Minnesota Fringe Festival returns this week

After being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Minnesota Fringe Festival came back in a hybrid format last year. The festival is back in-person this year for the first time since 2019. 

It runs from Aug. 4 through Aug. 14 at different venues across the Twin Cities. As the largest performing arts festival in the Midwest, it boasts more than 595 performances of 115 shows. 

Related: Explore things to do in Minnesota

Fringe is overseen by a 10-person board of directors and is operated by a small year-round staff supplemented by nearly 100 seasonal hires and over 300 volunteers. Volunteers log over 4,000 hours each year.

They offer a bit of everything from a popcorn musical about the Minnesota State Fair falling into the hands of a greedy real estate mogul to a ballet murder mystery centered around cupcake bakers. Performances include dance, improv, theater, and spoken word. 

Fringe buttons are $5 and everyone needs one to attend the festival. Rather than paper tickets, the festival has reusable tokens at each venue. Tickets are available online until 11:59 p.m. the day before the show. Box office locations are also near the entrance of all 11 venues in the festival. All box offices are cashless. \

The 2022 Minnesota Fringe is a 100% vaccinated festival. Browse upcoming shows and buy tickets here.