Winter Mini Fringe 2025 Recap: Potluck, Performances, and Disco Beats

The 6th annual Winter Mini Fringe on January 25, 2025, brought a perfect mix of creativity and community. The evening kicked off with a reception for artist Anna Lenz, showcasing many of her vibrant pieces. One attendee shared, “Her bold use of color really pulls you in—it’s captivating and thought-provoking.” Anna’s visual art exhibition is on view Saturdays and Sundays until Feb. 22 (click for details).

The performances kept us all thoroughly engaged. Augie Marado’s “Fringe U: Parallel Timeline Series: DILII FUTURI” had the crowd in stitches, with one guest saying, “It was comedy with layers, that you had to think for a minute and then it hit you!” Ramona Rotten’s powerful “A Very Dangerous Woman vs. the Holy Fathers of the American Inquisition” sparked deep reflection, while Haus of Ruckus closed out the event with the disco-fueled “Pants Labyrinth,” which had everyone laughing and grooving. As one festival-goer put it, “The creativity and variety were amazing—it was such a fun night!”

Oh, and the potluck? A huge hit. Sharing food brought everyone together in true Fringe style. Good art, good people, good food—what more could you want?

We can’t wait until our next event on Wednesday, April 23 – our annual Elgin Fringe Festival Lottery Artist Announcement Drag Bingo Extravaganza Fun Time Event! Stay tuned for details.

Winter Mini-Fringe was prduced by Side Street Studio Arts with support from the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission.