Scranton Fringe Festival Brings 200+ Performances to the Electric City

The Scranton Fringe Festival is back, kicking off Wednesday, Sept. 25, and running through Oct. 5 with more than 200 performances across the city.

Now in its 11th year, the festival has become one of Northeast Pennsylvania’s biggest arts events, packing theaters, galleries, storefronts and even coffee shops with theater, music, comedy, storytelling and more.

“Scranton Fringe in a nutshell is simply a celebration of culture, creativity and community,” said co-founder and executive director Conor Kelly O’Brien. “There’s everything from theater to music to film, amateur to professional, everything from all ages to more so for adults.”

The festival opens with a free launch party Wednesday at Marywood University from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring preview performances and the unveiling of a 3D projection-mapping installation. Other highlights include Ulysses of Scranton, a James Joyce-inspired production that will later travel to Ireland.

O’Brien said the festival has become a point of pride for the city. “This is our festival,” he said. “It gives us something to be proud of while showing off the talent we have here in Northeast Pennsylvania.”

Tickets are priced at $15 or less, with free options through the “Fringe for the People” program, plus outdoor and family events downtown. All venues are ADA accessible.

Full schedules and ticket information are available at scrantonfringe.org

Image: Street Performer at Scranton Fringe. (Credit: Jason Riedmiller)