Edmonton Fringe: 5 tips to get the most of the fest

It can be an intimidating festival, even for experts with years under their belt – the Edmonton International Fringe Festival is one of the biggest and longest-running Fringe festivals in the world, with hundreds of shows and a massive footprint.

But there are a few tips and tricks you can use to get the most out of your festival experience. After more than 15 years of Fringe-ing, I have the wisdom, and the battle scars, gained with hundreds of shows to help you make the most of your festival.

It’s a historical drama, but it only got a three-star review. It’s about astronomy, but it’s at an inconvenient venue. You’re looking for a fringe show, not your soul mate.

Take a chance on a show you are maybe waffling on, one that hits three out of your five “must haves,” a show that could go either way. You wouldn’t think twice about dropping $20 on a questionable movie, so why not take a chance on a show?

The absolute worst that happens is you have a story to tell, and the stories about the duds are even more fun than telling friends about good shows. All good shows are good, but every bad show is bad in its own way.

There’s an absolute cavalcade of comedy and improv at the festival every year. It makes sense as they bring in bigger audiences looking for a quick laugh.

But look for something a bit different, something magical you can only get at the Fringe. The small venues and intimate settings lend themselves to producing something you won’t see anywhere else. Puppet shows, innovative dance and even storytelling all make amazing shows and incredible, one-of-a-kind experiences you will remember for years. That’s what Fringe is all about, those special moments you talk about for years with friends and share with co-workers.

It might seem counter-intuitive when all of the shows are inside, but you’re going to spend a good amount of time outdoors, walking between venues and

If it’s raining, make sure to grab a raincoat. For warmer weather, bring a hat and a water bottle. If it’s cold or you have a late show, make sure to bring a hoodie.

There’s also going to be a lot of walking, so wear something comfortable. The best shows are always at opposite ends of the festival grounds, with a mere 10 minutes to cover the distance.

With 216 productions at this year’s festival, you could easily build a full schedule drooling over the wealth of options. “Yes, yes, yes,” you mutter to yourself as you flip through the festival guide.

But leave space for a pleasant surprise. Talk to the people next to you in line, chat up the performers with handbills and peruse the reviews run by the Journal. With the festival’s online ticketing site, it’s both easy and convenient to pick up a last-minute ticket.

Word of mouth is one of the best ways of catching a spark of magic, lightning in a bottle.

Spoiler warning: not every venue is blessed with air conditioning. It can be fun to catch a show in an old church or the basement of a bar, but they don’t always make for a great setting for theatre.

It’s also important to note the address as there are 38 venues this year. Booking back-to-back shows is time efficient for the enthusiastic Fringer but sprinting a dozen city blocks in 15 minutes is not how you want to spend a hot mid-August evening.

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