BOX OFFICE BOOST

Organizers build on past successes

This year’s Fringe was the most well attended since moving to the current 33-show lineup.

Jury Simpson has sold art at the PotashCorp Fringe Festival for four years, and this year’s was the most well attended he has seen.

“I would say it definitely seems more busy. There’s been a few days where it’s almost shoulder to shoulder,” Simpson said Saturday, the final day for the event.

The organization of the street festival has improved over the years, Simpson said. In particular, a move last year from first-come first-serve to dedicated spaces for vendors made life a lot easier.

Despite two days hampered by weather, Simpson said his sales were on par with previous years.

Others weren’t quite as successful. Andrei Feheregyhazi was in his third year as a vendor. He did turn a profit, but said he only made about half as much as last year. He heard similar things from other artists.

“A lot of people selling prints and stuff, they’re only covering the cost of their table,” he said.

Feheregyhazi agreed there was more foot traffic, and theorized a lull in the economy might have been to blame for slower sales.

“I think the recession might have something to do with it. When people have less disposable income, they tend to dispose of it less,” he said.

Whatever the cause, it did not extend to the theatre portion of the festival.

“This is one of our best years,” said Robert Wyma, the festival’s executive director.

By end of day Friday the fringe had already matched last year’s box office totals, making 2015 the most well attended since the festival went to its current 33-show format three years ago.

One of the key changes was an increase in the number of food trucks on the street.

“People are coming down here for supper now, and then they get to discover the rest of the festival,” Wyma said.

He didn’t have anything negative to say about how the year went, and said next year’s festival will continue to build on the success.

“It’s nice to see four city blocks full,” Wyma said.

PHOTOS BY LIAM RICHARDS/The StarPhoenix Jury Simpson sells his art at the PotashCorp Fringe Festival on Saturday. He has set up a booth at the event for the past four years and said this year’s was the busiest.

Street performer Jamey Mossengren of UniProShow gathers a crowd of spectators.

Crowds check out food vendors at the PotashCorp Fringe Festival. The addition of the food trucks helped drum up sales for the plays.

People shop, take in the plays and dine at the food trucks set up on Broadway.

Participants take part in a strength competition during the PotashCorp Fringe Festival on Aug. 1.

Shoppers visit the range of vendors on Broadway Avenue during the PotashCorp Fringe Festival on Aug. 1.