Adelaide‘s annual Fringe Festival launched this weekend, ushering in a month-long extravaganza of diverse performances set to captivate audiences. With over 1,400 shows and 6,000 artists showcasing their talents across numerous venues, it’s quite a challenge to grasp the entirety of what’s on offer.

This year, I attended the Adelaide Fringe Festival for the first time in my 25 years and explored its opening weekend. Let me just say: Sydney could never compare.

The scale of the Fringe is immense. I should have anticipated this, given last year’s record-breaking sale of 1 million tickets, yet it still left me astonished. Factor in the surprisingly vegan-friendly food market, the lively atmosphere of the vibrant grounds, and the countless shows on display, and it’s undeniably a lot to take in.

With so much to experience and limited time, if you’re planning to visit and don’t know where to begin, I’m here to help.

Here’s my curated list of must-see events and tips on how to enjoy your time at this year’s Fringe!

What to watch at Fringe if you like cabaret, comedy, and musicals

Dr Ahmed Gets Hitched: My Big Fat Gay Greek Pakistani Wedding

Dr Ahmed, a surgeon and GP who also performs as a stand-up comedian, shares the wildly chaotic story of how he met his partner and the journey to their extravagant Pakistani-Greek gay wedding. If you love TikTok storytimes about wedding drama, dates-gone-wrong, and unpredictable MCs, this is the show for you.

This was my standout show at the Adelaide Fringe Fest. It was packed with drama, intrigue, tragedy, and moments of vulnerability that left me literally sobbing (seriously, I was a mess), all delivered with expertly crafted humor. It has everything. I genuinely believe this set deserves to be a Netflix special. 2024’s outs: Bo Burnham. 2024’s ins: Dr Ahmed.

A word of caution — if you’re ethnic and/or gay with a complicated family dynamic, this show might just hit home (in the best possible way). Five stars.

The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase

This cult classic show, hosted by PEDESTRIAN.TV’s Sweeney Preston and comedy partner Ethan Cavanagh (not an IRL partner), features a rotation of six stand-up comedians delivering mini-sets enhanced with PowerPoint presentations for added flair. It’s reminiscent of those chaotic PowerPoint nights on TikTok but, in my opinion, even funnier.

This is an excellent choice for those who love stand-up comedy but can’t decide who to see among the thousands of sets at the festival. This way, you get a sampler of six different comedians, and if any of them stand out to you, you can catch their full routine by purchasing tickets to their individual shows.

I personally enjoy variety shows at festivals like these because they cater to a broader audience and are budget-friendly — you get to see multiple comedians without breaking the bank. Slay!

Interactive events or exhibitions to check out at Fringe

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope is essentially a mesmerizing mirror maze with a light installation reminiscent of Sydney’s Vivid. Trust me, you’ve never seen a mirror maze quite like this one — it’s incredibly trippy. I walked into glass three times, feeling utterly confused and dazzled, which I take as a compliment.

Here’s a tip: visit at night! I went during the day, and the lights didn’t have the same impact. I imagine it’s even more challenging (and perhaps a bit scarier) at night, which adds to the excitement.

Recombination: Full Dome Experience

Initially, I had no idea what to expect when I booked for The Dome (which I read in the same tone as those alien toys in Toy Story saying THE CLAWWWWWW), but it turned out to be an art display of moving fractal images.

Upon entering The Dome, reminiscent of a school planetarium, you lie down on bean bags and cushions, gazing up at the ceiling. The projections explore imagined futuristic planets and universes — and due to the way they move and the immersive setting, it genuinely feels like you’re flying through space. Did it make me a bit motion sick? Yes. But that just underscores how realistic the experience is.

Just a heads-up, there are 20-minute and 50-minute versions, and I believe 20 minutes is more than sufficient. Any longer, and I might need some herbal assistance to fully appreciate the experience.

Star Dreaming: Full Dome Experience

Although I didn’t get a chance to attend this event, I was really eager to. It promises an immersive journey into the origins of time, space, and stars through the wisdome of the Yamaji people.

The visuals appear incredible, and having experienced a different dome event, I can imagine how breathtaking and immersive this one would be.

Magic shows (yes, I’m 1000% serious) to check out at Fringe because they are actually cool

Okay, regardless of what the kids say, magic is back and thriving, and I’m declaring that this year, we should embrace its fun and whimsy instead of dismissing it as cringe. Who doesn’t want to be tricked and amazed by sleight of hand that deceives our eyes and leaves us astounded?

As a former skeptic, I’ve become a fan of magic shows, and you will too.

London Calling

London Calling, the winner of the Fringe 2023 pick, is an entertaining circus-style show that features magic, illusions, a unicyclist navigating a tightrope (!!), and other exciting performances. It’s a great choice for families, although as an older Gen Z, I attended with my partner and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was reminiscent of watching an episode of Australia’s Got Talent, which makes sense as some performers have appeared on Got Talent shows!

Best of Fringe Magic

As I mentioned, I enjoy shows where I get a taste of everything, and this is one of those shows!

This close-up magic show (“how magic should be enjoyed,” according to my partner, who attended circus school at age 10) features a very small audience (think a dozen or two people). This setup allows you to witness the illusions up close, with magicians actively involving the audience. If you’re not a fan of audience participation, this may not be for you.

Four magicians showcase their tricks, each specializing in areas such as card tricks, mentalism, and pulling a coin out of your hand.

My favorite magician was a man named Benedict — who, unfortunately for me, was the only one without a solo show at Fringe. While all the magicians impressed, I found his set to be not only mind-boggling and clever but also a beautiful demonstration of what it means to perform “magic” and the pure joy it brings to people.

There you have it, folks — a little guide to what this festival has to offer. Of course, these are just a small taste, nay, a crumb of what there is to see at Fringe. You can check out its full catalogue here.

Image: supplied.