When Robyn Kurtz moved to the coast from Kelowna a decade ago, going to the Vancouver Fringe Festival was at the top of her bucket list. The annual event proved to be more than several days’ worth of good theatre. It also provided her with a built-in community.

“At that first festival, I immediately knew this is where I belonged,” the mother of twin toddlers says by phone. “I still remember thinking ‘This is a fun place to be.’ It’s the kind of atmosphere that feels sort of like summer camp.

“It was fun and inclusive, and, especially being new to the city, I was able to fall in with my crowd,” she adds. “I met people who are dear friends for life. The Fringe just does that.”

There is indeed a social aspect to the festival that sets it apart. Sure, it’s possible to pop in and out of the 10-day event, taking in a show or two without getting a true sense of its welcoming, lively vibe. But with the Big Rock Brewery Fringe Bar offering live music at the Barefoot Wine and Bubbly Stage as well as food trucks and everything from square dancing to karaoke, in addition to the influx of artists from around the world, the festival is as much a cultural experience as it is a party.

“We spend a lot of time at the Fringe bar drinking beer between shows,” says Kurtz, a fest board member who’s part of a group of Fringers affectionately known as the “frunks”. “The festival vibe is really, really strong. Volunteers, patrons, staff, and artists all come together to enjoy the shows and socialize before, during, and after.

“I’ve never experienced a festival atmosphere that’s as chatty and as friendly as the Fringe is,” she adds. “A lot of it has to do with the hub of activity at Granville Island; it’s easy to run into people. But a lot of it is that the content is conversation-worthy. A lot of times artists are sharing very personal stories; that gets people talking, and a lot of buzz happens. There’s chatter about what’s selling out and what’s going to win an award and what’s really good and maybe what’s not so good.”

Corbin Murdoch, a Vancouver native and musician, and entertainment programmer for the Fringe, says that the bar provides a “festival within a festival”, with two bands playing most nights, followed by a live DJ. Tucked into Railspur Alley, the venue has an eclectic lineup that includes Tariq, the Ford Pier Vengeance Trio, bluegrass band Viper Central, and DJ Freaky-guchi.

“It’s a place where the public can meet and talk to artists in a way that wouldn’t necessarily be possible at a regular theatre show,” Murdoch says of the bar in a phone interview. “That’s where magic can happen and connections can be made. Those connections can blossom into friendships, but it’s an important place for professional connections as well.”

Holly Hamilton has made lasting personal connections over the course of volunteering at the festival for the last four years. “I like how there’s no barriers between the volunteers and the artists and the patrons,” says the Grade 11 Kitsilano high-school student by phone. “I like that the artists will come up to you while you’re in line for something and try to convince you to come to their show.

“There’s a real camaraderie, and that’s something you don’t encounter regularly in Vancouver.”

The Vancouver Fringe Festival runs from Thursday (September 10) to September 20.