Fringe Festivals focus on performing arts but also include film, visual art, music, and other types of art forms. Performances take place in downtown areas in cafes, theaters, storefronts, and a variety of other locations.

Schedule of Events

La Groove Fatale and Friends: Air & Water Show at Martini Room

La Groove Fatale is back at the Elgin Fringe Festival with a modern belly dance fusion show inspired by the power and flow of air and water. These dedicated dancers have been working to bring you something spectacular!
 
Trigger Warnings: All ages

Time:
Friday 9/8 @7:30pm
Saturday 9/9 @7:30pm
Sunday 9/10 @2:30pm

Cost: $7.00

4:30pm - Making Space at Theater

The Making Space project grew out of a desire to document the summer of 2020 and Elgin's response to the murder of George Floyd. The project created a mural in downtown Elgin and a documentary. Learn more at https://elginhistory.org/making-space/

Elgin Short Film Festival at THEATER at Side Street

Enjoy an evening of cinematic shorts as filmmakers from around the world showcase their talents!

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @6pm
Friday 9/8 @7:30pm

8:30pm - The Mayfields at THEATER at Side Street

"Our Favorite Secrets" is a captivating evening of mind-reading by the enigmatic Mayfields. Join the Mayfields as they rifle through your mind in this daring display of psychic phenomenon. Mind readers need minds to read, after all! To commemorate their years of performing at Elgin Fringe, the Mayfields will present a remarkable selection of their rare and exclusive mentalism pieces, alongside some of their most beloved performances. This is a unique opportunity that you won't want to miss!

Cost: $12.00

4pm - GOING DUTCH AT FRINGE! at THEATER at Side Street

Come and see special performances by Going Dutch artists at this year's opening weekend of the Elgin Fringe Festival!

Performances by:
dropshift
Gina T'ai performing 'She Tigre'
Chris Johnson
Hannah Seidel

Time: Sunday 9/3 @4pm

Cost: $12.00

10pm: Barbilesque at THEATER at Side Street

Join the performers of MsPixy Productions for a celebration (and send-up) of all things Barbie. Dress up and take photos at the Barbie Career Girl station! Give a thrift-store rescue Barbie a makeover at our costuming and hair design tables. And, most importantly, enjoy some risque and ridiculous striptease interpretations of Barbie (and friends) at their best and most bizarre.

Ages 21+. Professionally costumed "burlesque barbies" will be available for raffle as part of the evening's festivities. Barbie dress-up is encouraged-- prizes will be given for the best audience attire.

Time: Friday 9/1 @10pm

Cost: $12.00

Under The Rainbow Umbrella a BACKSPACE at Side Street

Under The Rainbow Umbrella aims to explore emotions on a spectrum of color. Through wardrobe, film, music and live performance, this FREE Fringe Production is multi-sensory experience that aims to engage and immerse the audience in the spectrum of Kenzie's emotional journey. From fear, anger, and sadness to joy and peace, The Rainbow Umbrella serves as a Fringe Festival Production and art therapy project, emphasizing the therapeutic and transformative power of art.

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @7:30pm
Friday 9/8 @6pm
Saturday 9/9 @7:30pm

Haus A'Blaze Burlesque at Martini Room

Haus A'Blaze Burlesque is all about highlighting and celebrating amazing, gorgeous performers of all different backgrounds, races, ages, sizes gender identities, sexual orientation, etc. Haus A'Blaze supports these artists by creating a safe, empowering, and supportive space for the amazing people we have the honor of working with. Check out a Haus A'Blaze Burlesque show to help us celebrate the beauty in diversity, inclusivity, unity, and equity.

Ages 21 and up

Time:
Friday 9/8 @10:30pm
Saturday 9/9 @9pm

Cost: $12.00

Theatre Kid Rehab at BACKSPACE at Side Street

From a Z-List celebrity once called "very Broadway" by pop sensation Katy Perry, this solo musical comedy follows a starry-eyed little girl with undiagnosed ADHD who woke up one day with an office job, big titties, and a whole lot of imposter syndrome.

Ages 17 and up

Time:
Friday 9/8 @10:30pm
Saturday 9/9 @6pm
Sunday 9/10 @1pm

Cost: $12

Percolate at Martini Room

1. :to ooze or trickle through a permeable substance: SEEP
2. a: to become percolated b: to become lively or effervescent
3. to spread gradually
4. SIMMER
-Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Let's get to brewing and see what bubbles up. An experiment in movement and sound.

All Ages

Time:
Friday 9/8 @9pm
Saturday 9/9 @6pm
Sunday 9/10 @4pm

Cost: $12

9pm - Jacquesalope! at BACKSPACE at Side Street

"Deep in Reno, Nevada lurks a terrifying antlered rabbit of unbelievable skill. And fur." Haus Of Ruckus presents: "Jacques"alope! A surreal comedy about two slackers, a French Cryptid and their quest to make it to Burning Man on time. This irreverent production utilizes cartoonish characters, live music, and puppets.

Ages 13 and up

Time: Thursday 9/7 @9pm

Cost: $12

Moving On Up

Moving On Up is a light-hearted sketch show that explores how humans navigate the world, love, and friendship. In 20 minutes.

Ages 13 and up

Two Stars in the Vast Dark at BACKSPACE at Side Street

A trans-centric sci-fi event with original music and movement! A young space trucker and oddly self-aware bio-computer confront each other while stranded in the void. Can we connect across distance and difference? Are we ever really alone?

Ages 16 and up

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @6pm
Friday 9/8 @7:30pm
Saturday 9/9 @3pm

Cost: $12

Ace Flamingo Live at Martini Room

Live performance of songs co-written by ace flamingo.

All Ages

Time:
Friday 9/8 @9pm
Saturday 9/9 @6pm
Sunday 9/10 @4pm

Cost: $12

Fringe U 1th Annual Conference at Elgin Art Showcase

Fringe U 1th Annual Conference is the "oneth" (not "first") academic meeting of minds hosted by the newly minted Fringe University. Academics come to present interesting papers on little-explored topics, such as cryptozoology, NFTs, alternative medicine, and game design. Tournament style! "Why be first when you can be oneth?"

All Ages

Time:
Friday 9/8 @10:30pm
Saturday 9/9 @7:30pm
Sunday 9/10 @2:30pm

Cost: $7.00

Steer Into the Skid at Elgin Art Showcase

"Steer into the Skid" explores anxiety, avoidance, and acceptance through spoken word punctuated with sarcasm and humor. Mature language, some adult topics. Additional topics include existential benders with Alpaca and drunkenly swinging Tarzan style through Costco. Immature audiences only. Burritos sold separately.

Ages 16 and up

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @7:30pm
Friday 9/8 @7:30pm
Saturday 9/9 @4:30pm

Cost: $12

Texts From The Other Room at BACKSPACE at Side Street

Texts From The Other Room plays on phenomena that we've all experienced. With three improvisers on the stage, and the fourth... texting from the other room. The three on stage need to find a way to make a cohesive show out of texts from someone that has no idea what is going on.

Ages 13 and up

Time:
Friday 9/8 @9pm
Sunday 9/10 @4pm

Cost: $12.00

They Were Right at ELGIN PUBLIC HOUSE / PUB 217

A stand-up comedy show full of self-discovery that becomes everyone else's problem. They Were Right explores various themes including identity, masculinity, race, and stories of growing up as a nerdy black dude on the South Side of Chicago.

Ages 18 and up

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @7:30pm
Friday 9/8 @10:30pm

Cost: $12

Carnival of the Aminals

Carnival of the Aminals is a romantic comedy in Dance! Set to composer Camille Saint-Saens' musical suite Carnival of the Animals, this lighthearted and silly performance pokes fun at the awkwardness of new relationships, encouraging you to embrace your inner weirdo.

All Ages

Light/weight at BACKSPACE at Side Street

Our musical styles and backgrounds are different to say the least. In this performance we explore each other's ideas and find a common ground. A little light entertainment, and a bit of heavy lifting.

All Ages

Time: Saturday 9/9 @9pm

Cost: $7.00

I'm Not Joining the Marching Band: Two Truths and a Lie about High School Band at ELGIN PUBLIC HOUSE / PUB 217

Three personal stories about my experiences in high school band, in the suburbs of Atlanta, across the turn of the millennium. Two of the stories are true as best I can remember them. One story takes a turn toward the fantastic. Can you guess which is the lie?

Ages 13 and up

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @9pm
Friday 9/8 @7:30pm
Saturday 9/9 @4:30pm
Sunday 9/10 @2:30pm

Cost: $12.00

Couples at ELGIN ART SHOWCASE

COUPLES, written by Sean Grennan, is a wildly funny and witty look at modern marriage. Dr. Sharon Mercer, a marriage counselor, runs her group sessions virtually so that the couples involved can be more open and honest in their responses. Dr. Mercer now has given three couples the assignment of going on a "date" with their estranged partner. The outcome of this assignment will have you laughing uncontrollably! Do not miss this!

Ages 18 and up

Time:
Friday 9/8 @9pm
Saturday 9/9 @3pm
Sunday 9/10 @1pm

Cost: $7.00Price

Cats That I Know at THEATER at Side Street

A solo performance wherein Danny Wightkin basically shows you cat pictures for fifty minutes. To support these magnificent felines, there is a script full of jokes, a PowerPoint full of gags, and a piano full of songs. But we never move off-topic, so hopefully you are a cat person!

All Ages

Time:
Saturday 9/9 @6pm
Sunday 9/10 @1pm

Cost: $7.00

Night Moose Improv at Elgin Showcase

Prepare to be hilariously hoofstruck by Night Moose, the improv troupe with antler-sharp wit! They prance onto the stage, armed with comedic brilliance and the musical talents of their very own "Moose-ician." Get ready for a wild ride of spontaneous laughs, and see what they've been working on! NIGHT MOOSE!

Ages 16 and up

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @9pm
Friday 9/8 @6pm
Saturday 9/9 @9pm

Cost: $12.00

Time In A Teacup at THEATER at Side Street

Original songs and audio-visual aids tell humorous tales of family vacations, Christmas, love and baloney sandwiches. An all ages one man show you don't want to miss!

All Ages

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @9pm
Friday 9/8 @9pm
Saturday 9/9 @3pm

Ghostly at ELGIN PUBLIC HOUSE / PUB 217

Ghostly is a podcast that debates ghost stories from around the area. Are you a believer or skeptic, either way, Ghostly will entertain you with spooky stories. Ghostly is free because of its a wonderful sponsor: MayfieldMagic.com

Time: Saturday 9/9 @7:30pm

All Ages

Big Dad Energy at ELGIN PUBLIC HOUSE / PUB 217

In a show about fatherhood from a guy who doesn't have any children, comedian Jamie Campbell details what it's like to approach middle-age and realize you're going to let the clock run out on the possibility of parenthood. The pop culture nostalgia, and humor-filled soul-searching will resonate with anyone who grew up in the 80s/90s.

Ages 15 and up

Time:
Friday 9/8 @6pm
Saturday 9/9 @9pm
Sunday 9/10 @1pm

Cost: $12.00

Heretic - The Eulogy of a Christian ExPat at THEATER at Side Street

Kevin Bowman was a pastor and leader in his local church, an up and coming speaker in conferences and events across the country, his star was on the rise… until his untimely death. Join us for the funeral of Pastor Kevin Bowman led today by the Heretic Kevin Bowman.

Ages 13 and up

Time:
Friday 9/8 @10:30pm
Saturday 9/9 @7:30pm
Sunday 9/10 @4pm

Cost: $12.00

Love is (Im)Perfect at Vern's Tavern

Love is (Im)Perfect CatBomb's Love is (Im)Perfect, is a fully improvised love story featuring John and Denise, 2 perfectly imperfect, but relatable 50-somethings who embark on a quest for togetherness leading them on an unlikely adventure through time, trials and triumphs. Inspired by audience suggestions, they encounter the people and places, music and magic that ultimately shapes their destiny.

18 and up - grown-ups

Time:
Friday 9/8 @10:30pm
Saturday 9/9 @7:30pm

Cost: $12.00

The Light Bringer at Vern's Tavern

"Off to the American Dream!" Freedom, at what cost? In this true-life storytelling show, Laila sheds light on her experiences growing up Muslim in the South, discovering her own place in the world, and having to make an ultimate sacrifice.

13 and up

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @6pm
Friday 9/8 @7:30pm
Saturday 9/9 @9pm
Sunday 9/10 @4pm

Cost: $12.00

The Beast of Hyperborea at THEATER at Side Street

The Beast of Hyperborea is a thrilling and humorous new one-person show presented as a Victorian adventure tale. It concerns a fabled beast, a mysterious island and the brave team of eccentric explorers who set off to discover them both.

All ages

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @7:30pm
Friday 9/8 @6pm
Saturday 9/9 @9pm
Sunday 9/10 @2:30pm

Cost: $12.00

Audacious Ignatius: Lost In Atlantis at Vern's Tavern

A true history storytelling show about Ignatius Donnelly a titan of 19th Century Minnesota politics. Today he is known as a crackpot tied to pseudoscience, pseudohistory, and Shakespeare conspiracies. A legacy Lost in Atlantis.

12+, educational and PG rated with PG-13 topics.

Time:
Thursday 9/7 @7:30pm
Friday 9/8 @9pm
Saturday 9/9 @4:30pm
Sunday 9/10 @2:30pm

Cost: $12.00

Comedians who would bail you out of jail at ELGIN PUBLIC HOUSE / PUB 217

These are comics who helped the host out when I was in a tight spot and needed a few bucks. Actually, they didn't bail me out of jail. Or did they...

Rated R

Time: Friday 9/8 @9pm

Cost: $12.00

Unhinged

An immersive experience with a DJ set that dives into the human psyche and demonstrates the effects of mental illness. A show to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.

Ages 17+

Date: September 7-10, 2023

Locations:
Elgin Public House, 219 East Chicago Street, Elgin, IL 60120
Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division Street, Elgin, IL 60120
Elgin Public House, 219 East Chicago Street, Elgin, IL 60120
Martini Room, 161 East Chicago Street, Elgin, IL 60120
Backspace at Side Street, 15 ½ Ziegler Court, Elgin, IL 60120

Click here for more information