Fringe enthusiasts will still be treated to hundreds of performances and busking acts, but this year visitors will also be able to enjoy carnival rides.
If you combine the words carnival and sustain, you get the name of Joey Hundert's creation: Sustainival.
"Sustainival's my brainchild," he said. "We use Sustainival to showcase technologies that are ready for adoption by society."
As Sustainival's executive producer, Hundert, explains his 'offering to the world': technology that uses bio-diesel made from the canola plant.
"It's a totally safe substance. You can smell it right now... smells a little like vegetable oil," said Hundert.
He wanted people to learn the lesson of sustainability and felt that happens best when people are having fun. So he took well-known rides and adapted their engines to run on renewable fuels. He has already showcased his technology at American fairs and smaller events and says the reaction has been positive.
"It takes very little explanation for people to get that these honkin' huge machines that are producing their good time are being run on vegetable oil."
He believes the technology could take over Capital Ex.
"We could take Cap Ex and run all of Cap Ex on a giant pile of canola seed."
He estimates they will use about 1,600 litres of fuel during the 11-day stretch of the Fringe. It's about the same amount of diesel, but there are virtually no emissions.
"I just think Sustainival is the coolest thing," said Julian Mayne, executive director of the Fringe. "The festival is all about supporting new creations."
Sustainival is located on 85th Avenue, near the Armoury. The Fringe gets underway Thursday.
With files from Susan Amerongen
