The eighth annual Rogue Festival hits all over the Tower District of Fresno starting February 27 and it runs through March 7. It’s an event that showcases independent performances and art without, according to the event’s website, “stuffy, so-called experts”. Meaning it’s a sort of free for all to see it in any way they want.
This year, FCC’s play Flea in her Ear will be apart of the event. FCC Instructor Debbi Shapazian directs, and the show will be apart of the Rogue Festival on March 6.
Along with the play, many local artists and performers will be apart of the festival and they will be held at various locations throughout the tower district.
The first two events, Somebody Needs You and Visual Expression, will be held at Veni Vidi Vici. This art event will display different types of artistic expression. The first show, Somebody Needs You, is described by the artist as, “A mix of abstract improvisation and surrealism extracted from my view of life and the living.”
Many events and artists are making a return and the Starline Grill will be the festival’s hot spot. It’s where you will have the opportunity to eat and meet the artists and performers. There are returning venue such as the Rogue Café which has been apart of the festival back from it’s start.
According to www.roguefestival.com the first Rogue Festival was held in March 2002 in downtown Fresno. At that time there were two different venues. One called the Rogue Mainstage and the second the Rogue Cafe. The event moved to the Tower District in 2003.
And starting this Friday you can enjoy all the food, independent art, and performances that the Rogue Festival has to offer.
Rules and regulations are posted on their website, but one of the main rules repeated over and over is, “Please arrive early.” Because the events fill up fast and shows can be missed.
Passes to cruise the festival can be acquired at Ashtree Studios 1035 N. Fulton The cost is $35 and it allows you in to five different Mainstage shows or 10 Rogue Cafe shows or a combination thereof. And they are available during the course of the festival.
