Adelaide Fringe visit: how to plan around the crowds

An Adelaide Fringe visit goes best when you book early and pick a few shows instead of chasing them all. The Fringe runs from Friday 14 February to Sunday 16 March, so more than two weeks are still left. The Fringe said its program had a record 966 events, including comedy, music, theatre, art, cabaret, circus and dance.

Sources for this section: Fringe, 2014 program announced.

The Fringe in short

Adelaide Fringe began in 1960 as an alternative to the Adelaide Festival of the Arts. The Fringe says the Festival of the Arts offered only limited opportunity for local artists. The two ran side by side every second year until 2007, when the Fringe became an annual event.

It is an open-access festival: anyone with a show, exhibition or cultural event can register to take part.

In 2013 the Fringe sold 407,153 tickets and said more than 1.8 million people attended. Before the 2013 festival closed, a Fringe media release said 1,024 performances had sold 90 percent or more of their available tickets. Those sales went through FringeTIX, the Fringe's own ticketing service. Book the shows you care about early.

Sources for this section: Fringe, History; Fringe, About; Fringe, 2013 economic impact; Fringe, Ticket sales up 10.9%.

When to go

The Fringe says it runs for four weeks, from Friday 14 February to Sunday 16 March. Three weekends are still ahead: 1 and 2 March, 8 and 9 March, and 15 and 16 March.

Some free events fall on those weekends. The Fringe Street Theatre Festival runs from Friday 7 March to Monday 10 March, in Rundle Mall and other sites. The Spirit Festival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture is on 15 and 16 March.

For the weather, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) keeps long-term averages for its Adelaide (Kent Town) weather station. The average daily high is 29.4°C in February and 26.4°C in March, and the average low is 17.2°C and 15.3°C. On average, rain of 1 mm or more falls on 2.1 days in February and 3.6 in March. So expect warm days and cooler nights, and carry water and a light layer.

Sources for this section: Fringe, 2014 program announced; Fringe, 2014 highlights; BoM, Adelaide (Kent Town) climate statistics.

Choosing shows and buying tickets

Asked in its FAQ to recommend shows, the Fringe says that to keep the festival open access it must represent all artists and venues on neutral grounds. It points visitors to its "How to Fringe" page for tips on where to find reviews and recommendations.

Tickets are sold through FringeTIX online, by phone and at FringeTIX box offices and outlets, including one in Rundle Mall.

• Beware of forged tickets. The FringeTIX terms say to buy FringeTIX tickets only from a FringeTIX outlet, the Fringe website or the FringeTIX phone line.
• Read the rules before you pay. FringeTIX says the ticket price includes a customer booking fee and that there is no right of refund or exchange. Late arrivals may be kept out until a convenient break in the program.
• Check any age notes. The Fringe says it cannot guarantee the content and age suitability of shows. Some artists rate their own shows, and the final call is up to the adult bringing children.
• Look for cheaper tickets. Half-price tickets for a selection of that night's shows go on sale daily from noon to 3pm. They are sold only at the Fringe website, the Rundle Mall and Norwood box offices, or by phone. BankSA, the Fringe's main partner, subsidises tickets for almost 120 shows to keep them at $10, the Fringe's budget page says. The page adds that you do not have to be a BankSA customer to buy them, and that lots of artists discount tickets on Tuesdays.

Sources for this section: Fringe, FAQs; Fringe, 2014 program announced; FringeTIX, Terms and conditions; FringeTIX, 1/2 price tickets; Fringe, Fringe on a budget.

Where the crowds gather

The Fringe says it takes place in over 300 venues in the city centre and suburbs, and extends to the regional centre of Port Augusta for Desert Fringe. For 2014 it said there would be 173 venues outside the city centre, hosting 342 events, so check each show's address before you go.

Some venues put many shows in one place. The Garden of Unearthly Delights, in Rundle Park, East Terrace, lists dozens of shows on its own website. The Fringe's program announcement named Victoria Square as the centre of a new hub for this year's Fringe. It listed the Spirit Festival and the Street Theatre Festival among the hub's features. It also said there would be 23 Fringe venues on the streets running off the square.

Sources for this section: Fringe, FAQs; Fringe, 2014 program announced; Fringe, 2014 highlights; The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Home.

Getting around and where to stay

The Fringe's Getting Here page calls Adelaide Metro, the city's public transport, the convenient way of getting around during the Fringe. Check Adelaide Metro's service updates before you travel. The Fringe Free Bus also runs, at no charge, from the city's East End to Victoria Square. It goes from 8pm to midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until the Fringe ends. The Fringe says to use the bus tracker in its app to find the bus and hail it at any stop along its route.

The Fringe reported over 52,000 estimated bed nights, or nights stayed, from interstate and overseas audiences and artists in 2013. The Fringe's About Adelaide page says there is plenty of accommodation to choose from. It also says two other arts festivals, WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) and the Adelaide Festival, are on in Adelaide during Fringe time. We would still book early.

Most Fringe action is at night, the About Adelaide page says, which leaves your days free. If you are staying longer in the state, our Adelaide Hills day trip guide and Barossa Valley guide cover two places to visit. If you plan to drink, leave the car at your accommodation.

Sources for this section: Fringe, Getting here; Adelaide Metro, Bus, Train and Tram Timetables; Fringe, Fringe Free Bus; Fringe, 2013 economic impact; Fringe, About Adelaide.

A simple plan for a first visit

1. Pick your dates and book your bed first.
2. Choose one must-see show for each night and buy those tickets early.
3. Add a free event or two.
4. Check the daily half-price tickets for a same-night pick.
5. Check show times and venue addresses on the day.

General information only. Dates, shows and tickets can change, so check the official Fringe website before you travel.

Sources for this section: Fringe, 2014 highlights; FringeTIX, 1/2 price tickets; FringeTIX, Terms and conditions.