New for this year at the Calgary Fringe Festival, is a way for families to get involved with kid-friendly theatre shows called Kids Fringe.

And that addition is fitting for the festival, which likens itself to a bit of a potluck supper.

Calgary Fringe executive director and producer Michele Gallant said there are 20 different indoor performances in an anything goes theatre format where artists can put on stage whatever they want creatively.

“You can expect some poetry or improv or comedy or drama. You name it. You can find it at the Calgary Fringe,” said Gallant.

“I think of it like a potluck supper, you kind of get a little bit of everything,”

Gallant said the addition of Kids Fringe this year was a deliberate way to present family friendly programming.

“We wanted to have something more kid centric,” she said.

Islands Disappear and Wanda’s Worry are two new plays that local artists are performing for Kids Fringe from Aug. 5 to Aug. 8 at the Festival Hall in Inglewood.

According to Gallant, 100 per cent of the ticket sales goes directly back to the performers, with about 65 per cent those local Calgary performers.

“It’s really important for me that we’re supporting the local indie scene as much as possible,” said Gallant.

“I think it’s important that you’re giving opportunities for emerging artists to be able to practice their craft and make a living at it in the city that they live in.”

Gallant said that the Calgary Fringe Festival positions itself in between a pair of Canada’s largest fringes in Winnipeg and in Edmonton.

“We’re still considered a boutique festival, so a small festival sandwiched in the fringe touring circuit between the two larger festivals,” said Gallant.

National and global artists have come to the festival while touring, and Gallant said local artists can learn and develop their skills from them.

“It’s really about supporting the emerging in the art scene in Calgary.”

Gallant is expecting over 4,500 attendees for this year’s festival.

“I know a few days ago when I checked pre-sales, we were up 40 per cent from the previous year.”

Ticket sales are $20, and there are no shows longer than an hour.

Gallant said they have pay what you want options for those on a tighter budget.

The Calgary Fringe is on from Aug. 1 to Aug. 9, with three main stage venues in Inglewood and two satellite stage venues at Arts Commons and at the ATCO Performing Arts Centre.

For more details, and a list of shows, see calgaryfringe.ca.