Organisers of the Buxton Fringe have been running through the numbers following this year’s stellar event.
They said this year’s festival helped boost the local economy by more than £300,000.
They added that this year also saw the highest ever levels of public satisfaction, as well as the biggest audiences for a decade.
The festival – which took place alongside Buxton International Festival in July – wowed audiences with its eclectic programme of almost 200 arts events, adding up to over 500 individual performances.
The 2024 festival saw entrants coming from all over the UK as well as Canada, the USA, Ireland and Australia.
Organisers said respondents to their audience survey were overwhelmingly enthusiastic – with 94% scoring it 4 out of 5 or 5 out of 5.
There was an increase in the average audience figure per performance for ticketed events: 31, which is an increase on last year’s figure of 30 (which was the biggest recorded figure since 2014).
Taking into account audiences for free events – such as Fringe Sunday and exhibitions at the Octagon, the Crescent and the Dome – bosses estimate the total audience figure was about 13,900 people, up 2% on last year’s figure.
“Audience and entrants’ survey responses are truly valuable to us,” said Fringe chair Stephen Walker.
“It’s great to have such positive feedback and the growing success of the Fringe is good for everyone – performers, audiences and Buxton generally.”
He said organisers are keen to encourage more people to fill in surveys next year – either online or using the paper surveys available during the Fringe.
The Fringe Festival’s contribution to the local economy is estimated at £307,314 (compared to £276,042 last year).
The figure takes into account expenditure from performers during their stay in Buxton plus audience spend on food, accommodation and ticket sales for shows by local performers.
The value calculated does not include the Fringe’s additional local expenditure – on printing, design, merchandise and Fringe information desk wages – which mean it is a conservative estimate.
In July, the Fringe Festival website received more than 1.5 million clicks, with the Fringe app also growing in popularity.
The event’s Facebook had a reach of 30,000 during the festival, with its Instagram account having a reach of over 7,000.
A quarter of audience survey respondents were attending the Fringe for the first time, but there was also evidence of audience loyalty with more than two thirds of respondents saying they had been attending for more than 10 years.
In addition, the number of festival friends (who enjoy 10% off full ticket prices and discounts at participating venues around the town during the Fringe) has now reached 220.
The dates for next year’s Fringe have already been announced as 9th-27th July 2025 and it will open for entries on 1st December 2024.
Entry fees are being kept the same – for the third year running.
Meanwhile, organisers will hold their AMG on Wednesday 20th November at the Green Man Gallery (arrival form 7pm for 7.30pm start).
The event – which supporters, audiences and performers are welcome to attend – will see the introduction of a new chair following Mr Walker’s retirement from the role.