Buskers & Community Events
Community events are FREE. Buskers will perform throughout the festival and we highly recommend giving them a tip!
Thursday, July 10th
FRIDAY, July 11th
Preview Night 6pm-7pm (Community)
Get a sneak peek during this showcase of all the unique artistry occurring this weekend, with each artist taking 5 minutes to promote or feature their show!
Fringe on Film 7pm-9pm (Community)
Explore films that are weird and wonderful! We’ve welcomed a few fantastic short films to join the screen as part of our mini film festival.
Standup Showcase 10pm-11pm(Community)
Close out our comedy night laughing with us through the standup showcase featuring local comedians.
SATURDAY, July 12th
Next Gen Fringe 10am-2pm (Community)
A festival for youth at the Raleigh Fringe that focuses on creating art that is weird and wonderful! Join us for Next Gen Fringe on Saturday from 10am-2pm.
Sammy the Jester 1pm-4pm (Street Performer/Busking)
Think you should be treated like royalty? We agree! Sammy the Jester will be entertaining Fringe Fest-goers with dazzling displays of flower sticks, the best (ie worst) Dad jokes, games of riddles, and other fun shenaniganry befitting a jester.
Prop Playground by Downbeat Dance Fitness 2pm-3pm (Street Performer/Busking)
Explore the colorful world of silk flow props at this interactive, hands-on station. Whether you're a seasoned mover or a total beginner, you'll get to try out props such as fan veils that bring joy, freedom, and flair to movement. Learn simple tricks and discover how fun it is to blend fitness with creativity. No experience required, just curiosity and a willingness to play!
Commedia dell’ Arte as presented by i Firenzi 2pm-5pm (Street Performer/Busking)
A comedy show in the style of 16th Century Italian Commedia dell’ Art.
SUNDAY, July 13th
Theatre Camp for Adults 1pm-2pm (Community)
Speedrun the joy of theatre camp with cold readings, auditions, improv games, and a dance routine!
Prop Playground by Downbeat Dance Fitness 2pm-3pm (Street Performer/Busking)
Explore the colorful world of silk flow props at this interactive, hands-on station. Whether you're a seasoned mover or a total beginner, you'll get to try out props such as fan veils that bring joy, freedom, and flair to movement. Learn simple tricks and discover how fun it is to blend fitness with creativity. No experience required, just curiosity and a willingness to play!
Prop Swap 2pm-4pm (Community)
Bring props, costumes, and accessories you no longer need, and browse for new props that spark inspiration or fit a current project.
We invite you to share stories about the past lives of props and offer ideas for the future. Whether you’re a cosplayer, theater enthusiast, or someone who just enjoys fun items, the prop swap is a treasure trove of possibilities, where everyone leaves with something new to fuel their next creative endeavor. Available throughout Raleigh Fringe Festival programming, with a special focus for prop swapping Sunday 2pm-4pm.
Please do not dump items, and collect any items that are not swapped by the end of this event.
Something Different Cosplay with Life-Size Beedrill Puppet 11am-2pm (Street Performer/Busking)
Something Different Cosplay enjoys the frustration of making things that have no tutorials. His latest project is a lifesize Beedrill puppet, inspired by the Pokemon franchise, and created in a marionette style.
Ukulele with Hannah 2pm-5pm (Street Performer/Busking)
Listen to a live ukulele performance by Hannah, featuring alternative songs not often performed on the ukulele such as "House of the Rising Sun" or "Teenagers" by MCR.
CoLab Community Painting 7pm-10pm (Street Performer/Busking)
The mission of the CoLab is to create a supportive community of artists that’s accessible to anyone. One of the ways they do this is with giant collaborative paintings! Anyone can participate in helping to build the painting! The giant painting is then raffled off for free to the participants! Since 2022, CoLab has painted with more than 3336 people with their collaborative paintings.
Artsy After Party 10pm-12am (Community)
Join the Raleigh Fringe team for an alternative arts after party! Featuring DJ Rickey Smith aka the Funcoordinator.
Monologue Jam 3pm-4pm (Community)
A fun experimental exercise in cold reading! Show off a prepared monologue or try out one of ours. Accessorize with items from the prop swap and then take the stage and show us your interpretation of different monologues in this casual monologue jam!
Coffee with Creatives 4pm-5pm (Community)
Coffee with creatives provides space to unwind and discuss your next projects. What awaits you after the Raleigh Fringe Festival? How can we work together to make our artsy dreams a reality?
Puppets by Kasey McFerren 1pm-4pm (Street Performer/Busking)
An interactive table/booth for young kids to create their own puppets and stories, and sensory-friendly activities for neurodivergent attendees. Use storybooks with a diverse cast of characters and folktales from all over the world to inspire our puppet-making and practice our puppeteering! Books include Anansi the Spider, How Alma Got Her Name, Fry Bread, Ho'onani: Hula Warrior, and The Proudest Blue.