Spreading The Love With 100 Tickets To Fringe

ATB Golden Ticket Winners Eden and Jeanette Machtemes can’t wait to invite even more people to Fringe.

After four decades of fringing, Eden and Jeanette Machtemes have developed a carefully crafted itinerary where they don’t just visit Fringe, they immerse themselves in it.

“We’re not movie-watchers, we’re theatregoers. Totally!” exclaims Jeanette.

And Eden and Jeanette act like it.

“August revolves around Fringe,” Jeanette explains. “We stay at the Metterra Hotel by night, and we spend our days balancing at least three indoor shows, all the entertainment at ATB Park, plus enjoying our downtime at the beer tents and local eateries.”

“When Eden got the call that he had won, it was a dream come true!” Jeanette celebrates.

ATB Golden Ticket provides one winner a VIP experience at the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, including 100 tickets, a 3-night stay at the Metterra Hotel, VIP parking, dinner for two, $250 spending money, and MORE!

“I guess this year we will spend 10 nights at the Mettera.” Eden laughs. “They look after us so well!”

But the best part of the prize?

“Inviting a bigger group of friends and family to join us,” Jeanette glows, continuing their long-standing tradition of sharing Fringe with others.

Over the years, Eden and Jeanette have made a habit of recruiting new Fringers from near and far.

“We’ve introduced lots of people in the Mettera breakfast room to Fringe between forkfuls of eggs,” Eden remarks. “Some people take to it like wildfire.”

And introducing others to Fringe doesn’t stop at the breakfast table.

“One of our repeat customers were a couple we met in Mexico,” Jeanette delights. “They lived in B.C., but they loved theatre. We talked them into coming, and there they were visiting in August and they’ve kept coming back!”

“You could say we spread the word,” Eden laughs.

For these unofficial Fringe ambassadors, their hope is that other people gather some of the same unforgettable moments they’ve collected over the years.

“After 20+ shows, it becomes such a blur of hilarity and emotion,” Eden admits.

But some memories still stick out. Like getting beers with legendary Fringe Artist Tymisha Harris after her show.

“It was 32 degrees before the show, and when we walked out it must have dropped to near freezing,” Eden and Jeanette laugh. “Everybody was still in their flipflops and Hawaiian shirts.”

Or the infamous Fringe memory longtime Fringers might recall.

“That fellow many years ago who literally read the phone book. That’s memorable on another level!”