Vancouver Fringe Festival 40th Anniversary
byThe Vancouver Fringe Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary with programming across Granville Island September 4 to 15, 2024.
This year’s Festival features more than 500 performances of 74 different artistic companies across 18 venues, with performers from Canada, the US, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand participating. The Festival also offers free nightly music and entertainment in the Fringe Bar, located at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion on Granville Island.
Vancouver Fringe Festival
- Dates: September 4 to 15, 2024
- Location: Granville Island, various venues
- Tickets: Available now. Performers set all ticket prices (typically between $15 to $18), and the Fringe returns 100% of ticket profits to the artists. The $3 ticket fee goes solely towards the costs associated with ticketing, like GST and credit card transaction fees.
- The Fringe requires the purchase of a $10 annual, one-time membership that helps cover artist costs and keeps the Festival going. 100% of ticket profits are returned to the artists. Membership is free for children aged 13 and under, so long as they are accompanied by an adult.
- Fringe fans attending six or more shows can save by purchasing a MultiBuy pass.
- Purchase single tickets, or MultiBuy passes online for a six Show Pass: $87 I 10 Show Pass $140 I or 30 Show Pass $408. No ticket sales at the venues.
Featured Programming
From a False Tour on the water with False Creek Ferries, to improvised science fiction, powerful historical insights, and brunch comedy, there’s something for everyone in this milestone lineup.
- Special Events at Performance Works (1218 Cartwright Street, Granville Island)
- Abdul Aziz and Shawn O’Hara host the Fringe4All, an opening night showcase with a whirlwind of two-minute excerpts from 30 randomly chosen Fringe artists.
- Vancouver Fringe Festival Opening Showcase
- Wednesday, September 4th at 7:00pm
- Hosted by DD Brassiere, the Smut Slam is a dirty storytelling open microphone event. Ages 19+.
- Smut Slam
- Thursday, September 5th at 9:00pm
- The annual Cabaret of Bullshit, a late-night celebration featuring the artists of the 2024 Fringe. Irreverent, full of laughs, and lit by only flashlights. Celebrates theatrical mayhem with the Cabaret of 40 Years More Bullshit.
- Cabaret of 40 Years More Bullshit
- Saturday, September 14th at 11:00pm
- Fringe Bar, Free Nightly Entertainment (1531 Johnston Street, Granville Island)
- Pop by the Fringe Bar from 5:00 pm to late on weekdays and 3:00pm to late on weekends throughout the Festival. With a licensed bar, food trucks and nightly-free performances, including the Fringe artist-led 11th Hour Cabaret (games, prizes, dancing and music with Devon More), DJs, music, dance parties, trivia, bands, karaoke, the Mr. Fringe 2024 Drag Pageant and other programming throughout the 12 days of the Vancouver Fringe.
About the Festival
The Vancouver Fringe Theatre Society was formed in 1983 by a group of local artists who had a common goal: to provide a platform for independent artists. The society held its first Fringe Festival in 1985. They now hold the annual Vancouver Fringe Festival every September.
The Vancouver Fringe fosters a community of independent and emerging performing artists as part of the Fringe circuit that tours North America. They are committed to breaking traditional barriers and offering a welcoming and accessible setting for audiences of diverse backgrounds to experience the magic of live performance. Through the lottery draw, they create a radically welcoming space where everyone can be an artist.
The Vancouver Fringe has operated on and around Granville Island since 2001. Over 12 days, they showcase unique art and create a community where everyone is united by a shared love for the art of performance. Today, the Festival sees 12,000 attendees and is facilitated by over 350 volunteers.
