatre.ca or over the phone at 780-409-1910 at 12Noon.

Frequent Fringer Pass and Double Fringer Pass sales are limited, so please act quickly!

Limited to one Frequent Fringer/Double Fringer pass per person. Fringe Champion passes may be purchased in addition to other passes. Tickets are subject to availability – make sure you book your tickets as soon as possible!

Please note: Passes are non-transferrable and only valid for shows at the 2024 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival and the 2024 Holdover Series. Pass tickets may be used for any Festival show but are subject to availability. Discounts and passes may not be used with any additional offers or bought, sold, or exchanged for cash.

All ticket sales are final – sorry, no refunds or exchanges. The only exception is if Fringe cancels or changes the schedule of a performance. Questions? Please email boxoffice@fringetheatre.ca.

Pre-Festival, pick up your copy of our Festival Guide at:

• Fringe Theatre Arts Barns Administrative Office (10330 84 Avenue; located on the southwest corner of the building)
• Fringe Grounds Cafe (10330 84 Avenue; located in the lobby of the Arts Barns)
• Audreys Books Ltd. (10702 Jasper Avenue)
• Community Natural Foods (7917 104 Street)
• Edmonton Arts Council Shop & Services (9930 102 Avenue)
• The Sherwood Park Bookworm (120 Wye Road #133, Sherwood Park)
• The Tesserae (6421 112 Avenue)

During Festival, Guides are sold at on Festival Grounds at the:

• Fringe Theatre Arts Barns Box Office;

• 83 Avenue Info Booth; and

• ATB Park Gazebo.

With 38 venues and more than 200 indoor shows featuring Artists from around the world, we are North America’s largest, longest-running Fringe Theatre Festival.

We strive to make theatre accessible and continually work with our community to address barriers and, where possible, find solutions so everyone can fringe to their fullest. We provide an accessibility overview of the venues in the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns. For more, click here.

If you require a wheelchair stall, please inform our Box Office Staff either in-person or over the phone (780- 409-1910) when you are purchasing your ticket.

Tickets purchased online do not guarantee wheelchair stall availability. Please contact us in person or by phone at 780- 409-1910.

Venue accessibility information is also available when booking your tickets. Please note: many venues used during Festival are operated by third parties.

If your experience differs from the accessibility information provided, please reach out so we can continue to improve our communications: hello@fringetheatre.ca

Every day, discount tickets are available to select performances. Discount tickets must be purchased in person at any Festival Box Office. Discount tickets vary by day. Shows offering discounted tickets are posted daily here.

Thanks for your interest! To learn more about volunteering and to apply to join in the fun, please click here. While our Volunteer teams are filling up fast in support of this year’s Festival, we offer Volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Please sign up for our Volunteer Newsletter to be among the first to hear about upcoming Volunteer opportunities, including when applications open for next year’s Festival.

Curated especially for children, KidsFringe inspires creativity and play for children ages 12 and under (and their adults)! All shows and activities at KidsFringe are FREE!

KidsFringe is located in Light Horse Park (10324 85 Avenue) on the north end of the Festival Grounds.

KidsFringe Hours: August 16 – 25: 10:30AM – 5:30PM.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at KidsFringe. Learn more about KidsFringe Special Events, Kids Stage, Kids Park, and all the activities we offer here.

The 2024 ATB Golden Ticket contest runs August 7 – 22, 2024.

One ATB Golden Ticket will be awarded to one winner, including:

• 100 tickets to theatre shows at the 2025 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival;
• VIP parking for the 2025 Festival;
• 3-night stay at the Metterra or Varscona Hotels on Whyte;
• $250 in spending money;
• Dinner for two at Chianti Café and Restaurant; and
• Two tickets to the 2025 Festival Wrap Party!

Enter to win the golden Fringe experience here. Did you know that you can enter the contest more than once? Check out #ATBGoldenTicket for even more ways to enter!

No summer is complete without a stop at a Fringe Festival patio or tent for beer, wine, cider, and canned cocktails. Soak up the summer vibes at one of our many patios. Minors are welcome if accompanied by an adult.

Every patio features an incredible line up of Sea Change Brewing Co. beers, sparkling beverages care of Shiddy’s Distilling, Village Brewery ciders, and wines from Borsao Bodegas.

Patio Hours:

• August 15 (Thu): 6:00PM – 12Midnight
• August 16 (Fri) – August 24 (Sat): 12Noon – 12Midnight
• August 25 (Sun): 12Noon – 7:00PM

Patio Locations:

• ATB Park – located between 83 and 84 Avenue, just off 104 Street.
• Maclab Development Group Wine Tent – located between 83 and 84 Avenue, just off 103 street.
• Sea Change North Beer Tent – located south of 85 Avenue and north of the Streetcar tracks.

Please note:

• The last call for liquor service is one hour before closing.
• Patios may periodically close for private events. Want to host an event during the Fringe Festival? Contact us at: hello@fringetheatre.ca

Visit the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns lobby or the gazebo in ATB Park to snag your limited-edition theme Fringe merch.

Merchandise Hours:

• August 15 (Thurs): 6:00PM – 11:00PM
• August 16 (Fri) – August 24 (Sat): 12Noon – 11:00PM
• August 25 (Sun): 12Noon – 7:00PM

Remember to check out Artisan Alley on 84 Avenue to explore our many amazing Artisan vendors for that one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Our free shuttle will get you from the main Festival Grounds to venues in Edmonton’s beautiful French Quarter and back again.

2024 Fringe Shuttle Schedule:

August 15 (Thu) 8:00pm – 12Midnight
August 16 (Fri) – August 24 (Sat) 12Noon – 12Midnight
August 25 (Sun) 12Noon – 8:00pm

Fringe Shuttle Stops:

• Festival Grounds: East side of 103 Street at the 83 Avenue intersection (same location as the Festival DATS pick up and drop off). The shuttle arrives on the hour (:00) and half hour (:30)
• French Quarter: La Cite Francophone (8627 91 Street). The shuttle arrives at quarter after (:15) and quarter to (:45)
• Mill Creek: North side of 82 Avenue at the 95 Street intersection. The shuttle arrives at twenty after (:20) and ten to (:50)

Located in Studio A inside the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns, First Aid is standing by to patch you up if you get a bump or scratch while you’re fringing. Please note: First Aid does not have any medication.

First Aid Hours:

August 15 (Thurs): 6:00PM – 12Midnight
August 16 (Fri) – August 24 (Sat): 11:00AM – 12Midnight
August 25 (Sun): 11:00AM – 8:00PM

Located in Orange Hall (next door to the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns), our Security is standing by to help keep you safe. They also collect lost and found items.

• If you are seeking a lost item during Festival, please visit Orange Hall.
• If you are seeking a lost item after Festival, please get in touch (hello@fringetheatre.ca or 780-448-9000) or visit our Administrative Office inside the Arts Barns.

Our Festival Grounds are too loud and crowded for our non-human friends. For the safety and well-being of pets and Fringers alike, please keep all animals at home unless they’re an on-the-clock service animal.

No. The Fringe Festival Grounds are smoke free. No smoking cigarettes or cannabis, or vaping on Festival Grounds.

When you fringe with us, you join a community that is vibrant, diverse, inclusive, welcoming, and safe. We believe in creating spaces that celebrate creative risk. To do that, we recognize our duty to grow and foster authentic safer spaces. This requires commitment, accountability, and support from everyone in our community.

If you witness or experience harassment, violence, or discrimination, please tell us. We will listen. We will help you: fringetheatre.ca/saferspaces

Thank you for helping make Fringe safer for everyone.

Senior prices are available for anyone aged 65+. We allow patrons to self-identify as seniors. Senior IDs are not required. Artists set their own ticket prices – some shows will offer a senior price, and some may not.

Student prices are available for anyone who attends school, no matter their age. We allow patrons to self-identify as students. Student IDs are not required. Artists set their own ticket prices – some shows will offer a Student price, and some may not.

Fringe Theatre Holdover Series tickets go on sale the closing weekend of Festival!

The Holdover Series is your LAST CHANCE to catch these MUST-SEE shows of the 43rd Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival! Curated by Fringe Theatre’s Artistic Director Murray Utas, the official Fringe Holdover Series puts a spotlight on all the weird, wild, and unexpected Festival has to offer.