THOUSANDS of people are expected to flock to heart of Mount Gambier today for the highly anticipated Fringe festival “Lift-off Street Party”, which is the start of the biggest arts festival on the city’s calendar.
Commercial Street will be awash in blue with food vendors and entertainment spilling onto the road for the dynamic community event.
Just in its third year, the festival – which is piggybacking on the Adelaide Fringe phenomenon – has been described as a major new event for the city.
The Mount Gambier Fringe event last year attracted a staggering 12,000 people to its kaleidoscope of bold performances and events.
The festival will also see an extravaganza of entertainment tomorrow in the Cave Gardens with a free showcase event running from 11am to 10pm.
Mount Gambier artist and Fringe Ambassador Louise Adams – who shot to national fame on the X Factor – called on the community to get behind the Fringe and attend tonight’s street party and entertainment at the Cave Gardens tomorrow.
In particular, she urged people to attend the cluster of “amazing” ticketed performances throughout the duration of the Fringe.
“The lead up to the festival has been fantastic. The enthusiasm in the town has been amazing, particularly the business operators who have been throwing themselves behind the festival,” Ms Adams said.
“Initially as sponsors, business have also been taking part in the ‘ paint the town blue’ campaign. I have seen tradies driving around town with the backs of their vans and utes painted blue.”
She said this enthusiasm had spread across the city and was not just limited to the Commercial Street and Cave Garden precinct.
“It has been far and wide across the city. I have had so many people come up to me in the street and say they are ‘so excited’ about the Fringe,” Ms Adams said.
The talented performer said the Fringe Mount Gambier was also helping to put Mount Gambier on the map.
“Artists around Australia are hearing about Fringe Mount Gambier. Not only are they looking at the city as a new audience and new frontier to perform their shows, but they are genuinely intrigued by Mount Gambier and its Blue Lake,” she said.
Ms Adams urged people to attend the ticketed performances across the Fringe festival given the high calibre of artists on show.
“It would be great if everybody could keep in mind that Fringe only comes once a year and to have such a bevy of artists, performers and entertainment as well as the fun vibes in the city all week is just brilliant,” Ms Adams said.
“I know it is going to be busy, but it would be great if everybody made an effort to get out to the shows.”
Fringe organising committee spokesperson Monica Hart said the Lift Off Street Party kicks off today from 4pm.
“So come down, the Fringe parade starts at 5.30pm – everybody is encouraged to gather outside Jens Hotel to join in,” Ms Hart said.
A section of Commercial Street East will also be closed from noon today to accommodate the festival.
“We are excited the Fringe will lift off today after months of preparation,” Ms Hart said.
She said the weather was also looking ideal for an outdoor street party.
“This festival has been eight months of planning and we excited about the events,” Ms Hart said.
“We had around 12,000 people attend Fringe events last year, so we are hoping for bigger and better this year.”
Ms Hart also called for people to buy tickets to the numerous performances.
“If they do not get people come and see them, they will not come down again. We need Mount Gambier to come out and see these shows.”
“Buy some tickets, they are not expensive. Last year we had three ticketed shows, this year we have 19.”
Fringe Mount Gambier runs from today to the March 31.
Full details can be found online at Fringe Mount Gambier or on social media.
