Congratulations to all of the winners! A big thank you to our sponsors - Fringe Theatre Adventures and Metterra Hotel on Whyte. Last, but not least, thank you to everyone who entered the contest. Keep your eyes peeled for more great Edmontonstories contests.

And the winners are...

Fringeopolis VIP

Cheryl Joyce – Edmonton, AB

My most memorable Edmonton Fringe moment was…
In 1999, my oldest son, Patrick, and I volunteered at the Fringe. To make himself more noticeable for selling 50-50 tickets he added pins and buttons to his volunteer baseball cap—more and more each time I saw him. Each time we met Patrick asked, "Do you like my hat?" Each time I answered tongue in cheek, "I do not like that hat." We quoted the beginner book “Go Dog. Go!” By the end of the festival, Patrick had completely covered his cap with pins and buttons. Again, Patrick asked, "Do you like my hat?" Finally, I responded, "I do. What a hat! I like it!" Embedded in my mind is the biggest beaming smile I have ever seen cross Patrick's face. His eyes outshone all the metal bits on his hat. We had our own silly routine amongst the festival crowd. Edmonton offers a plethora of festivals, activities, and volunteer opportunities not only to be enjoyed, but also to strengthen family relationships through sharing and personalized experiences. Patrick passed away in March of 2011 at the age of 29.

Fringing in Style

Diane Robinson – Calgary, AB

My most memorable Edmonton Fringe moment was…A balloon busker bent down and sweetly asked my five-year-old daughter "What animal would you like darlin’"? Without hesitation she replied "A crab" (A certain friend of Ariel's was popular that year). The crowd all turned and looked at him expectantly. She didn't doubt him for a minute, as all four kids ahead of her had received their requests (bunny, dog, butterfly, and flower). He could have joked his way out of it, but in a flurry of elbows and using his entire stash of extra-long red balloons, he produced a perfect crab that fit on her head like a huge red Medusa. She was thrilled, but not surprised, as she knew this was a magical place where anything is possible. Riding on her father's shoulders, she could be seen from blocks away. ("Meet me at the balloon crab in the children's area"). People stared in awe at the piece of art on her head all day, until the crab helmet became a victim of our curious child leaning in a little too close to the action on the street. Even the smallest works of art can become a little treasured memory. If I were to win a prize package, I would take my curious child, now 21 and in third-year acting studies to search for the perfect latex crustacean at the Fringe!

Fringeopolis Fun Package

Carole Yue – Edmonton, AB

My most memorable Edmonton Fringe moment was…
…when Cellolitis mounted the stage at a Saturday night session of the Late Night Cabaret and played the first few notes of Pachelbel’s Canon in D major. My dance group had just finished our set on the stage and the audience was still buzzing from it but when the Cellolitis began to play, the whole room fell silent, utterly enthralled. It was such a poignant experience; the whole room breathed and absorbed the beautiful sounds as one, as we were all part of some mythical organism. The impression left by the piece diverged from the comical, light-hearted ambience of the Fringe Festival but at the same time, it captured the romance of summer drawing to a close; of a large assembly of people all indulging their senses before sensibilities and responsibilities bore them away from this moment. Cellolitis played the classic ingeniously and masterfully, and the incident left an indelible mark upon my mind. In times of reminiscence or whimsy, particularly when the harsh bite of Edmonton’s winter breaks upon one’s thoughts like an unruly child, I find myself retreating to that memory for respite.

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