Chicago Fringe Festival moves to Jefferson Park

After occupying multiple spaces in Pilsen for its first three years, the Chicago Fringe Festival is relocating to Jefferson Park for its 2013 iteration. The fest will set its lineup at a lottery party at the neighborhood's Gale Street Inn (4914 N Milwaukee Ave) on Saturday, March 2, beginning at 1:30pm.

When the first Chicago Fringe was in its early planning stages in 2009, organizers announced their intention to move the fest to a different neighborhood each year, but the festival ended up remaining in Pilsen until now. The Chicago Fringe Festival presents works by approximately 50 performance groups over the first two weeks of September.

CFF executive director Vinnie Lacey cites the success of the Gift Theatre and, more recently, Filament Theatre Ensemble in Jefferson Park and Portage Park. In a statement, 45th Ward Ald. John Arena welcomed the Fringe Festival, saying, "Coupled with the transportation access for visitors from Chicago and the suburbs means this year’s Festival will be a great success. I want to thank the organizers of the Festival for adding another reason why people should visit Jefferson Park."