Since its inaugural year in 2012, the Rochester Fringe Festival has become one of the fastest-growing and most-attended fringe festivals in the U.S. and the largest multi-arts festival in New York State. The Rochester Fringe Festival is a 12-day, all-out, no-holds-barred, multi-disciplinary visual and performing arts festival, featuring more than 500 shows in downtown Rochester. It showcases a vast variety of theater, comedy, visual arts, family entertainment, music, dance, opera, spoken word, film, and everything in between!
With 12 days filled with a range of events, we've pulled together a guide with what you need to know about the Rochester Fringe Festival this September 12-23, 2023.
Headliners & Major Shows
CIRQUE INEXTREMISTE– SEPTEMBER 15 & 16
A FREE grand spectacular celebration downtown at Parcel 5 (next to One East Ave), with food, drink, and entertainment options both days—including The Fanzinis in Ballet Poulet and the incredible DJ ha-MEEN ahead of each night’s performance by Cirque Inextremiste in EXIT.
CIRCOLOMBIA: CORAZON– SEPTEMBER 12-17 & 19-23
If you love edge-of-your seat energy and spectacular artistic beauty, Circolombia will win your heart. With its jaw-dropping stunts, raw choreography, and heart-pumping rap and Latin music, Circolombia will make its Rochester debut in the Spiegeltent. The troupe performed to cheering, sold-out Edinburgh Fringe audiences as well as venues in London and Chicago. And now six of its performers are coming our way with a show written and produced exclusively for Rochester Fringe, titled Corazón.
KIDS DAY—SEPTEMBER 23
An entire day of family-friendly events, shows and activities that the entire family can enjoy including Disco Kids, Kids Chalk Art, Pumpkin Painting, Fringe Street Beat, and Astrofringe: A Celestial Stargazing Experience.
THE SPIEGELTENT
Rochester has swooned over our jewel box of a venue from Belgium, which boasts stained glass windows, magical faceted mirrors, a velvet draped ceiling, VIP boots and a vintage bar. Ticketed shows in The Spiegeltent will include Circolombia’s Corazon, The Comedy Trio Happy Hour, (Not So) Late & Live, Shotspeare, Charming Disaster’s Musical Seance, and Silent Disco.
THE SPIEGELGARDEN
Adjacent to the Spiegeltent, the Spiegelgarden is the #1 place to find rest, relaxation, food and drinks, and friends during the Fringe. A gorgeous, green haven in the middle of downtown Rochester, this pop-up garden features urban landscaping, eclectic lounge furniture, giant games, outdoor art, and supreme comfort.
It is the location of the Theatre Bar and site-specific shows and events, a trivia challenge, outdoor movies under the stars, and more.
PEDESTRIAN DRIVE-IN
Enjoy movies outdoors at One Fringe Place! Grab a drink, a snack from a food truck, and experience a one-of-a-kind movie event: classic cult movies on the big screen with personalized audio via our Silent Disco headphones. Seating is first-come, first-served.
Best in Show - September 12
Anchorman - September 13
Do the Right Thing - September 14
West Side Story - September 15
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - September 16
Cinema Paradiso - September 17
To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar - September 18
Life is Beautiful (La Vita e Bella) - September 19
Louder is Not Always Clearer - September 21
Four Weddings and a Funeral - September 21
It’s Made of Thoughts - September 22
Blowing off the Lake - September 22
Top Gun: Maverick - September 22
Boo! A Madea Halloween - September 23
Shaun of the Dead - September 23
Tickets & Box Office
You can purchase tickets online, by phone, or in person at Fringe venues or the Fringe Box Office.
Visitor Information
ACCESSIBILITY
The Fringe and its partnering venues strive to make shows and events as accessible as possible. Details, including ASL interpreted shows and progress updates, are available here.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Stay at the center of Fringe at the Hyatt Regency Rochester. View exclusive Fringe hotel partners here.
BOX OFFICE & INFO BOOTH
The Fringe Box Office & Info Booth is located at One Fringe Place (across from Eastman Theatre, corner of Main Street and Gibbs Street). It will be open daily starting September 10.
CASH OR CREDIT?
All Fringe venues, bars, and food trucks, as well as the Fringe Box Office and Fringe Store, accept cash, credit, and debit cards.
FRINGE STORE
Limited edition merchandise and collectibles are available at the Fringe Store.
LOST & FOUND
Anything turned into the Fringe will be held at the Fringe office until the end of the festival. Contact the Fringe team at info@rochesterfringe.com or stop by the Box Office & Info Booth.
PARKING
Rochester Fringe takes place within the heart of downtown Rochester's art and culture district—the East End. Most venues are within walking distance of one another, which allows for one-time parking in one of the many parking lots and garages within the area.
BIKE PARKING
The Fringe Festival is an ideal venue for those traveling by bike. Rochester's East Avenue is filled with bike racks and loops near the heart of the festival.
VENUES
Click here to view a full list of event venues.
Food & Drinks
The Fringe Fest will have a rotating lineup of local food trucks and bars will be located at Parcel 5, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, The Spiegelgarden, and The Spiegeltent. A full list of neighborhood venues that will be offering food and drink, as well as top local restaurants opening during Fringe can be found here.
For more information on the Rochester Fringe Festival, visit RochesterFringe.com. Don't forget to share your photos with us on social media using #VisitROC and #ROCFringe23.
