Hamilton Fringe Festival

the city's biggest, boldest 12-day arts festival will be back July 16-27, 2025

APPLICATIONS OPEN SOON FOR HAMILTON FRINGE 2025

Keep an eye on this space!

The city’s biggest, boldest 12-day arts festival returns July 17 – 28, 2024!

The Hamilton Fringe Festival will return for its 21st year, running July 16-27, 2025. The festival features over 50 companies and 350+ performances taking place in historic venues across town.

In 2024, over 17,000 theatregoers attended from all over Canada, the US, and beyond. Hamilton Fringe showcases a diverse lineup of sketch comedy, improv, theatre, dance, puppetry, magic, musicals, and more! Tickets are an affordable $14+ fee (or less) with a one-time purchase of a Fringe Benefits Button ($5).

Applications for 2025 open November 1, 2024. Check back here after that date to enter!

Meanwhile, see below for more info about Hamilton Fringe.

Hamilton Fringe Festival is back with its 20th festival, running July 17-28, 2024. This year’s festival promises to be bolder than ever, featuring over 50 companies and 350+ performances lighting up venues across town.

Last year, nearly 15,000 theatregoers attended from all over Canada, the US, and beyond. This year’s festival features another diverse lineup, with sketch comedy, improv, theatre, dance, puppetry, magic, musicals, and more! Tickets are an affordable $14+ fee or less with a one-time purchase of a Fringe Benefits Button ($4).

The 20th Hamilton Fringe Festival runs from July 17 – 28, 2024.

Light up the city with the 2024 Hamilton Fringe Festival!

It’s Hamilton Fringe’s 20th festival, and we’re thrilled to take the Fringe experience to more Hamiltonians all over town. We’re back with a full slate of 28 Fringe plays at some old favourites like Theatre Aquarius, Mills Hardware, and Players’ Guild–and this year we launch a full venue partnership with The Westdale! The Staircase is back as an Indie Venue hub with 10 shows, and 2 more shows round out the Indie category with our pals at Hamilton Theatre Inc. The Mini Bar Series brings 4 short plays to a great new home at Ringside–an old 1940’s boxing gym tucked away like a Hamilton secret in an alleyway off James St N.

And we’re bringing the show right to you in the downtown core with the new Fringe On The Streets–a FREE walking tour of the city unlike anything you’ve experienced before with performances all along the King-James St corridor. While you’re on the tour, why not stop by and say hi at the incite Fringe Info Hub located right in Jackson Square!

The Fringe Club Outdoor Stage & Patio is back outside Theatre Aquarius to light up the Fringe nights, while our friends from Vintage Coffee Roasters can serve you drinks and snacks in the daytime. We invite you to join us for the warm and welcoming vibes at this year’s club. And Kids Club Family Fun Day is sure to keep even the youngest Fringers entertained!

The operations-supporting Fringe Benefits Button is back at a lower price (only $4), which for a one-time cost gives YOU access to ALL festival events PLUS great discounts and perks at shops across the city. And it gives US the revenue needed to hire and train our exceptional summer staff, to keep ticket fees as low as possible, and to offer a ton of free and accessible outdoor programming–and to keep the lights on!

We couldn’t be happier to show you all what Hamilton Fringe 2024 has to offer, lighting up the city with performance, and reminding all of us how wonderful this city can be when we come together. Happy Fringing!

Christopher Stanton

HFTco Executive Director

Franny McCabe-Bennett

HFTco Managing Director

The Hamilton Fringe Festival is taking over the city once again as the biggest, boldest, unjuried theatre festival in the GHA from July 19 to July 30, 2023. With 50+ shows taking over 11 iconic Hamilton stages, ranging from epic family-friendly musicals to dramedies set in space, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

With storytellers and magicians, comedies and improv, dancers and ghost stories, coming-of-age tales, puppets, musicals, kids shows, and an existential bowl of noodles, this year’s festival is not to be missed.

To buy tickets, or to check out this year’s full slate of shows and events, go to hftco.ca/events and take a look around!

Lottery Results

Congratulations to the 2024 lottery winners! Watch a livestream of the event HERE, or scroll down for a downloadable PDF with the companies drawn in the lottery, waitlisted, and the winner of the New Play Contest! The categories that were drawn at the lottery party included:

Hamilton 60-Minute
Ontario 60-Minute
National 60-Minute
International 60-Minute
General 90-Minute
FringeXchange BIPGM Artist
FringeXchange Disability Justice Artist
Fringe Mini Series

THE 2024 AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD

(One vote per patron)

VOTE NOW

* EVENT SCHEDULE Updates, CHANGES, AND CANCELLATIONS *

No Holds Barred & This Short, No Budget, Latecoming Hamont Musical have CANCELLED their July 27 performances @ Relay Coffee Roasters due to air conditioning issues.

The Midshipman’s Handbook @ Staircase Theatre Elaine Mae is 40 mins long. It is erroneously listed as being 75 mins in the print version of the Festival Program.

Team Buja Artists @ The Zoetic have CANCELLED ALL PERFORMANCES

Whose Vagina Is It Really? has CANCELLED the following performances:

Fri July 28 9:30PM @ The Zoetic
Sat July 29 2:30PM @ The Zoetic
Sun July 30 9:00PM @ The Zoetic

What is the Hamilton Fringe Festival? (click to expand)

Hamilton Fringe Festival is the city’s biggest, boldest 12-day arts festival, lighting up spaces across town with live comedy, theatre, music, dance, art, film, family fare, and more.

The first Fringe theatre festival burst onto the scene in 1947 when some audacious Scottish theatre rebels decided they were going to crash the mainstream Edinburgh International Festival. Performing on the “fringe” of the main event, they ignited a revolution of wild, unfiltered creativity that totally upstaged the more established festival. This daring act of defiance unleashed a global phenomenon, with Fringe festivals around the world becoming the ultimate playground for boundary-pushing artists and thrill-seeking audiences.

Like other members of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF), Hamilton Fringe follows a unique set of ground rules:

We don’t pick the shows! Main Series shows are chosen randomly via lottery. Doing away with artistic “gatekeepers” levels the playing field for people who want to perform at the Fringe.
We don’t take a cut of ticket sales! 100% of the ticket price goes straight to the artists. So when you buy a ticket, you are directly supporting the people making the shows.
We keep it CHEAP! After a one-time $4 Fringe Benefits Button purchase to support the festival, single tickets are just $14 ($5 for kids), and a multi-show pass makes it even less per show. More affordable ticket prices means you can take in more shows! Plus there’s loads of FREE outdoor programming all festival long.

"Fringing" Tips & Tricks!

If you’re new to the festival, here are some “Fringing” tips to keep in mind:

Get to know your Festival Program! There’s a lot going on and this Festival Program is your indispensable guide as to what’s happening where and when. And check out hftco.ca/events for the latest info about show changes and cancellations.
Listen to the word on the street! With 50+ shows and events, how do you choose? The best source for the shows getting the most buzz is other festival-goers!
Take a chance! Every year there are shows just waiting to be discovered by an audience. See something in the program that sparks your interest? Don’t be afraid to risk the low price of a Fringe ticket to find that hidden gem. Remember: lots of actors got their start in Fringe shows—a name that’s new to you today might be a big star tomorrow!
Fringe shows start ON TIME. Not every venue or show is able to accommodate late arrivals. Plan to check in 10 minutes before start time just in case!
All ticket sales are final. There are no refunds. Exchanges may be made for a different performance of the same show at least 48 hours in advance for service charge of $2.50.
All seating is general admission. Patrons
with accessibility requests will receive
priority seating as needed.
Tip the Fringe! We need your support to keep this festival running. When you buy tickets and attend events, we’ll be asking you to “Tip the Fringe.” You decide how much to give––just think about what Hamilton Fringe means to you and how important the festival is to the city’s live performance community!

STEP ONE: Buy Your FRINGE BENEFITS BUTTON!

All Fringe patrons ages 12+ (including passholders) must make a one-time purchase of a Fringe Benefits Button for $4 to access all ticketed indoor events. Hold onto that button – you can’t get into the show without it!

Hamilton Fringe Festival gives 100% of the ticket price straight back to participating artists. Additional programming like Fringe On The Streets, Fringe Club, Kids Club, and Spark Teen Performance is free to attend.

So how do we manage to keep the lights on?

The fact is that Hamilton Fringe relies on Fringe Benefits Button sales to make the festival possible. This small but mighty contribution ensures that the festival can continue bringing cutting-edge performances and vibrant arts experiences to our community. With just $4, you’re not just getting a button; you’re investing in the future of Hamilton’s growing, dynamic, and unique arts community.

ALSO! Showing your button to participating businesses gets you exclusive deals and discounts! That means more savings for you while you’re supporting the Fringe AND local businesses. It’s a rare win-win-win situation! Check back for a full list of participating companies around town.

Join your fellow Fringers in championing the arts in Hamilton—and wear your button with pride!

Fringe Benefits Buttons are available in advance or at the door.

Tickets & Multi-Show Passes

NEW IN 2024:

Debit and Credit Card sales are available at all venues.

However, in order to make your Fringe experience quicker, cash sales will ONLY be available for ADVANCE sales at the incite Fringe Info Hub at Jackson Square (ie: NO CASH SALES at the door!)

Advance tickets can be purchased via the online box office right up until show time.

Tickets are also available at the door beginning 45 minutes prior to show time. Talk to the friendly Box Office staff stationed right outside your show’s venue and they’ll get you set up.

General Admission: $14 (+fees)
Kids Under 12: $5 (+fees)
Fringe Mini Bar: $7 (+fees)

We offer complimentary tickets for Support Persons & Personal Support Workers. Go to hftco.ca/accessibility for details.

MULTI-SHOW PASSES

Fringe Sampler 3-Show Pass: $36 (+fees)
Fringe Binge 6-Show Pass: $66 (+fees)
Fringe Frenzy 10-Show Pass: $100 (+fees)
Fringe Double Frenzy 20-Show Pass: $200 (+fees)

Fringe Mini Bar Pass: $20 (+fees) redeemable on Mini Bar shows only

Save on booking fees when you buy a pass!

Still have questions? Come by the incite Fringe Info Hub located at Jackson Square, email boxoffice@hftco.ca or give us a call at 289.698.2234!

Here's a list of the Hamilton Fringe Festival 2024 AWARD WINNERS...

Best in Venue – Mills Hardware

The Little Black Fish
Pedagogies of Hope | Hamilton ON

Best in Venue – The Players’ Guild of Hamilton

It’s Always Hazy in Hamilton
The Intergalactic Federation of Space Beers | Hamilton ON

Best in Venue – Theatre Aquarius Studio

Izad Etemadi: Let Me Explain
Green Light Arts | Toronto ON

Best in Venue – The Westdale

Ushindi: When We Are Welcome
The Ushindi Collective | Hamilton ON

Best in Series – Mini Bar

3 Queens
Bon Mots Productions | Hamilton ON

Best in Series – Indie Venues

Spookshow
Nicholas Wallace | Niagara ON

Best Touring Show

Robert Will Show You the Door
Susan Jeremy Productions | Brooklyn NY

Critic’s Picks (three-way tie!)

Grabbing The Hammer Lane: A Trucker Narrative
HARBOUR WORKSHOP LLC | Montclair NJ

GRINGAS
First Born Theatre Company | Toronto ON

Underwear Fairy and Other Love Stories
A Company of Players | Hamilton ON

Audience Choice

Stationary
Tough Love Collective | Hamilton ON

Best in Fringe

Spookshow
Nicholas Wallace | Niagara ON

Our Fringe Benefits Partners

Here's a list of the fine businesses who are supporting the Fringe Benefits Button campaign throughout July 2024!

Mystic Ramen | 51 King William St
Since 2019, Mystic Ramen has been serving up Hamilton’s favourite ramen in search of pure ramen perfection.
- FREE edamame with the purchase of an entree
- Try Mystic Ramen’s $12 Fringe cocktail, What Dreams May Come. This drink is a coconut salt rimmed, yuzu passionfruit juice with Toki whisky and dry vermouth.

Snooty Fox Pub | 1011 King St W
- 10% OFF all menu items

Grain & Grit Beer Co. | 11 Ewan Rd
- 10% OFF 12oz pours in the taproom

Studio 205 | 205 King Street E
- FREE americano with purchase

Vintage Soul Geek | 279 King St E + 150 James St N
- 10% OFF everything in store

Café Oranje | 312 King St E
- 10% OFF Food and Drinks

Pretty Grit | 128 James St N
- 10% OFF anything in store

J. H. Gordon Books | 314 King St E
- 15% OFF any in-store purchase
The Bard and Bear | 237 James St N
- 50% OFF game covers
Pintoh by Chef Keng | 21 John St N
- 2 for 1 appetizers
Daddy’s Plastic | 148 James St N
- 10% OFF anything in store
Bardo Locke St. | 258 Locke St S
- 10% OFF Food and Drinks
Bardo James St. | 14 James St N
- 10% OFF Food and Drinks
Toby’s Good Eats | 110 King St W
- 10% OFF Food and Drinks

Check back often–we're adding new partners every day!

Apply to the Films on the Fringe: Shorts Showcase

Apply Now

Calling all filmmakers!

We are currently seeking short film submissions by Canadian filmmakers to screen at the seventh annual Films on the Fringe: Shorts Showcase event during the Hamilton Fringe Festival.

The Shorts Showcase competition, presented by the Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement Area, offers Hamiltonians a FREE opportunity to enjoy short films under the stars at the Fringe Club Outdoor Stage & Patio, located outside Theatre Aquarius at 190 King William St, on July 18 at 9 PM.

The long list of submissions will be chosen by a jury of industry professionals and revealed live at the Fringe Club. The winning film will be screened in full, with the winning filmmaker receiving a $350 screening fee.⁠ Second and third place will each receive a $50 honorarium and a Fringe Binge 6-Show Pass for use at the Hamilton Fringe.

All longlisted filmmakers will have a short clip shown at the Shorts Showcase. There is a non-refundable application fee of $35.

Deadline to apply is Friday, June 21 at 11:59 PM. For more details and to apply, click here!

Presented by

Visiting Hamilton

Support HFTco and you could get a little something for yourself when you buy a 50/50 raffle ticket! The more tickets you buy, the better your odds! Tickets are $10 for 10, $20 for 40, or $40 for 120.

Ticket sales for the HFTco Halloween Draw close at 8.55pm ET on October 28, 2024. The winner will be announced here and on hftco5050.com!

All raffle proceeds go towards key HFTco programs like the FringeXchange BIPGM and Disability Justice Artist slots, free Fringe Club and Frost Bites family programming, and our Artist Development programs like ALERT and Spark Teen Creation.

Full rules and regulations are available here.