Fringe for Free 2025
We have plenty of free stuff to do at the Fringe, and it's all listed here. If you're interested in a particular category simply click on the colour-coded links below. Once a category has been opened, click on the left hand colour bar to close it.
More events will come on stream before we reach the closing date for entries on Sunday 20th April. Please check back often.
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Events marked Please note that details of performances, including times and dates, may be subject to Late Changes. Numbers in brackets refer to venue numbers (see map). For further details on venues including accessibility, see our Venues page. Diary. How to make a Comment.
Info
have been suggested by the entrant as generally suitable for family viewing. Events in the Children's Events category are specifically aimed at young people. In the event of purely Online events, click on the links within the event description.
Fringe
FRINGE AT THE CARNIVAL - Buxton Festival Fringe
Expect fancy dress and a few surprises as the Fringe takes to the streets with its award-winning orange float. Thanks to Lomas Distribution and the Well Dressing and Carnival team for organising this highlight in the town's calendar. Wear orange and give us a wave as we go by!
Around the Town 12 Jul 2pm to 4pm Free, Please be aware of road closures in Buxton on Carnival Day, Donations: Give generously to the Well Dressing Charities Comments
FRINGE AWARDS 2025 - Buxton Festival Fringe
Performers, Fringe Friends, Fringe committee members and reviewers are among those invited to our Fringe Awards ceremony. Enjoy a drink with us in relaxed, open-air surroundings with the polytunnel also available. We see this as a celebration of everyone who supports our fantastic Fringe.
Serpentine Community Garden (107) Map 27 Jul 5pm to 6:30pm Free, Open to groups stated and by invitation. Comments
FRINGE ON FRIDAY - Buxton Festival Fringe
Buxton Fringe performers offer free extracts from their shows. Please support them. It is a brilliant way to enjoy a sneak preview of the many excellent shows on offer. The Bandstand offers shelter if it rains. Note, event may run shorter than an hour depending on performers' availability.
Pavilion Gardens – Bandstand (33a) Map 11 & 18 Jul 5pm to 6pm Free Comments
FRINGE SUNDAY - Buxton Festival Fringe
Join us for our traditional, family-friendly Fringe showcase in the park. Buy some Derbyshire ice cream and we'll provide the entertainment! Expect dance, music, singing, comedy, magic and more! Pick up a Fringe programme or become a Fringe Friend. Mingle with the stars at this fabulous outdoor party!
Pavilion Gardens – Bandstand (33a) Map 13 Jul 2pm to 4pm Free Comments
Children's Events
THE GREAT BUXTON BILBERRY BUMBLEBEE HUNT - BCHT and Friends of Buxton Station
Embark on a woolly bee shop hunt daily throughout the Fringe - collect a map from the Pump Room and return for a bee-themed prize. Let's celebrate and learn about these vital pollinators together!
The Pump Room (84) Map 9-27 Jul 9:30am to 5pm Free, Ages All, Donations: Very welcome. Gallery
Further information: No need to book Comments
TINY! HOUSES IN TINY! WORLDS - Stone and Water
Join us under the oak tree and create your own world: a house, a castle, a forest, underground, outer space. Add people or creatures or wonderful aliens. Tiny! is back for its 16th year of laughter and cheerful creativity. Materials provided, no tickets needed, a free event, just bring smiles.
Pavilion Gardens – Playground (33m) Map 13 Jul 10:30am to 3:30pm Free, Ages 3+ Comments
Comedy
ABC OF ONE-LINER JOKES - Kevin O'Brien
A hilarious one-hour alphabetical journey in the medium of quick-fire one-liner jokes. The material is both insightful, clever and funny from one of the best emerging one-liner comics in the North of England.
Beer & Bean Café Bar (135) Map 11, 12 Jul 7pm to 7:55pm Free, Some mildly adult themes, Ages 18+ Comments
ACOMEDYTAPAS - Jesters Dublin
AComedyTapas is a fast-paced mixed-bill show with a variety of acts that has entertained folks all over the UK and Ireland. Presented by Chris O'Neill.
Beer & Bean Café Bar (135) Map 18 Jul 9:30pm to 10:30pm. Lee Wood Hotel – Pendennis 2 (91b) Map 19 Jul 1:30pm to 2:30pm. Beer & Bean Café Bar (135) Map 19 Jul 8pm to 9pm. Lee Wood Hotel – Pendennis 2 (91b) Map 20 Jul 1:30pm to 2:30pm Free, Some strong language, Ages 16+, Donations: £5 suggested Comments
IT'S NOT CLUEDO - Chris Neville-Smith
There's been a murder! And we have one hour to solve it! Choose your own six suspects, six weapons and nine locations. The comedy game show with a panel of Fringe performers comes to Buxton. Comedy nominee, 2024 Scarborough Fringe.
(New Writing)
The Cheshire Cheese (93) Map 15 Jul 7:30pm to 8:30pm Free, Audience interaction, Donations: welcome after the show Comments
STUART THOMAS: BAD FATTY (WIP) - Stuart Thomas
Welshman Stuart Thomas embraces body positivity whilst grabbing diet culture by the scruff of the neck. British Comedy Guide Poster Award Shortlist. Frog and Bucket World Series Finalist. 'A big fat star in the making' Sofie Hagen. 'Made me laugh a lot' Scotsman (New Writing)
Beer & Bean Café Bar (135) Map 26 Jul 7:30pm to 8:30pm Free, Adult themes, strong language, Ages 18+ Comments
TELLING TINDER TALES - Jesters Dublin
Telling Tinder Tales is a fun show with audience participation about dating and romance in no way approved by Tinder... or Bumble... or Grinder... or?
It will contain always interesting, surprising and sometimes uplifting and optimistic stories. Everyone has a story.
Beer & Bean Café Bar (135) Map 19 Jul 9:30pm to 10:30pm Free, Some strong language, Ages 16+, Donations: £5 suggested Comments
THE WORST RECORD COVERS IN THE WORLD! - Steve Goldman
The Worst Record Covers in the World is a selection of the most crazy, exotic, tasteless, funny, peculiar, inept and mind-boggling sleeves ever produced. 'The room is full of people howling with laughter; it’s great' Mark Radcliffe. See it in several venues around Buxton - details at the Fringe Information Desk
Around the Town 9-27 Jul all day Free Gallery Comments(1)
Dance
BUXTON DAY(S) OF DANCE 2025 - Chapel-en-le-Frith Morris
Our 50th anniversary year extravaganza will run for two days and include up to 30 different Morris sides. Traditional dancing from around the country will fill the streets of Buxton with all the music, colour, passion, energy and humour that the Morris brings.
Around the Town 19 Jul 10:30am to 4:30pm, 20 Jul 10:30am to 3:30pm Free Comments
Film
BURBAGE WORKS - HEART OF BRASS - Burbage Band (Buxton)
Created by Ben Whalley, award-winning producer/director for BBC and Sky TV, this documentary follows the origins of Burbage Brass Band, their successful Training Band and the year-long Burbage Works project. Includes interviews, original music and story, and the long journey to its unique performance in the Stoller Hall, Manchester. (New Writing)
Burbage Institute, Nursery Lane, Buxton SK17 6UL (53) Map 13 Jul 7pm to 9pm Free, Ages 7+, Donations: If desired to Burbage Band (Buxton) Comments
Music
PARTITA - RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE MUSIC - PARTITA
Award-winning ensemble Partita plays Renaissance and Baroque music for voice, lute, vihuela, baroque guitar, harpsichord, cello and recorder.
Buxton Methodist Church – Church (06a) Map 24 Jul 1pm to 2:20pm Free, Donations: Voluntary collection for charity Comments
VIRTUOSO CLASSICS FOR GUITAR - Ed Billingham
This year's recital includes the 3rd Lute Suite by JS Bach, Cuban composer Leo Bouwer's Decameron Negro, Barrios' Sueno en la Floresta, Rodrigo Fandango. 'Ed is able to bring out the range of tone and voicing of the guitar as a musical medium for all occasions' Buxton Fringe Review
Burbage Institute, Nursery Lane, Buxton SK17 6UL (53) Map 12 Jul 6:30pm to 8:30pm Free, Ages 8+, Donations: Very welcome
Further information: ed-67@hotmail.co.uk Comments
Spoken Word
A BOY CALLED THUNDER, A SERIES OF GHOST STORIES - Ian Gregory
Join us to hear four chilling, original ghost stories from a popular Fringe regular. Ian has enjoyed good reviews at two recent Buxton Festival Fringes. (New Writing)
Scrivener's Bookshop (11) Map 12 Jul 2:30pm to 3:30pm Free, Ages 14+ Comments
EXCERPTS FROM UNDER MILK WOOD - Buxton Spoken Words
Buxton Spoken Words is proud to present their interpretation of Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas for a second year.
Local writers will also be presenting a selection of their own poems and stories.
United Reformed Church – Purple Room: Church (55a) Map 13 Jul 3pm to 5pm, 7:30pm to 9:30pm Free, Donations: Gratefully received Gallery Comments
MEET LOCAL NOVELIST, ALEC INGHAM - Alec Ingham aka Pete Brown
Join Pete Brown to talk about his debut crime novel, Artefact, published under the pen name of Alec Ingham. Signed copies will be for sale.
Scrivener's Bookshop (11) Map 19 Jul 11am to 11:45am Free, Ages 16+ Gallery
Further information: pete.br.brown@gmail.com Comments
Street Theatre
THE SHAKESPEARE JUKEBOX - Buxton Drama League
The Shakespeare Jukebox celebrates its 20th anniversary, performing scenes and speeches from the Bard’s most famous plays in its own unique style – all chosen by you for a charity donation! Whether this is your first time, or you’ve seen them before, join in the fun with this Buxton legend!
Pavilion Gardens (33) Map 13, 18-20 & 25, 26 Jul 6:15pm to 7pm Free Comments
Visual Arts
ART AT THE CRESCENT - PEAK DISTRICT ARTISANS - Peak District Artisans
Showcasing an exciting exhibition of contemporary artwork from some of the best professional artists and makers in the Peak District. An opportunity to meet the artists and purchase something totally unique, this diverse exhibition features paintings, prints, ceramics, jewellery, photography and textiles.
The Crescent - Assembly Rooms (59a) Map 19, 20 Jul 10am to 5pm Free Gallery Comments(1)
ART IN THE OCTAGON - High Peak Artists
Don’t miss this Fringe Award-nominated art extravaganza! Over 30 exhibition stands. Meet award-winning artists and makers from the High Peak Artists group with a special guest artist, Carl Longmate. Demonstrations in oils, pastels, watercolours, urban sketching, silk painting, wood turning, photography, printmaking, jewellery, ceramics, textiles and lots more.
Pavilion Gardens – Octagon (33d) Map 14-16 Jul 10am to 5pm Free Comments
PEOPLE OF THE WORLD IN PICTURES; CUT UP - Hugo Edwardes and Craig Carpenter (soundtrack)
Photographs from a century ago portray a diversity of humanity, narrated by captions that reflect an Empire mindset. Presented as a slideshow with the cut up book available to leaf through, and original soundtrack of meditation waves, nature sounds and international rhythms.
The Bungalow, Lightwood Ave, Buxton SK17 7AZ (98) Map 11-13, 20 & 25-27 Jul noon to 6pm Free Comments
POP UP ART IN THE GARDEN - Catherine Serjeant and Suzanne Pearson
Two afternoons only in a relaxed setting: an exhibition of art for sale by two local artists. Subjects include holiday adventures, Buxton and Peak District, people and places. Mixed media, acrylics, pastels, textiles, woodcuts and painted furniture. Families welcome.
This event is outside and weather dependent.
29 Holmfield, Burbage, Buxton SK17 9DF (142) Map 15, 16 Jul noon to 6pm Free Comments
SIP, SIT AND SKETCH - Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust
During the Fringe, the Pump Room transforms into a sketcher's haven. Buy a drink and borrow sketching and painting materials to capture the moment. Artistic inspiration flows where drinks and creativity mingle.
The Pump Room (84) Map 9-27 Jul 9:30am to 5pm Free, Donations: Very welcome, but the cost of a drink will allow you to borrow the materials.
Further information: No need to book Comments
And More...
CHELMORTON FESTIVAL - Chelmorton Festival Committee
A long weekend of village events including craft fair, dog show, local history talk, village sports, quizzes, wildlife walk and much much more. There will be a printed programme of events and their venues and more information will be available on the Chelmorton Festival Facebook page.
Chelmorton Institute, Chelmorton SK17 9SH (80) Map 18 Jul 7pm to 8:30pm, 19 Jul 10am to 2pm, 2:30pm to 5pm, 7:30pm to midnight, 20 Jul 10:30am to 12:30pm, 2pm to 4:30pm, 5pm to 5:45pm, 6:30pm to 7:30pm, 21 Jul 9pm to 10:30pm Free
Further information: debbierace@outlook.com Comments
THE FUCHSIA'S BRIGHT - Serpentine Community Garden
Come along and find out about our exciting plans for the future whilst enjoying craft workshops, face painting, plant sales, raffle, splat the rat, tea and cakes, mocktails, music throughout the afternoon, garden tours and more.
Serpentine Community Garden (107) Map 27 Jul noon to 4pm Free Comments
HIGH PEAK PRIDE PICNIC - High Peak Pride
A summer afternoon, fancy hats, wonderful cakes, fabulous people: Buxton’s (High Peak) Pride Picnic is back for another summer feast, a celebration of the town’s LGBTQ+ community. Join us for laughter, conversation, new friends, old tarts… bring your own picnic and maybe a cake for our Big Gay Bake Off.
Pavilion Gardens – Swimming Pool Lawns (33n) Map 26 Jul 2pm to 5pm Free Comments
