Fringe Festival
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:13 am
i like the free transport & guides to get people moving around the city. The use of animals as transport is an interesting idea - kangaroos perhaps
From AdelaideNow
From AdelaideNow
THE Adelaide Fringe parade will move to King William St next year and its opening party will be replaced.
Fringe tickets will also go on sale online a month earlier than usual, on December 10, before the official program release in January.
Free buses will provide transport between different parts of the city during the Fringe, with onboard tour guides and signs at stops to point out various venues.
"We want to highlight and promote all of the venues even further," Fringe director Greg Clarke said yesterday. The new parade route will run from Victoria Square, along King William St to North Tce, on February 24 at 8pm.
It will also feature different forms of transportation, ranging from buses and cars to animals, as well as performers on foot.
"On board will be all the artists, and venues will hopefully have their own floats as well," Mr Clarke said. Premier-in-waiting Jay Weatherill, standing in for Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts John Hill, said this year's Fringe attracted 1.45 million attendances at more than 750 events.
It also drew 15,000 visitors from interstate and overseas, pumping $40 million into the state's economy.
"It is truly the most accessible and popular festival of its type in this state, and across the nation," Mr Weatherill said. Fringe chair Judy Potter said the event continued to expand.
"Since 2005 it has totally doubled in events, in venue registrations, in audience numbers, and our belief is it will keep growing," Ms Potter said.
The Fringe has partnered with Transfield Services and the Department of Transport to provide free buses which will run between seven stops through the city.
"The whole thing really is about getting people at night time moving around the city," Mr Clarke said.
Mr Clarke said the free buses fit with next year's Fringe theme, The Tour of the Unexpected. The decision to do away with an opening night party was to put the emphasis back on individual venues.
"In the past, we have very much centred the celebrations in one spot, but we actually want the whole city to be a party that night," Mr Clarke said.
Artist registrations for next year's Fringe close on Wednesday and gift vouchers will go on sale from its website next week.