Nine Ways to Make the Most Out of the Edmonton International Fringe Festival

Edmonton might just be the only place in Alberta where you can see a chainsaw juggler, an outrageous, giggle-inducing cabaret show, or a street acrobat doing gravity-defying stunts. All in one day.

If you love immersing yourself in a large, high-energy festival, then the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is the place for you. Alberta's capital city takes the performing arts seriously all year long, but Fringe is the main attraction for 11 days each August. It ranks right up there with the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. It's a really big deal.

Plus, you'll be right in the centre of the action in the place billed as Canada's Festival City.

Entertainment all day long for 11 days

Part street party, part circus, and full-on theatre festival, Edmonton's Fringe is the oldest and largest theatre festival in North America. It takes over the city with more than 1,500 off-beat, daring and edgy performers, who appear at other festivals of this type around the world. They are here to entertain the crowds and thrive on the enthusiastic audiences. You'll be in happy company, with 800,000 like-minded festivalgoers who come from all over. In addition to the outdoor performances are 182 indoor theatre productions across 37 venues.

The beating heart of Edmonton's festival consumes four city blocks in the city's Old Strathcona neighbourhood and French Quarter – plus many more venues around the city. From noon to midnight every day, you can take in a constant stream of local, national and international acts.

Your day strolling the city will be filled with live music, dance and street performers like chainsaw jugglers – for real – magicians, comedians, acrobats, graffiti artists and cabaret-style performers.

Eat, drink and shop

Add to all that action an incredible roster of local food vendors, including the famously yummy Asian street food staple, the Green Onion Cake. (You can't visit Edmonton without trying one.) Between acts you can shop at Artists in the Alley where you can buy local crafts, clothing and jewelry. The always-hopping beer gardens are the perfect place to kick back and have a cold beverage while people-watching the "Fringers."

"There is a buzz that's electric. You don't want to leave it," says Murray Utas, artistic director, who has been with the festival for 40 years.

Families with toddlers and teens will want to head to Kids Fringe. It's a busy hive of activity with interactive theatre, craft stations and arts workshops run by real artists. And it's free.

Make the most of the fest with these tips

This is an action-packed festival. Here are nine tips from Utas and Megan Dart, the festival's executive director, to make the most of the Edmonton Fringe Festival.

1. Be sure to grab a festival guide. It provides a map of the area and a list of performers and times and places.
2. Talk to some "frequent Fringers," says Utas. Introduce yourself to them and they will happily help you out. They're easy to spot, with their highlighters and guides in hand.
3. There are more than 1,000 volunteers walking around the area, too. Stop and ask them questions and they'll gladly help you.
4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Alberta's summer days can be hot and sunny. Be sure to have a water bottle which you can refill at water stations.
5. Consider walking, biking or taking transit to the Fringe. You'll have a much better experience than if you drive, and it beats getting frustrated by trying to find parking.
6. Sorry, you'll have to leave pets at home.
7. With so much going on, you need to give yourself lots of time to explore.
8. You'll be doing a bit of walking going show to show, so be sure to wear comfy shoes. If you're planning to attend an indoor theatre production or two, all venues are wheelchair accessible.
9. Bottom line. Just go with the human flow and get into the spirit of the festival because chances are you'll discover something you've never seen or heard before.

"It's an instant collision between audience and artist," says Utas.

All the more reason to go with an open mind and sense of adventure for the theatrical.