Fringe. When most Washingtonians speak the word, it’s usually in the context of dangerous foreign militias or whatever wackadoo mental sputum has oozed forth from John Hinderaker’s brain that morning. But for the next eleven days, Washington is going to come to know the term in a whole new light, because today is the start of the first-ever Capital Fringe Festival, a merry and motley collection of unique theatre, dance, cabaret and decidedly “other” performances, set to take Seventh Street NW by storm.

While the name “Fringe Festival” may suggest a loose-knit, ad hoc collection of ragtag artists—indeed, that could accurately describe the very first Festival—Fringing is actually a highly regarded tradition nearly six decades old. But some unfamiliarity is understandable. According to the Capital Fringe website, 65% of those polled have never attended a Fringe Festival. These informally branded festivals occur all over the globe, including several here in the United States.

However, the Fringe Festival tradition got its start in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1947. In the wake of World War II, a group of committed artists and city leaders started the Edinburgh International Festival, which was meant to aid the reconciliation of Europe by bringing the continent’s best artists together. From the outset, the Edinburgh International was a pretty big deal, with lofty goals, careful planning, and massive civic support. But in this instance, it would be the upstarts who would make history.