HARRISBURG, Pa. — Harrisburg's Fringe Festival returns Thursday night for its second year. The event gives artists from all different mediums and backgrounds the space to share their work.
It occurs all over the City of Harrisburg from July 18th until the 21st.
The shows include live entertainment, unique theatre experiences, kid-friendly shows and activities, visual art displays and more.
All the shows run between 20 and 60 minutes with low-cost tickets, encouraging audience members to view as many performances as possible; plus, 100% of the ticket sales are given back to the artists.
Dom Hernandez, an actor and rapper, is performing in an improvised show known as "Off The Cuff," and said this event is a great opportunity because "there are so many artists out there who really don't get opportunities to do things like this."
Hernandez's performance is a comedic improv, freestyle rap show, "So we'll get suggestions from the audience, we'll bring them up on stage, we have games where we'll find out about them, ask them questions about their life, and then we'll turn it into a rap song."
Tori Sexsmith, the chair of Harrisburg's Kids Fringe Festival, shared that art, "is the best part about being alive. I get to create something new every single day, and it's an opportunity to continually grow, learn [and] connect with other people."
Event organizers explained that this festival is meant to celebrate independent artists, all while providing an inclusive environment.
Mia Vera, founding director of the nonprofit Full Circle Studios, is performing a contemporary dance show called "Mother."
"It's about the generational debt passed down from grandmother, mother to baby and the relationships that we have, create, enable and protect those of us in our family," Vera explained.
Performing during this festival will also give more visibility to Vera's nonprofit.
"Our mission really is to inspire the youth through performing arts and offer free opportunities for children to learn," Vera said.
Several shows begin Thursday at 6 p.m. at various locations. The full schedule and ticket information can be found here.