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PRESS & MEDIA

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ELGIN FRINGE FESTIVAL: A CELEBRATION OF ARTISTIC INNOVATION 
 

The Elgin Fringe Festival (EFF) returns for its twelfth year, running from Friday, September 19, through Sunday, September 28, 2025. This vibrant celebration of artistic experimentation will feature an uncurated, inclusive, and affordable experience, drawing both local and national talent to Elgin’s historic downtown. Nearly 90 performances will captivate audiences, showcasing dance, theater, comedy, music, magic, and other innovative art forms. Festival-goers can easily walk between venues and enjoy local dining and entertainment. The festival also includes a Visual Art Exhibition, outdoor performances for all ages, a Preview Party, an Almost-Closing Party, and a Closing Party. Festival Entry Buttons cost just $4; performance tickets range from free to $12. A festival pass, offering access to all events, is available for $95. All ticket sales go directly to the artists, supporting the creative community.

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WHAT IS A FRINGE FESTIVAL? 
 

Fringe festivals exist worldwide as havens for underground and emerging arts scenes. The Fringe concept was incubated in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1947, eight performance groups appeared uninvited on the “fringes” of the exclusive Edinburgh International Festival. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has since grown into the largest arts festival in the world, with hundreds of artists, thousands of performances, and millions of patrons every summer. It annually grosses over $100 million for the local economy and remains the biggest tourist draw in the UK.

 

Fringe Festivals have since sprung up in dozens of cities across the world. Most Fringe festivals are open and unjuried, preferring lotteries, first-come-first-served, and find-your-own-venue systems to a formal selection process. This open means of programming fosters the work of both the well-established and the obscure; everyone has the opportunity to participate. Fringe festivals nourish young visionaries by providing networking opportunities and production experience. They also provide large economic and cultural boosts for their hosting communities. It's exciting and meaningful that Elgin Fringe is a part of the larger Fringe movement, learning and encouraging each other to better our world through artistic expression.

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The Elgin Fringe Festival is part of the United States Association of Fringe Festivals (USAFF),
the World Fringe Association, and the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF).

 

​2024 ELGIN FRINGE FACTS

80

Performances

34

Performing Groups

75+

Performers

20

Visual Artists

7

Venues

A WIDE SPECTRUM OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
Afrobeat music, biographical drama, burlesque, comedy sketch show, drag show, dance, electronic music, film showcase, gospel/soul music, group dance, improvised drama, magic, micro-fiction, multimedia, musical theater, poetry, puppetry, rap, R&B pop, solo dramedy, spoken word, storytelling, stand-up, suspenseful drama, visual art, and the undefined! 

FRINGE FESTIVAL GRAPHICS

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2025 FESTIVAL GRAPHICS

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PRESS PASSES

Whether you’re interested in reviewing shows, covering special events, or writing larger stories about the festival, we’d love to have you at Elgin Fringe.

​​​​Press Passes will be available for pick-up at Fringe Central during operating hours. A Press Pass is required to enter any Fringe performance. â€‹

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PRESS CONTACT: Michael Novelli michael@elginfringefestival.com

2025 SPONSORS

Elgin Fringe would not be possible without our generous sponsors. 

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STAY CONNECTED

#EFFit

ELGIN FRINGE IS PRODUCED BY

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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ELGIN FRINGE IS A PROUD MEMBER OF

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The Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals

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World Fringe:
Global Association of Fringe Festivals

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The United States Association of Fringe Festivals

© 2024 ELGIN FRINGE FESTIVAL    #EFFit

15 Ziegler Ct, Elgin, Ilinois 60120, USA

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