Elgin Fringe Festival returns for 12th year with 80 performances
The Elgin Fringe Festival enters its 12th year with four days of bold performances, community events, and celebrations across downtown Elgin. The main festival weekend runs Thursday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 28, offering an inclusive and affordable experience for audiences of all ages.
The week kicks off with the final Fringe Fix at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in DuPage Court.
This free outdoor performance features Magic Rob! with daring circus thrills with magic, comedy, and danger. Stop by your favorite downtown restaurant or bring a picnic and enjoy a lively preview of what’s to come at this year’s festival.
On Wednesday, Sept. 24, festivalgoers can catch sneak peeks of this year’s shows at the Fringe Opening Party at Martini Room, 161 E. Chicago St.
Performances officially begin on Thursday, Sept. 25, and run through Sunday, Sept. 28, with more than 80 shows across multiple venues including Side Street Studio Arts, Elgin Art Showcase, Martini Room, Habitat for Humanity, and Elgin Public House.
Festival entry buttons are just $4, with performance tickets ranging from free to $12. A festival pass, which includes access to all events, is available for $95.
All ticket sales go directly to the artists, ensuring Fringe remains a vital space for creativity and experimentation.
“We are thrilled to see downtown Elgin come alive again for Fringe,” said EFF Artistic Director Nick Mataragas. “This festival is about building community, celebrating creativity, and experiencing the unexpected.”
The mission of the Elgin Fringe Festival is to encourage bold artistic experimentation and innovation by providing an accessible, affordable experience for both artists and audiences alike.
Produced by Side Street Studio Arts, the EFF is made possible with support from the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, Elgin Public House, Habitat for Humanity, The Illinois Arts Council, The Reva and David Logan Foundation, Martini Room, Funky Rooster Tattoo and Art Studio, Domino’s Pizza, the Palmer Foundation, and the Seigle Foundation.
For the full schedule and ticket information, visit elginfringefestival.com.
Hours for Fringe Central, 15 Ziegler Court, are: 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19; noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept 21; 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23; 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24 (Preview at the Martini Room); 4 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25; 3 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26; 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27; and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28.
Elgin Fringe Festival schedule
THURSDAY
6 p.m.
• Trust Exorcises Raffish/Ripoff Productions Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Theater
• SHORT SHOW SHOWCASE B Rated PG-13 • $12 • EPH Pub 217: “The Amazing Adventures of 2NBs” with The 2NBs; “Different Every Time” with Geoff Thevenot; and “Streaming Useless Thought Machine” with Mike Chernoff
7:30 p.m.
• Bubbles & Boxes Molly SurowitzRated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Back Space
• Gender Reveal Party, a dance concert Dance Uprising Rated PG • $12 • Showcase
• Hall Pass Hall Pass Improv Rated PG-13 • $12 • Habitat
• Songs Without Words (or, The Mendelssohn Play) Jennifer Vosters Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Theater
9 p.m.
• Bay Creek The Miller Conspiracy Rated PG-13 • $12 • EPH Pub 217
• How to Get Appointments By Telephone Gay Innocent Heartless Theatre Rated PG-13 • $12 • Showcase
• Late Night Morning Show Memoriam Development Rated PG-13 • $12 • Habitat
• Pajama Stories for Adults Marie Cooney Stories Rated R • $12 • Greenroom
FRIDAY
6 p.m.
• Gender Reveal Party, a dance concert with Dance Uprising Rated PG • $12 • Showcase
• Percolate Creative Moves Rated G • $12 • Greenroom
• The Pheasant Story! The Meatman Chronicles Rated PG-13 • $7 • EPH Pub 217
• Trust ̶Exorcises Raffish/Ripoff Productions Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Theater
7:30 p.m.
• Hall Pass Hall Pass Improv Rated PG-13 • $12 • Habitat
• How to Get Appointments By Telephone Gay Innocent Heartless Theatre Rated PG-13 • $12 • Showcase
• La tyranna i el cid: Punk ‘ Roll Nostalgia La tyranna i el cid Rated PG-13 • $7 • Martini Room (ages 21+ venue)
• Songs Without Words (or, The Mendelssohn Play) Jennifer Vosters Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Theater
• SHORT SHOW SHOWCASE A Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Back Space “Creature Feature!” by E. Mitchell with The Slapdash Players; “Unpredictable and unforgettable improv” with Cutthroat Improv; and "Vintage Tunes, Modern Gal“ with Plucky Rosenthal
• SHORT SHOW SHOWCASE B Rated PG-13 • $12 • EPH Pub 217 “The Amazing Adventures of 2NBs” with The 2NBs; “Different Every Time” with Geoff Thevenot and “Streaming Useless Thought Machine” with Mike Chernoff
9 p.m.
• Appalachian Songcatcher Hannah Sage From Rated PG-13 • $12 • EPH Pub 217
• Bubbles & Boxes Molly Surowitz Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Back Space
• Late Night Morning Show Memoriam Development Rated PG-13 • $12 • Habitat
• Pajama Stories for Adults Marie Cooney Stories Rated R • $12 • Greenroom
• Spectra Spectra Rated PG-13 • $7 • Martini Room (ages 21+ venue)
• Timey Wimey Stuff: The Mid Life Crisis of a Time Traveling Space Archaeologist Victoria Montalbano Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Theater
10:30 p.m.
• Bay Creek The Miller Conspiracy Rated PG-13 • $12 • EPH Pub 217
• Cracks Claire Lochmueller Rated R • $12 • SSSA Theater
• gods: A Musical Rampage Jonathan James Rated R • Free • Showcase
• Jared McCloud Jared McCloud Rated PG-13 • $7 • Martini Room
• Night Moose Night Moose Improv Rated PG-13 • $12 • Habitat
• Windy City Weekend with Haus A'Blaze Haus A'Blaze Burlesque Rated R • $12 • SSSA Back Space
SATURDAY
3 p.m.
• Appalachian Songcatcher Hannah Sage From Rated PG-13 • $12 • EPH Pub 217
• The Expiration Date Judah Leblang Rated PG-13 • $12 • Greenroom
• How to Get Appointments By Telephone Gay Innocent Heartless Theatre Rated PG-13 • $12 • Showcase
• SHORT SHOW SHOWCASE A Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Back Space “Creature Feature!” by E. Mitchell with The Slapdash Players; “Unpredictable and unforgettable improv” with Cutthroat Improv; and "Vintage Tunes, Modern Gal“ with Plucky Rosenthal
4:30 p.m.
• Hall Pass Hall Pass Improv Rated PG-13 • $12 • Habitat
• SHORT SHOW SHOWCASE B Rated PG-13 • $12 • EPH Pub 217 “The Amazing Adventures of 2NBs” with The 2NBs; “Different Every Time” with Geoff Thevenot and “Streaming Useless Thought Machine” with Mike Chernoff
6 p.m.
• Comedy Dance Chicago Comedy Dance Chicago Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Back Space
• Night Moose Improv Night Moose Rated PG-13 • $12 • Habitat
• Percolate Creative Moves Rated G • $12 • Greenroom
• ?Timey Wimey Stuff: The Mid Life Crisis of a Time Traveling Space Archaeologist“ Victoria Montalbano Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Theater
7:30 p.m.
• Live from the shallow end of the gene pool, it’s Moebius Theatre! Moebius Theatre Rated PG • $7 • Showcase
• The Pheasant Story! The Meatman Chronicles Rated PG-13 • $7 • EPH Pub 217
• RPG-13: A Role Playing & Improv Comedy Show RPG-13 Rated PG-13 • $12 • Habitat
• Trust Exorcises Raffish/Ripoff ProductionsRated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Theater
• Windy City Weekend with Haus A'Blaze Haus A'Blaze Burlesque Rated R • $12 • SSSA Back Space
9 p.m.
• Cafeinado - Show de Standup Comedy en Español Jose Alfredo Rated R • $12 • EPH Pub 217
• Cracks Claire Lochmueller Rated R • $12 • SSSA Theater
• The Expiration Date Judah Leblang Rated PG-13 • $12 • Greenroom
• gods: A Musical Rampage Jonathan James Rated R • Free Showcase
• McGarnackle! McGarnackle Rated PG-13 • $7 • Habitat
• Mimi
10:30 p.m.
• Almost Closing Party! ( ALL AGES • $4 EFF Button • EPH) Join Fringe artists and crew for a toast, some laughs, and a night of fun before the finale curtain!
SUNDAY
1 p.m.
• Bay Creek The Miller Conspiracy Rated PG-13 • $12 • EPH Pub 217
• Cracks Claire Lochmueller Rated R • $12 • SSSA Theater
• The Expiration Date Judah Leblang Rated PG-13 • $12 • Greenroom
• RPG-13: A Role Playing & Improv Comedy Show RPG-13 Rated PG-13 • $12 • Habitat
• SHORT SHOW SHOWCASE A Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Back Space “Creature Feature!” by E. Mitchell with The Slapdash Players; “Unpredictable and unforgettable improv” with Cutthroat Improv; and "Vintage Tunes, Modern Gal“ with Plucky Rosenthal
2:30 p.m.
• Appalachian Songcatcher Hannah Sage From Rated PG-13 • $12 • EPH Pub 217
• Ed Cid: Canto instrumental rupestre y algo màs Ed Cid Canto Rated PG-13 • $7 • Martini Room
• gods: A Musical Rampage Jonathan James Rated R • Free • Showcase
• McGarnackle! McGarnackle Rated PG-13 • $7 • Habitat
• Mimi Ambo Dance Theatre Rated R • $12 • SSSA Back Space
• Pajama Stories for Adults Marie Cooney Stories Rated R • $12 • Greenroom
4 p.m.
• Jared McCloud Jared McCloud Rated PG-13 • $7 • Martini Room
• Live from the shallow end of the gene pool, it’s Moebius Theatre! Moebius Theatre Rated PG • $7 • Showcase
• Night Moose Improv Night Moose Rated PG-13 • $12 • Habitat
• Percolate Creative Moves Rated G • $12 • Greenroom
• The Pheasant Story! The Meatman Chronicles Rated PG-13 • $7 • EPH Pub 217
• “Timey Wimey Stuff: The Mid Life Crisis of a Time Traveling Space Archaeologist” Victoria Montalbano Rated PG-13 • $12 • SSSA Theater
5 p.m.
• Closing Party (21+ • $3 EFF Button • Martini Room) We’ll close out another unforgettable Fringe with cheers, community, and celebration! Join us as we raise a glass and present special awards in honor of the amazing artists, volunteers, and supporters who made it all happen.