Unofficial Entertainment Event: Rogue Festival Happening in 2025
Fresno's Rogue Festival is Back!
Hey there, art enthusiasts! The time has come for the annual Rogue Festival in Fresno, California. This year, it'll run from February 28 until March 8 in the Tower District. Keep your eyes peeled on KRL News and Reviews' Rogue Festival category and our event page, where we'll be publishing reviews of various shows and providing more festival details. You can grab your tickets on the Rogue's official website.
Ever heard of the Rogue Festival? If you're part of Fresno's arts community, it's hard to miss. This North America-renowned fringe festival was born in 2002 by the hands of playwright Marcel Nunis. Started with a single venue boasting two stages and a niche local crowd, it grew to include nine separate venues and performers hailing from the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. That's a big freakin' deal!
Yearly Muses and Masters of Mayhem
The festival's smooth sailing largely depends on one individual – the executive producer. As Jaguar Bennett put it, "The festival's production entirely rests on the executive producer's shoulders." He's saying this from experience, having held the position in 2023 and 2024. Throughout the years, various titles like "executive director," "lead producer," and "executive producer" have been tossed around, but the job's nature remains unchanged – it's the top boss with the final say.
Audience and Volunteers
The Rogue Festival's 2025 executive producer is Yolanda Serrato. When she's not busy being a wife, mother, grandmother, pet owner, high school special education teacher, or managing her Collection of Exotic Pets, she's guiding the Rogue Festival like a pro. Unbeknownst to many, the Rogue executive producer role has traditionally been held by women, making up 66% of the 12 executive directors in its 24-year history. It's even more significant in today's climate, with certain groups questioning women's rights and potential.
No challenge is too big for the Rogue Festival, and thanks to its pioneering spirit, it has always found ways to overcome obstacles, from adverse weather to technical malfunctions to, you guessed it, a global pandemic. This year was no exception, as they tackled the aftermath of losing a popular venue due to a fire. Venue shortages have always been an issue, but Yolanda remains optimistic, praising those who open their businesses to the Rogue and become Off-Rogue and Rogue Underground venues.
Yolanda Serrato, a passionate and dedicated woman, is one of the many reasons the Rogue Festival continues to thrive. As Jaguar Bennett puts it, "The Executive Producer is the one who keeps this crazy train on at least one rail at all times." Get ready for another wild ride, folks!
Mallory Moad is a multitalented visual/performance artist, singer in the jazz band Scats on The Sly, and a Central San Joaquin Valley native.
Art aficionados who appreciate home-and-garden design could find inspiration at the various indoor and outdoor venue spaces at the Rogue Festival. During the festival, Mallory Moad, a local multitalented artist, may showcase her unique lifestyle creations as an addition to the diverse range of performances.
