The official start of the Festival will see the creation of Dunedin’s largest artwork. Come make your mark in the world of art and while you’re at it help us transform the city centre into a fun-filled camping ground! Also featuring performance by sound artist Peter Mason, electro-acoustic improv band Thursday and Festival artists from throughout New Zealand and around the world.

Opening: 5:30pm, 19 March

This highly amusing exhibition features ingenious inventions designed to make life a little easier but which are so impractical or embarrassing to use that they are almost useless – except they work! Created by secondary and tertiary students, academics and the odd mad inventor, these innovative ‘products’ are designed without the constraints of commercial success in mind. Join us at the opening event for demonstrations by the inventors and a special talk by Chindogu expert Jane Venis.

Mix fresh local produce, a sword swallower, a chainsaw juggler, a large number of rubber bands and what do you get? Dunedin’s ever popular Farmers’ Market will be enlivened by dare-devil busking acts, reinvented bikes that beggar belief, an army of ukulele enthusiasts, Songbong, Mama Yeva, and an eclectic line-up of talented local musicians. This is the perfect opportunity for the young and the young at heart to enjoy Fringe entertainment in a most vibrant location. Don’t forget to feed the buskers!

This unique event involves 12 presenters showing 20 images projected onto a large screen. But each image is displayed for just 20 seconds and once started there is no stopping! This quick-fire format highlights the inspired work and interests of talented local and visiting artists and designers. Pecha Kucha is a Japanese word meaning chit-chat and it is the stories behind the images and people you might meet on the night that makes this event so captivating.

Celebrate the end of the Festival in style with a rocking cocktail evening and awards ceremony. Judges will have visited every Festival event with awards presented to those artists who have made an outstanding contribution to the Festival. Featuring warped electro-lounge act Conray and good time local band Bob Scott & The Moreporks. They’re guaranteed to get you celebrating something!

18-19 & 22-27 March, Ltd Festival Kiosk, Lower Octagon, 12:00pm

This is your chance to get a taste of the Festival with free performances every lunchtime, and even better, free tickets to Festival shows. Bring your lunch and your workmates down to the Octagon and warm your hands and heart over the Fringe fire.