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Why you love the Fringe.
September 26th at 12:00pm
Celebrate the beginning of fall by painting your own Fringe-tastic pumpkin. From faces to crazy designs, from spooky to silly, we want to see what your creativity brings to these pumpkin pallets. Fun and kid-friendly, this is an activity for the whole family to join in on. Paint your pumpkin and then bring it home to show off your skills!
September 26th at 12:00pm
Join featured artists in listening and conversation. "Sound of Sanctuary (SOS)" is a listening session, interview, and live-performance of selected tracks from the upcoming album "SOS: A Sonic Snapshot of Rochester’s first- and second-generation voices." Recorded at Wicked Squid Studio and made possible by the GVCA’s Aid to Localities Grant, "SOS" weaves co-authored original songwriting, interviews, and field recordings into a live album exploring the sound of Rochester as a sanctuary city.
September 26th at 12:00pm
A fun children's theatre show. A little girl is trying to go to bed, she reads her favorite book with her friend "little star." With her book she meets your favorite nursery characters. The cow and the moon, Kittens and Mittens and more. In the end our favorite little girl dreams while dancing among the stars. Written and choreographed by Joshua Lang. Most appropriate for children ages 4 to 12.
September 26th at 12:30pm
The excitement, the energy, the adrenaline-pumping action that is Fringe Street Beat returns to downtown Rochester for the final night of Fringe 2026. Fresh talents from Rochester and beyond participate in 3-on-3 team battles, facing off for a chance at winning the title of Fringe Street Beat Champions and a cash prize of $1,200. From breaking to popping and locking, teams bring their A-game to the floor and DJ ha-MEEN brings the beats!
September 26th at 12:30pm
Breath in...and release. Sanctified Sauna embodies traditional European sauna rituals in an immersive performance to create a unique theatrical wellness experience. You’ll feel waves of heat, steam, and scents of essential oils unique for your journey. From deep restorative warmth to the invigorating cold, you'll leave the toxicity of daily life behind and discover the story of purification and wellness. Set yourself apart at the hottest and coolest fringe show to date and claim your ticket NOW!
September 26th at 1:00pm
Have you always wanted to run away and join the circus? Or maybe just learn some of those great circus skills? Here's your chance! You get to skip the hardships of living on the road! Who knows, maybe this will launch your own "cirque" career!? Ted Baumhauer of Red Tie Variety will host these two fun sessions on the basics of balancing and juggling. Come to either one or both sessions for beginners or intermediate jugglers!
September 26th at 1:00pm
Winner of the Hollywood Fringe Award for Immersive & Games. In "Game Show! Game Show! Game Show!" a mischievous host pits one side of the audience against the other in a riveting showdown! Be ready to leave your seat and compete in over 40 games, from trivia and physical challenges to custom-built video games made just for this show. Charge your cell phones! Hailed by one audience member as "one of the best shows I've ever seen!"
September 26th at 1:00pm
The Rochester Indie Book & Zine Fair brings together book artists, photographers, writers, independent publishers, and DIYers from the Rochester area and beyond showcasing alternative, independent publishing. Artists’ books, zines, photo-bookworks, magazines, chapbooks, digital publishing, prints, stickers, as well as publishing resources will be available to peruse and purchase.
September 26th at 1:00pm
The Old Ball Game celebrates America's pastime through live music, poetry, and silent film. Led by Rochester native Jared Engel, the Musicians’ Baseball Club of Brooklyn presents two award-winning live-scored films: Day of the Catch, about the Grapefruit League’s forgotten and hilarious origin, and The Mascot Race, a fast-moving baseball story set in modern-day New York. The program also features baseball-themed clips from silent-era films with original live scores. Fun for the whole family!
September 26th at 1:00pm
Back at Fringe for its fourth year by popular demand, the legendary Punch and Judy Show, the funniest puppet show in the history of English puppetry. It's the story of the bungling Mr. Punch, his smarter wife Judy, their baby, and characters including a clown, a doctor, a crocodile, a swarm of bees, and several others. This is a laugh-out-loud show in which the audience is invited to shout out advice to the puppets. "One of the best options for kids"—CITY Magazine.
September 26th at 1:00pm
Join presenters from the Rochester Museum and Science Center for an explosive dive into the extreme science of liquid nitrogen! At -320.5°F, this show reveals the mind-blowing effects of temperature on matter through dramatic phase-change demonstrations. Watch solids shrink, hot dogs shatter, levitating fog, and a gas-powered ping-pong ball take flight—culminating in a volatile liquid nitrogen explosion that’s as educational as it is unforgettable.
September 26th at 1:00pm
Step into a world of mischievous puppets with "Three Short Stories!" Buencanto Productions brings "The Fisherman and His Wife," "King Midas and the Golden Touch," and "Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom" to life in humorous, cautionary tales about the dangers of greed and vanity. With clever tricks, lively puppetry, magical storytelling, and playful characters, this family-friendly show delights and teaches timeless lessons for all ages.
September 26th at 1:10pm
We are WADAIKO—Rochester's one and only taiko group! Based at the Rochester Institute of Technology, WADAIKO is here to bring everyone the joy and energy of Japanese taiko drumming. Join us as we play a selection of our favorites: traditional Japanese songs, modern Western taiko compositions, and even a self-composed piece. In addition to drums, our songs also use instruments such as a Japanese flute and bells.
September 26th at 1:30pm
A fairy themed magic show including bubbles, flowers, beads and bells! A unicorn puppet will help entertain, given the mystical bond between fairies and unicorns, and the natural affinity between children and puppets. No magic wand needed here: pixie dust reigns supreme. Bubbles will turn into orbs, flowers appear from nowhere, individual beads will magically adhere and grow. A bell will mysteriously ring: a clear sign fairies are near. Attend in fairy attire for free admittance!
September 26th at 2:00pm
Paradigm Shift Dance Company presents a spectacle of theatrical sophistication, technical excellence, and absolutely avoidable mishaps! Audience favorites shine alongside equally disastrous premieres in a production full of costume snafus, molting ballerinas, mechanical mishaps, and emotional meltdowns. Think "Swan Lake" meets "The Play That Goes Wrong," or "Singin' in the Rain" meets "Monty Python"—each piece performed with complete commitment and varying degrees of success.
September 26th at 2:00pm
The Archive Ravens present "Folk Music From Around the World," a showcase of traditional folk melodies transported into the soundscape of the modern age. This performance will feature songs from Japan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Mali, Brazil, and more. While each comes from a unique and rich cultural landscape, there are many commonalities that weave them together into a cohesive musical set.
September 26th at 2:00pm
Who was Robert Frost? Why did he write poetry? What were his poems about? Two years in the making, including visits to Frost family homes in Franconia and Derry, New Hampshire, and South Shaftsbury, Vermont, the author and actor brings this four-time Pulitzer Prize winning poet to life by offering audiences an intimate look into the man—his poetry, relationships, and inner life.
September 26th at 2:00pm
Hey everybody! Here comes the Microbiome Murder Mystery! Part stand-up comedy show and part science experiment gone wrong, this show features some of the funniest bacteria-related jokes ever heard at the Fringe. What are people saying about Microbiome Murder Mystery? "Must be seen to be rejected!" We say come join the fun and be a part of our circus!
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September 26th at 2:30pm
Join us for a memorable evening of music featuring two of RIT’s standout a cappella groups! Eight Beat Measure, RIT’s original a cappella ensemble with over 30 years of history, will showcase a wide-ranging repertoire spanning multiple genres. Then, enjoy the rich harmonies of Surround Sound, RIT’s premier barbershop group, as they perform everything from barbershop classics to pop hits—and maybe even a Disney tune or two!
September 26th at 2:30pm
Grab your finger guns, comb your ‘stache, and brace yourselves for the "Well-Balanced Dads!" Dick and Dale are taking the audience on a camping trip full of dad jokes, dance moves, acrobatics, movie references, and easy going audience participation. This hilarious duo balances levity with deeper themes like finding your inner child, hyper-masculinity, and navigating life after the kids have flown the nest. “6 stars from this dad, 5 from the rest of the family!”—Good Dad.
