The 12th annual San Diego International Fringe Festival in 2024 was a maximalist celebration of the performing arts, intentionally designed to break every previous record for community engagement and venue activation. Spanning eleven high-octane days from May 16 to May 26, the festival executed a strategic “neighborhood takeover” of Point Loma, Ocean Beach, and Midway. By activating a sprawling network of 11 distinct venues—ranging from the polished stages of the Light Box Theater and Mockingbird Improv to the grit and history of the Les Girls Theater—the festival transformed San Diego’s coastal corridor into a 24-hour artistic laboratory. With over 70 unique acts and a staggering calendar of more than 300 individual performances, 2024 solidified SDIFF’s reputation as the largest and most influential international fringe event on the West Coast.

2024 FESTIVAL ARTIST AWARDS:

(Theatre / Arts)

Award Recipients

• Best of the Fest: Anatomica: A Comedy About Meat, Bones, & The Skin You’re In by Amica Hunter claimed the top honor, celebrated for its high-energy physical comedy and anatomical storytelling.
• Spirit of the Fringe: The interactive favorite Arson 101 earned this title, alongside the Artists’ Pick, for its creative audience-driven narrative and daring engagement.
• Outstanding Comedy: Canadian comic Julie Kim drew significant crowds and acclaim with her stand-up show No One Special, highlighting the festival’s ability to attract top international talent.
• Fringe Geek Award: A special appreciation award was given to Kata Pierce-Morgan for creating the 49th and Logan Cultural Complex, a vital new space for the local arts community.
• Notable World Premieres: The Loud Fridge Theater Group received praise for the writing in We Lovers, a production that blended horror and romance to critical acclaim.