[1] The guide started life as a 32-page tabloid newspaper which published three times per week during August.

In 2003, Fest relocated from the basement office at the Pleasance Courtyard venue and began to establish a reputation among Fringe-goers[which?]

[citation needed] Media partnerships were established with The BBC and Big Issue Scotland between 2003 and 2005.

In 2015, Fest was taken into the Radge Media stable of titles, who also publish local culture publication The Skinny Magazine.

[citation needed] Johnson, 21 at the time, was also the Allen Wright Award's youngest winner in its nine-year history.