Held at Te Whare o Rukutia yesterday evening, the event was a celebration of the milestone and ushered in the start of this year’s festival — which officially begins today.
Fellow co-director Kate Schrader previously said the birthday party celebrated the festival’s whakapapa, legacy and all the people who had contributed to building it into what it is today.
"Going from that scrappy team doing it, I think from someone’s living room in those first years, to being the second-biggest fringe festival in the country now — that’s a huge legacy.
"It sort of shows that Ōtepoti Dunedin really punches above its weight when it comes to creativity and community building.
"This is a really special place to live and a special place to make art."
Launched at the party was the festival’s very own Fringe 25th birthday beer, courtesy of Emerson’s.
The festival runs until March 23 at locations around the city.
