Wellington's Fringe Festival marked its 20th birthday with a celebration in the capital on Thursday night.
Over the years, top acts like Flight of the Conchords, Rhys Darby, Ben Hurley and Strike Percussion have had their initiation at the fringe, which has grown from just a handful of shows to 80 this year.
The festival began at the BATS theatre in Wellington as an alternative to the International Festival of the Arts, giving anyone the chance to put on a show.
A member of the Fringe's Trust Board, Alex Sutherland, says money troubles last year meant it nearly didn't make it to a 20th birthday, but the budget was trimmed.
This year's festival runs from 12 February to 6 March.
