What is it?

Nearly 50,000 seats filled annually, over 1,000 artists, dozens of works, hundreds of performances at over a dozen venues and spanning almost 20 genres. With those numbers, it seems pretty obvious that Minnesota's annual Fringe Festival is the largest performing arts festival in the Midwest.

Find modern twists on classic tales, politically driven story lines, crying-tears-of-laughter comedic productions, and surprisingly relatable narratives. With performances for all ages, the Minnesota Fringe Festival is a unique and spirited celebration of diversity, artistic expression and voice that connects adventurous artists with adventurous audiences on both a local and national level.

The Fringe Festival is produced by Minnesota Fringe, a publicly supported nonprofit that supports and connects communities through bold risks and new ideas.

How it works:

Fringe Festival performances will take place at different theaters within two different geographical hubs, Uptown and Cedar-Riverside.

Purchase a button

A Fringe button is your entry to the Minnesota Fringe Festival (and more*). Your one-time $5 button purchase is your Festival entry fee — wear your button proudly everywhere you go to make seeing shows easier. Fringe buttons are available at all box offices during the Festival. All box offices are cashless, so bring a credit card or a check.

Learn more about purchasing a buttons and tickets.

2023 Shows
Check out the festival schedule, and the full show list.

Fringe Central
The official post-show hangout destination throughout the festival, hosted by The Red Sea restaurant. Each night will feature an array of talent through cabaret, comedy, and contests. All events are free admission and open to the public. Check back soon for the line-up of events!

Performances we're looking forward to:

1. Baldwin's Last Fire: In this historical fiction, James Baldwin has retired to a life hiding away in France when he uncovers a gripping murder mystery. Witness the unravelling of his final masterpiece. The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 18 and up only.
2. A Girl Scout's Guide to Exorcism: In the summer of ‘08, plucky Troop 172 summons Rosalie Barrow Edge, a militant environmentalist obsessed with hawks and vengeance. Join the Girl Scouts at Camp Nawakwa as they earn their first exorcism badge! The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 16 and up.
3. Coyfish: When Benji meets Danie online, he falls for her. But this is not your traditional boy-meets-girl storyline. This piece dives into the complexities of the developing relationship between two Asian Americans. The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 16 and up.
   
4. Everything Bagel: A National Poetry Slammer celebrates comic tales of whip crackers, guardian angels, misfit muppets, 80s pop music, Russian cuss words, and finally breaks the sexual tension between two appliances from The Office. The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 16 and up.
5. The Duet: A once famous country music duo, now grinding it out on the dive bar and casino circuit, is attempting to write the song that will take them back to the top. The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 16 and up.
6. Yes No Maybe (please explain): Step back into the 90's with this heartfelt, awkward, sometimes cringy look at Kristina's notes from high school. The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 16 and up.

Our favorite Family Fringe shows:

1. Comedy vs. Calories: CHAOS!: Three comedians consume one fast food meal each, and then try to burn the calories by exercising and performing comedy sketches, often at the same time. The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 2-6 and up.
2. Ha Ha Da Vinci: Hailed as “Terrific" by the New York Times, this award-winning performer combines illusion, music, and theater to weave a story overflowing with the delightfully unexpected. The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 7-11 and up.
3. A Jingle Jangle Morning: Inspired by imagery from Bob Dylan's song Mr. Tambourine Man, this is a heroine's journey space odyssey with a cast of whimsical characters, large cardboard puppets, and clowning. The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 7-11 and up.
4. Mischief in Ink: The School Prank of '03: Take a trip back to 2003 in this high school based whodunnit story. A disastrous prank has been committed in the hallways of the school. Who is to blame? The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 12-15 and up.
5. The Very Model of a Modern Monster Scientist: The Fringe-favorite Monster Science series returns, with the secret and surprising history of Elora Riley, Science Assistant, and tons of the monster facts and PowerPoint you have come to rely upon! The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 12-15 and up.

Fringe Central

Each night, check out Fringe Central — the official post-show hangout destination. From 11 pm (ish) to 12:30 am (ish) at The Red Sea, enjoy an array of talent with cabaret, comedy, camaraderie, and cuisine. All events are free and open to the public.

Venues

What to do around Fringe Fest Venues: