ROCHESTER, N.Y. — ​The 10th annual KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival is back. The 12-day festival includes 425 performances and events with almost 90% of them are live and in-person.

Performances are happening all over Rochester. The center of the festival is One Fringe Place, at the big tent located at Gibbs and Main Streets across from the Eastman Theatre.

Rochester's Fringe is dance, comedy, music, spoken word, theatre and all kinds of visual art and film performances with more than 120 free shows, including a mini-music fest headlined by the nationally known band that's from Rochester, Joywave.

What You Need To Know

  • The Rochester Fringe Festival is Sept. 14 through Sept. 25

  • The 12-day festival includes 425 performances

  • There are 120 FREE shows

"This is a wonderful platform for artists whether they are emerging or superstars," said Erica Fee, Rochester Fringe Festival producer. "It is a great way to connect with the community and it’s a great way for the community to have some very difficult conversations that we know the performing arts can provide a platform for. This has become a renowned festival. It is my baby and it is something that I am very proud of and I think it’s something that community is very proud of."

Cirque du Fringe After Party is happening every night of the festival. It's an out-of-the-ordinary good time at the Italian Circus Tent. The show's creator, Matt Morgan, is happy to be back and performing live with some lifelong friends. 

"It is wonderful and life-changing to be back live and it is also a little terrifying," said Matt Morgan. "This is a group that I sort of became the artist that I am with, I cut my teeth with these guys. We were everywhere, storefronts and bars. We performed everywhere and anywhere. Anywhere that will let us take our underwear off in front of people and so now people can pay to see us takeoff our underwear and this is our 20 year reunion!" 

The Fringe brings the world to Rochester. This not-for-profit Fringe is the largest multi-disciplinary performing arts festival in New York state. This spirit of creativity is happening now through Saturday, Sept. 25.

For tickets and a complete schedule check out RochesterFringe.com.