IndyFringe Festival Celebrates 20th Anniversary August 14-24

This August, Indianapolis will once again come alive with the electric, unpredictable energy of the IndyFringe Festival — and this year, there’s even more to celebrate. Now in its 20th year, the 2025 IndyFringe Festival, presented by Everwise Credit Union, promises its biggest and boldest season yet, featuring nearly 70 distinct acts and supporting over 500 artists from around the globe.

With performances ranging from puppetry, stand-up comedy, and Bollywood dance to ballet, clowning, immersive theatre, and even magic, this eclectic celebration of the performing arts is designed to offer something for everyone — and at a price nearly anyone can afford, with some tickets as low as $12 and numerous free events throughout the festival.

A Festival That Dares to Be Different

Since its inaugural year in 2005, IndyFringe has embraced the weird, the experimental, and the often overlooked. From emerging playwrights to circus artists, the festival has built a reputation as one of the Midwest’s most inclusive and accessible platforms for independent performance. But its roots run even deeper.

In 2002, the Theatre City Indianapolis summit identified a Fringe Theatre Festival as a catalyst for growth in the Mass Ave Cultural Arts District. Organizers envisioned an event that could invigorate local businesses, showcase Indy’s homegrown creativity, and build a more vibrant cultural scene in the city’s downtown. That vision became a reality — and a success. Since then, the festival has drawn more than 217,000 guests and returned over $2.5 million to participating artists, reinforcing its role as an economic engine for Indianapolis’s creative sector.

Thanks to ongoing support from Everwise Credit Union, 70% of all box office revenue goes directly back to the artists, making IndyFringe a rare model of sustainability for performers — and one that prioritizes access, experimentation, and innovation.

What’s New in 2025?

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, IndyFringe is expanding its offerings in fresh and exciting ways:

New Venues

In addition to familiar favorites, this year’s festival returns to the Athenaeum Basile Theatre (Venue #5) and adds an exciting new partner: VisionLoft Events (Venue #6), located at 235 N. Delaware.

The Flanner Fringe Lab

A standout addition is the inclusion of seven original works from the inaugural Flanner Fringe Lab, a program designed to support underrepresented voices and address the "art desert" in Indy’s Near Northwest. Featured performances include:

• Dis Bitter Poetry by Latrice Young

• The Big Book Signing by Earnest Mack

• Universe City from Napademic

• Psalm 27 Club by comedian Logan Stacer

• A Place for Plant People by Skye Walker

• Ain’t But a Few of Us Left from CAS Productions

• Plus, a special performance by the Lab’s lead instructor, Dr. Austin Dean Ashford

The Lab not only supports these productions during the festival but also works year-round to elevate BIPOC and marginalized artists in the region. Applications for the 2026 cohort will open later this year.

Fringe-a-palooza & Free Street Performances

Fringe’s birthday bash — Fringe-a-palooza — will take over the streets on Sunday, August 17, from 12:00 to 6:00 PM, offering tarot readings, live music, local merchants, and a true street-festival atmosphere.

Throughout the festival, buskers will line Massachusetts Avenue Fridays through Sundays, providing everything from breakdancing and hand-pan music to one-of-a-kind acts like artists crafting custom curses and blessings on handmade paper.

One-Night-Only Events

• Festival Preview Night (Free – Wednesday, August 13): Get 2-minute sneak peeks from dozens of performers in a high-energy, fast-paced sampler.

• Going... Going... Gone! (Thursday, August 14 – 9:30 PM): The hit interactive auction show by Lou Harry and John Thomas returns for one hilarious night only.

• Fringe-a-palooza (Sunday, August 17 – 12:00–6:00 PM): A street party and community celebration you don’t want to miss.

A Celebration for Everyone

At its core, IndyFringe remains a festival by artists, for artists — and for the community. With its commitment to affordability, accessibility, and artistic risk-taking, IndyFringe continues to be a model for what local arts can achieve when creative freedom and community support align.

Whether you're a lifelong theatre lover or a curious newcomer, the 2025 IndyFringe Festival offers a chance to experience the unexpected — and celebrate two decades of making space for creativity in all its forms.

Visit indyfringe.org for the full lineup, tickets, and updates on special events.

Photo: Designated Debaters (2024 PC - Indy Ghost Light)