Elgin Fringe Fest Returns for a Diverse Lineup

The Elgin Fringe Fest is celebrating its 13th year, featuring over 80 performances in dance, theater, music, comedy, and magic. The festival will take place from Wednesday through Sunday at five venues in downtown Elgin.

To enter the festival, purchase a button for $4. Performance tickets range from free to $12. A $95 festival pass is available at Side Street Studio Arts, providing access to events at Side Street, Elgin Public House, Habitat for Humanity, Martini Room, and Elgin Art Showcase.

Fringe artistic director, Nick Mataragas, expressed satisfaction with the festival’s sustained success. “This is a festival that has always been great at finding ways to make things work,” he noted.

The festivities begin at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, with a preview party at the Martini Room. Artists will perform teasers of their shows. Comedian Jose Alfredo will host the new Fringe Cabaret at 7 p.m.

Special events include the Almost-Closing Party on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10:30 p.m., and the official After Party on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. Mataragas hopes these celebrations will highlight the achievements and endeavors of the festival.

Celebrate the successes and failures, give out awards, say goodbye to our touring artists, all those things, Mataragas stated.

Attendees can enjoy acts such as The Snake Oil and Skullduggery Show, Tap Into Time by Gregg and Katie, and “Twilight-ish the Musical” by Slapdash Theatre, among others. The Elgin Fringe Festival website provides detailed schedules sorted by day, genre, and venue.

This year introduces experimentation in storytelling, said Mataragas, with performances like Lauren Kee’s “Dealbreaker” on Sept. 24 and 26 at the Elgin Public House. The show will address personal experiences with the herpes virus through comedy and storytelling.

Kee described her show, “comedy, storytelling, vulnerability and sex education wrapped into one show,” and emphasized its relatability and potential impact.

Coming from a performance at the Harrisburg Fringe Festival, Kee is excited about performing closer to home. She praised the Elgin Fringe’s organization and support.

With 22 local and 12 touring acts, audiences have diverse options. Mataragas encourages attendees to explore different types of performances beyond their initial interest.

We have an amazing number of new performers this year. Come out and see more than one show, he advised.

For Elgin, the festival showcases the city’s vibrant art scene. Mataragas highlighted the city’s receptiveness to the arts, making Elgin an ideal location for the festival.

Kee aspires to inspire others with her performance. “I am really hopeful that my show can be a seed for someone else’s art someday,” she expressed, emphasizing the healing power of art.

Audience members captured memories at the 2025 Elgin Fringe Festival, noting the accessible variety of art forms available.