Edinburgh Festival Fringe Facts for Kids

The gate for the street fair portion of the festival on the Royal Mile, in August 2007.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (often called The Fringe) is the biggest arts festival in the world! It started way back in 1947. Every year, it happens at the same time as the Edinburgh International Festival. This is usually in late August and early September.

The Fringe is packed with hundreds of different events. You can find everything from music concerts, plays, and dance shows to fun street performers. It's a huge celebration of creativity!

The Festival Fringe Society organizes everything. They create a program each year that lists all the shows. They also sell tickets and help performers from their office on the Royal Mile.

What is The Fringe?
- A Festival for Everyone
  - Where Does it Happen?
History of The Fringe
- Growing Bigger and Better
  - Famous Moments
How The Fringe Works
- Finding Shows
  - Venues and Spaces
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What is The Fringe?

The Edinburgh Fringe is an open-access festival. This means anyone can perform! There are no special judges to decide who gets to be part of it. If you have a show, you can bring it to the Fringe. This makes it a very exciting and diverse event.

A Festival for Everyone

The Fringe is known for its huge variety of acts. You can see comedy, drama, musicals, dance, circus acts, and even magic shows. Many famous performers started their careers at the Fringe. It's a great place to discover new talent.

Where Does it Happen?

The festival takes over the whole city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Shows happen in regular theatres, but also in unusual places. You might find a performance in a church hall, a pub basement, or even a converted caravan! The streets also come alive with buskers and street artists.

History of The Fringe

The Fringe began by accident! In 1947, the first Edinburgh International Festival was held. Eight theatre groups were not officially invited. But they decided to come to Edinburgh anyway and perform their shows. They put on their own performances "on the fringe" of the main festival.

Growing Bigger and Better

This idea became very popular. More and more performers came each year. In 1958, the Festival Fringe Society was created. This group helps organize the festival and supports the performers. They make sure everyone has a great experience.

Famous Moments

Over the years, many famous shows and performers have appeared at the Fringe. It's a place where new ideas are tried out. Sometimes, a small show at the Fringe becomes a huge success around the world. This makes it a very important event for the arts.

How The Fringe Works

The Fringe is different from many other festivals. Performers bring their own shows and find their own venues. They also promote their own acts. The Fringe Society helps by publishing a program and selling tickets.

Finding Shows

The official Fringe program is very thick! It lists thousands of shows. You can also find information online or through apps. Many people just walk around Edinburgh and see what looks interesting. There are often free shows and street performances to enjoy.

Venues and Spaces

There are hundreds of venues during the Fringe. Some are large, well-known theatres. Others are small, temporary spaces. Many venues are set up just for the festival. This creates a unique atmosphere all over the city.