FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
The history of Fringe starts in 1947, when eight theatre troops showed up uninvited to the Edinburgh International Festival. Not being part of the program didn’t stop these performers, instead they staged their own festival on the outskirts of the city, calling themselves the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. From there it grew, as untraditional acts put on shows in any space that would take them – theaters, galleries, shops and more!
The spirit Fringe is about creating an opening for any performer with a story to have space to be able to tell it.
Fringe is open to all types of acts and performances, things that you might not see at a traditional festival. Original works. Abstract works. Weird, funny, and irreverent works are all types of things typical for a Fringe festival.
Some examples of what Fringe can be include: A shadow puppet play of forest spirits, music improv set to the drawings of trees, a monologue from the perspective of primordial goo, an interpretive dance of water in a storm, a space opera concept album, a parody of a reality tv show with a location and theme set by the audience.
Marquette Fringe exists to create an accessible platform where local artists and the community come together to share, experience, and celebrate performing arts. We are dedicated to lowering barriers between performers and audiences, encouraging creative risk, and providing space for work that might not otherwise find a traditional stage.
Through collaborative events and community-centered programming, Marquette Fringe supports artists in presenting original, unconventional, and expressive work while inviting the public to engage with art in unexpected ways. Our goal is to cultivate a culture where creativity is visible and participation is encouraged.
2026 Fringe Festival
Friday October 23rd and Saturday October 24th, 2026
Downtown Marquette!
We have partnerships confirmed with some incredible downtown businesses, emphasising a unique and walkable art experience in the heart of the city.
Our Friday evening kick off event will be free to attend in the Marquette Commons. It will be a joyful celebration of the new festival that honors both the spirit of the Phantasm and the Marquette Spectacle.
Saturday’s events will be ticketed, but our goal is to keep pricing accessible. Volunteers will have an opportunity to attend shows for free.
Ticket sales information will become available in late August. Sign up for our email list and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on details.
There is no restriction on who can attend a show. That being said, Marquette Fringe will not be vetting the content of each show. If show producers intend the show for a younger audience, it will be marked as such.
