Theatre, treats, artists and buskers — oh my!
The 2024 Saskatoon Fringe Festival presented by 25th Street Theatre is set to take to the streets (and nearby performing venues) from August 1 to 10. Kicking off Thursday night, the festival will be host artists and performers of all kinds across the breadth of the 10 days of Fringe.
Spanning W.E. Graham Park behind École Victoria School and the nearby streets, the Fringe Festival is a chance for the people of Saskatoon to come out to enjoy some fun with artists from near and far.
“We’re all about connecting artists with our community,” 25th Street Theatre artistic and executive director Anita Smith said. “The art, the atmosphere, the time spent together with friends and family, that’s what memories are made of.”
Here are five important things to know about this year’s Fringe Festival:
- Anniversary celebration — Saskatoon’s first professional theatre company is throwing a party to celebrate a massive milestone.
It’s 25th Street Theatre’s 50th anniversary season, and the company is holding a reunion party on Friday, Aug. 2. Tickets to the special reunion party can be purchased online, and it’s a chance for the new and the experienced who have been passionate about theatre to come together for some fun. - Theatre performances — The heart of every Fringe festival, a plethora of eclectic shows will take each of the three stage of the Saskatoon Fringe. Local, national and international shows will fill the stages at The Refinery, The Cosmopolitan Seniors Centre and The Broadway Theatre.
Whether you’re looking for a comedy, a musical, a deep introspective drama or a unique one-person performance, the Fringe is the place to be to take in new and exciting theatre.
And it wouldn’t be a Fringe without the talented performers who dominate the outdoor stages during the festival. They might not get an indoor venue, but the Saskatoon Fringe regularly hosts performers who feel as though a building could never hope to contain their energy. - Broadway Days — The festival is once again literally taking to the streets.
Broadway Days will run for extended hours on Aug. 3, 4 and 5. From noon until 10 p.m., come experience the excitement of the Fringe and the vibrancy of Broadway Avenue as the festival spills into the street.
Shops, vendors, community groups and more will be out and about on Broadway to share in the fun of the Fringe during the long weekend. - Artisan Alley and the Collaboration Station — The Fringe isn’t only about theatre performances — there’s plenty more to occupy young and old festival-goers alike.
The Artisan Alley is welcoming more than 20 vendors for the full 10-day run of the festival. From fashion to jewelry to paintings and comics, there’s a little something for everyone among the ever-talented artisan vendors.
And the Collaboration Station is back again this year, offering daily theatre workshops with local theatre professionals for young and eager community members to get some hands-on theatre fun. - Encore — Even though the final day of the Fringe proper is Aug. 10, there’s one extra exciting performance to catch the day after.
The Fringe Encore on Sunday, Aug. 11 at the Broadway Theatre will feature a performance by Pointe Tango, the award-winning dance company named “Best of Festival” in the 2019 Saskatoon Fringe.
If you’re not ready to let the party stop, make sure you take one last opportunity to keep the party going.
The 2024 Saskatoon Fringe Festival runs from Aug. 1 to 10, 2024. A full program and information about tickets can be found online at 25thstreettheatre.org/fringe-theatre.
