The Vancouver Fringe Festival is celebrating its 30th birthday with a cool lineup of special guests for its Opening Night Fundraiser on Tuesday (September 2). Among the draws is the premiere of local storyteller-performer TJ Dawe’s Marathon, an at times introspective, at times bitingly funny tale about his attempts to train in track and field to impress his principal dad.

Beforehand at the anniversary event, you can play Spot the Fringe Artist Alumni at the VIP reception and, after Dawe’s show, party the night away with Seattle-based bluegrass rockers the Cave Singers (above).

It all gets hopping at Performance Works on Granville Island, with whole-evening or Cave Singers–only ticket options.