Granville Island, Photo: Michael Levy/Vancouver Fringe
The annual Vancouver Fringe Festival announced its 40th anniversary season with 74 ticketed shows and events over 12 days happening at venues across Granville Island from September 5-15. Fringe is known for its variety of local and international artists offering almost every kind of live performance from theatre, comedy, dance, and music showcasing an eclectic mix of talent.
Festival Highlights
Photo: Michael Levy/Vancouver Fringe
This year’s festival features more than 500 performances of 74 different artistic companies across 18 venues, with performers from across Canada, the States, the UK, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand participating.
Standout live performances include everything from dancing with Jhoely Triana Flamenco’s Arboles (Trees), magic by Keith Brown (Absolute Magic), Filipina comedian Alia Ceniza Rasul’s Moro Girl, rapping by B The Wiz & O’Rose (A Storytelling Hip-Hop Experience), Australian comedian Jon Bennett’s Ameri-Can’t, improvised Shakespeare by The Spontaneous Shakespeare Company (Tragedy or Triumph: An Improvised Shakespearean Epic), and Jessica Lemes da Silva, winner of the 2024 Vancouver Fringe & Playwrights Theatre Centre New Play Prize (God’s a Drag).
Special Events
Photo: Patrick Schreck/Vancouver Fringe
Fringe will also showcase three special events at the Performance Works venue on Granville Island:
Fringe4All‘s opening night showcase (Sept. 4) hosted by comedians Abdul Aziz and Shawn O’Hara with a whirlwind of two-minute excerpts from thirty randomly chosen Fringe artists.
Back by popular demand, the dirty storytelling open mic event, Smut Slam (Sept. 5). hosted by DD Brassiere for more real-life, confessional sex stories.
Or enjoy the Cabaret of 40 Years More Bullsh#!t (Sept. 14), an annual late night celebration full of laughs and theatrical mayhem lit only by flashlights.
Granville Island
Photo: Giullia Sampaio/Vancouver Fringe
Vancouver Fringe has operated on and around Granville Island since 2001. Over the 12-day festival, it showcases the unique artistic and creative communities on the island where everyone is united by a shared love for the art of performance.
The festival sees 12,000 attendees each year and is facilitated by over 350 volunteers. Fringe aims to be a home for artists and audiences and create space for art, joy, community, and belonging. Shows will be hosted at a selection of venues on the island, including Arts Umbrella, Ballet BC, Backstage Lounge, The Improv Centre, The Nest, Revue Stage, and Waterfront Theatre.
Where to Eat & Drink
Alimentaria Mexicana, Photo: Rick Chung/YVArcade
Granville Island is well-known for its selection of fine restaurants and bars. For something easy, you can’t go wrong with anything from the Granville Island Public Market or a quick snack from Lee’s Donuts. To drink, try Liberty Distillery for its artisanal spirits and handmade cocktails or a local craft beer from Granville Island Brewing. For dinner, eat something delicious from Alimentaria Mexicana, sit on Dockside Restaurant‘s outdoor patio, or feast on seafood at The Sandbar.
You can also pop by the festival’s own Fringe Bar (1531 Johnston St) from 5pm (weekdays) and 3pm (weekends) to late with free nightly music and entertainment located at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion. With a licensed bar, food trucks, and performances, including the Fringe artist-led 11th Hour Cabaret featuring games, prizes, dance parties, DJs, trivia, bands, karaoke, the Mr. Fringe 2024 Drag Pageant, and other pop-up programming throughout the festival’s run.
Granville Island Picnic Pavilion, Photo: Giullia Sampaio/Vancouver Fringe
The Vancouver Fringe Theatre Society was formed in 1983 by a group of local artists who shared the common goal of providing a platform for independent artists. The first festival was held in 1985 and is held every September.
Performers set all ticket prices (typically between $15 to $18) and Fringe returns 100% of ticket profits to the artists.
To browse the full lineup and purchase tickets, visit Vancouver Fringe’s website.