Every year on July 11th, Fringe festivals across the globe unite to celebrate World Fringe Day — a moment to honor the creativity, freedom, and community that define the Fringe movement. First launched to mark the birth of the original Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1947, World Fringe Day has grown into a global celebration, powered by World Fringe, the international connector for over 300 festivals in more than 60 countries. These festivals collectively feature over 170,000 artists and host around 60,000 events in more than 6,000 venues, reaching an estimated 19 million attendees annually. That’s not just a movement — it’s a worldwide phenomenon.

This year’s World Fringe Day theme, “Fringe Mean…”, invites artists, organizers, and audiences to reflect on what Fringe means to them. For us at Scranton Fringe, Fringe means radical access, bold storytelling, and uplifting voices that don’t always get center stage. Since 2015, we’ve worked to bring the daring, democratic spirit of the global Fringe network to Northeast Pennsylvania, producing live theater, immersive events, and cultural experiments in venues ranging from historic churches to public parks to digital platforms.

Scranton Fringe is proud to be part of this ever-growing constellation of festivals that champions inclusion, cultural exchange, and fearless creativity. As part of the World Fringe network, we benefit from tools like the Fringe Touring Guide, international gatherings like the World Fringe Congress, and support from a passionate community of fellow Fringe-makers around the world. We are also proud members of the United States Association of Fringe Festivals.

So today — and every day — we celebrate what Fringe means to us. And we ask you: what does Fringe mean to you? Share your thoughts, tag us on social media, and be part of the global chorus shouting proudly, “Together we are many. Together, we are Fringe.”

Learn more about World Fringe at www.worldfringe.com