Categories: Rebecca Romani, THE BUZZ

THE BUZZ: Fringing Like You Mean It

Fringing Like You Mean It

By Rebecca Romani

June 22, 2018

Nothing quite says summer in San Diego like…amazing, crazy, astonishing things to see at the San Diego International Fringe Festival.  This year, the Sixth annual festival roars into venues around downtown Horton Plaza and the Pasaje Rodriguez in Tijuana. Whether this is your first or your sixth time at the festival, this year’s offerings are fun, diverse, and surprisingly affordable.

San Diego’s Fringe is part of over 200 festivals worldwide that came out of a group of performers who did their shows in the side venues of the newly formed Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1947.  The San Diego Fringe started in 2013 with 52 different acts and has grown to more than 70 acts, including performers from as far away as South Africa, New Zealand, and Italy.

This year’s festival, which runs from June 21- July 1, occupies a more compact footprint, making it easier for festival goers to navigate the over 400 performances. Most acts are scheduled into venues around Horton Plaza, including the Lyceum and the Bristol Hotel. Family Fringe, free day of activities for families is at the Starlight Bowl in Balboa Park this year, while Club Fringe, the venue to meet artists and others after the shows is still upstairs in the Spreckels Building.

The shows run the gamut from the absurdly silly to the profoundly personal.  None of the shows are censored and the quality can run from astonishing excellence to rather basic.

This year’s Fringe sees the return of some of the best acts of Fringe 2017 in addition to some interesting and thought-provoking newcomers, some with relevant commentary on recent events. Most shows run about five times, usually in the same venue, but in different time slots.

Fringe logistics are relatively simple. You can buy tickets on line or at the Fringe box office around the side of the Spreckels Theatre. Multi-show passes are probably the best deal and you can get three, five or ten performance passes. You will need a Fringe tag- this year, $7. The tag money goes to support the festival and the sturdy tag makes a great souvenir. Unusual for most festivals, the ticket sales go entirely to the performing artists.

Parking downtown is a challenge even on the best of days. Be prepared for additional challenges on days when Padres Baseball games are scheduled.  Parking meters are enforced until 8 pm expect on Sundays. If you are planning to stay for a while, you might want to consider the Palladian parking structure on 777 Front Street.  You can by a $5 parking pass at the Spreckels Box Office; however, there are no in and out privileges. Other alternatives are public transit and ride services.

Whether you’re looking for a little comedy, some burlesque, or a lot of diverse acts under one festival, the San Diego International Fringe has you covered, at least for the next 11 days.

Please see The San Diego International Fringe Festival site for more information on times and shows.

Vanguard Culture

Vanguard Culture is an online media entity designed for culturally savvy, socially conscious individuals. We provide original interviews and reviews of the people, places, and events that make up San Diego’s thriving arts and culture community, as well as curated snapshots of the week’s best, most inspiring and unique cultural and culinary events. We believe in making a difference in the world, supporting San Diego’s vibrant visual and performing arts community and bringing awareness to important social and community causes.