It’s that time of year again to enjoy theatre, art, food, games and more under the summer sun – the Saskatoon Fringe Festival is back again.
But the festival, produced by 25th Street Theatre, is never one to rest. New spaces, new opportunities and new art abound as the 2025 Saskatoon Fringe Festival runs from July 31 to August 9.
“Every year we work hard to improve the festival and create new opportunities,” said festival manager Philippa Williams in a media release. “The support of the audience, our sponsors, and the entire community means our artists thrive.”
Twenty-three theatre productions will have a home at this year’s festival, ranging from magic and puppets to drama and drag. Shows will take place at a number of theatre venues this year. Fringe Festival staples of the Broadway Theatre, the Refinery and the Cosmo Seniors’ Centre will all make returns, along with two special shows at the Raynor Whiteside Financial Group Community Stage on the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan site as part of the “Bring Your Own Venue” (BYOV) initiative.
Some other favourites are returning to the Fringe: the Broadway Days street fair that takes over nearby Broadway Avenue, the Thelma Pepper Art Walk down the Meewasin Trail and the Fringe Fun Run on August 3.
Some new festival features includes the Joan Pain Gallery’s “Wild Prairie Exhibit” on Lansdowne Avenue that will be open throughout the Fringe in memory of visual artist and designer Joan Pain. In addition, the one-night-only Fringe Encore performance of “Cabaret of Legends,” celebrating legendary black women in the music industry, will take place on August 10.
And all of these events don’t even mention the buskers, carnival games, talented artisans, family activities, food trucks and more along 11th Street and in W.E. Graham Park.
So whether you’re into it for the theatre or for everything else, the Saskatoon Fringe Festival promises to have something fun and exciting in store for the community.
“The Fringe is an international phenomenon,” said Williams. “It’s everything wild and wonderful about artists all in one place ready to explore. Fringe is the heart of the theatre world.”
Fringe Festival by the numbers:
- Nine – the number of Sask-made theatre shows in the festival
- 10 – the number of days the Saskatoon Fringe Festival runs
- 2nd to 4th – the days in August for the Broadway Days street fair alongside the festival
- 50+ – how many vendors are slated to be part of the Broadway Days street fair
- 100+ – how many volunteers work to make the Fringe happen in the summer
- Four – the number of shows with puppets
