FRINGE NEWS

Mini Fringe 2026 Highlights & Photos

Winter Mini Fringe returned on January 31 with another lively day of art, food, and performance at Side Street Studio Arts. The 7th annual event kicked off with a new visual art reception that drew a great crowd and set the tone for the afternoon. The gallery featured work by our 2026 Elgin Fringe poster artist Adam Grewenig , alongside pieces by past poster artists Anna Lentz, Andrew Vo, Kathryn Eli, Jess Rocha, Kerri Liu, and Christopher Hodge. It was a warm welcome to fr

Fringe 2026 Artist Applications!

The Elgin Fringe Festival (EFF) is seeking bold, creative artists to showcase their work at this year's festival! EFF is an uncurated festival, where artists are chosen through live lotteries in April. ARTIST CATEGORIES: Equity Seeking Artists: Performances with artists who self-identify as Underrepresented. This can include but is not limited to those that are BIPOC and members of the LGBTQ community. The festival is always open to questions and concerns on who qualifies as

New Artist Categories added to Elgin Fringe Lottery!

Elgin Fringe Festival Artist Director Nick Mataragas shared about changes to the Elgin Fringe Festival Lottery including two new categories: First Time Fringers and Spanish Language Shows.

Winter Mini Fringe is back January 31!

Join us for our 7th annual Winter Mini Fringe, a cozy and creative evening with the Elgin Fringe Festival! Celebrate the spirit of the fringe with an intimate showcase of diverse performances by local and visiting artists. This event is the perfect way to experience the magic of the Fringe Festival in a more intimate, wintry setting. Whether you're a longtime Fringe fan or new to the experience, all are welcome to enjoy this evening of artistry, community, and delicious foo

Fringe 2025 Photos

Here are some photos from this year's festival. We hope these images give you a glimpse into the amazing experience we had together at Elgin Fringe. A big thank you to all who joined us! Thanks to our talented photographers for capturing these moments: Andrew Knox, Arnaldo Utrera, Bob Taylor, Jamey Bouwmeester, Nick Cartwright, and Nick Mataragas. PERFORMING ARTISTS FRINGE FUN!

We Loved Hosting the USAFF Conference!

From October 23 to 26, festival organizers from across the country came together in downtown Elgin to share ideas, build connections, and explore the heart of Fringe at the 2025 United States Association of Fringe Festivals Conference. It was a joy to welcome so many wonderful people from USAFF right here in our hometown. The days were filled with learning, good conversations, and plenty of moments that reminded us why this wild, creative world of Fringe means so much to all