The Annual Asheville Fringe Arts Festival is set to take place March 16-23, 2025. A performing arts tradition that started in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947 when eight performing groups were excluded from the mainstream annual arts festival, Fringe was born because the artists decided to perform anyway, finding inexpensive or free venues on the fringes of the city. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has since grown into one of the largest arts festivals in the world, eclipsing the original festival exponentially.
Established in 2003 after Susan and Giles Collard of Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre experienced Fringe festivals in San Francisco and Toronto, they started Asheville’s Fringe in the beloved BeBe Theatre. The Festival is now a multi-day, multi-venue performing arts extravaganza. This year’s venues include the Sly Grog Lounge, Fleetwood’s, The Bebe Theatre, and LEAF Global Arts. This year they're also partnering with Asheville Community Theatre to bring you adventurous performance art in both of their wonderful downtown spaces.
The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival offers the best of the unexpected. The early bird 2025 Fringe Freak Pass is on sale now for $75, but the price goes up after the schedule is announced. This pass grants you access to as many shows as you can get to, as well as a super-fun Closing Party on March 23. Passholders can see up to 8 shows for one price.
Fringe is all about artists exploring the edges of their work, collaborating across genres, and bringing new and innovative performances to culturally adventurous audiences. This annual event and art tradition is a must-see experience that certainly embodies the "Keep Asheville Weird" mantra!
Note: The schedule goes live, and individual show tickets go on sale on March 1, 2025!