Bigger audiences enabled the 2024 Buxton Fringe to boost the local economy by more than £300,000, statistics have shown.
The Fringe, which took place in July, boasted nearly 200 arts events adding up to more than 500 individual performances, with entrants from Canada, the United States and Australia as well as from all over the UK.
The average audience figure per performance for ticketed events was 31—up on the 2023 figure of 30, which was the biggest recorded since 2014. The total audience figure was estimated at about 13,900 people, an increase of two per cent on 2023.
Fringe organisers have estimated a boost to the local economy of £307,314 compared with £276,042 in 2023. This takes into account expenditure from performers during their stay in Buxton plus audience spend on food, accommodation and ticket sales.
Respondents to the Fringe’s audience survey were “overwhelmingly enthusiastic”, with 94% scoring it four or five out of five.
Fringe chair Stephen Walker commented, “audience and entrants’ survey responses are truly valuable to us. It’s great to have such positive feedback and the growing success of the Fringe is good for everyone—performers, audiences and Buxton generally.”
The 2025 Fringe will be held from Wednesday 9 until Sunday 27 July. Entries will open at the Fringe web site on 1 December. Entry fees are being kept the same for the third year running.