The world’s oldest fringe festival formed in 1947, when artists not invited to the Edinburgh International Festival chose to stage their own event “on the fringe” of the official one. Since then, it has spawned scores of other fringe fests in Europe and beyond, has become the world’s largest overall arts festival, and is Europe’s top tourist destination. Aug. 2-26
EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL, ALBERTA
www.fringetheatreadventures.ca
As North America’s largest and longest-running fringe festival, since 1982, the Edmonton event stages more than130 new plays and 60 international street performers in the historic arts and entertainment district of Old Strathcona. Aug. 15-25
Advertisement
ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL
Even the hometown of Mickey Mouse hosts an offbeat festival. Orlando Fringe, launched in 1992, bills itself as the longest-running US fringe fest, offering “100 percent unjuried, uncensored” theater, music, dance, and art. May 15-28
NEW ORLEANS FRINGE FESTIVAL
One of the country’s youngest festivals, since 2008, is in a city that embraces outsider art year round. Every November, alt-artists converge for a “Fringe Free-For-All,” while family-friendly events include tamer shows and the GoodChildren Fringe parade. Nov. 20-24
BOULDER INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL, COLORADO
Downtown art galleries, coffee shops, libraries, churches, rooftops, taxis, and parks provide the setting for a high-altitude mix of adult and family-friendly performances and workshops. Sept. 18-29