Fringe Festival heats up with hundreds of shows on Broadway

It’s an entire year of theatre in two weeks.

The PotashCorp Fringe Festival is officially underway with 231 independent shows running during the 10-day event.

“One of things we’re doing this year is challenging people to go into the theatres, go and see a show,” said festival spokesperson Colin Grant.

Last year, around 55,000 people took in the popular street festival where crowds gather for outside performances, a flea market and food trucks.

In comparison, theatre shows had around 12,000 audience members.

“Just pick a place and go, because there’s always going to be that one show that’s going to hook you for life,” Grant said.

The street festival will still take place this year with a few traffic restrictions.

Broadway will be closed from Main Street to 12th Street starting at 6 p.m. on July 28.

It will reopen weekdays at 10:30 p.m. and will be closed from noon to 10:30 p.m. on weekends and holiday Monday.

Fringe Fest runs until Aug. 6.

Visit the festival online for a full schedule of show times and performances.

Taking the bus to Fringe Fest

With some construction still happening on and around Broadway, the city is urging people to consider taking the bus to Fringe.  

The map below shows direct transit routes to get people closest to the festival, including the high frequency Route 8 that leaves Centre Mall and travels to the corner of Broadway Avenue and 8th Street.

Other direct routes include:

• Route 1 Exhibition: Downtown to Broadway Avenue   
• Route 1 City Centre: Sunnyside to Broadway Avenue
• Route 6 Broadway: Travels from City Centre to Broadway Avenue
• Route 6 City Centre: Market Mall to Broadway Avenue
• Route 8 City Centre: Centre Mall to the corner of Broadway Avenue and 8th Street
• Route 8 Centre Mall: City Centre to the corner of Broadway Avenue and 8th Street
• Route 13 (only available during peak periods)