Philadelphia in September is filled with excitement due to its many anticipated annual events, like the start of Philly Fringe season.
This year marks the 28th annual Philadelphia Fringe Festival, presented by FringeArts. This city-wide celebration of the performing arts runs now through Sunday, September 29. This year's line-up might be the largest yet, with more than 1,000 experimental performances and over 300 events.
Inspired by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest performance arts festival,
Fringe Fest here in Philly is known for its avant-garde circus acts that defy physical feats held at FringeArts near the Delaware River waterfront. However, programming also invites all ages and families (hosted by Cannonball Festival) to explore contemporary themes from a wide representation of local, national, and international artists and companies. The festival has a DIY underground vibe with shows and events happening every day to experience in-person and virtually, many of which are organized by independent artists, including LGBTQ+ performers. Participating venues all over the city host theater, dance, film screenings, immersive experiences, installation and gallery artwork, workshops, and musicals. If you get hungry during the festival, pop into Fringe Bar, located inside the FringeArts building, to grab a bite or a drink.
Not sure where to start? Visit one of Fringe Festival Neighborhood Partners to pick up a festival guide. From there, explore the full calendar and get your tickets.