The 2021 KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival marked the 10th anniversary of this fast-growing, attention-grabbing, multidisciplinary performing arts festival – the largest in New York State. From its five-day debut in 2012, the 12-day Fringe has become one of the most-attended fringe festivals in the U.S. As a bifurcated festival, it allows for a combination of headline entertainment curated by the non-profit Rochester Fringe Festival as well as an open-access portion based on the 74-year-old Edinburgh Fringe model.
Renowned among the world’s 200+ fringe festivals for presenting an annual spectacular, free, outdoor show, Rochester’s Fringe was also the first fringe festival in North America to feature a Spiegeltent. From comedy to theatre, from music to dance, from visual art and film to spoken word, and from children’s entertainment to multi-disciplinary collaborations, the festival’s diversity also extends to venues that span the gamut from parked cars to grand theatres.
The not-for-profit festival’s overarching mission is to provide a platform for artists to share their ideas and develop their skills while also offering unparalleled public access to the arts. It strives to be diverse and inclusive, and to stimulate downtown Rochester both culturally and economically.
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