VENTNOR has always had something special, quirky, about it, but ten years of the homegrown Ventnor Fringe Festival has really put the town on the cultural map.

The arty, hip, diverse Fringe has changed the town in a multitude of ways.

This week Ventnor has been bursting with talent, with both locals and visitors flocking to see it.

Moving away from its traditional August slot, the earlier dates meant it could attract comedians and artists in the run up to Edinburgh Fringe, instead of clashing with it.

The move coincided nicely with a burst of prolonged sunshine, which helped the feelgood factor and the ability to enjoy a cold drink outdoors in a re-useable specially-printed Fringe beaker.

It's all thanks to a team of dedicated young people, led by Jack Whitewood and Mhairi Macaulay, who started the festival at the sort of age when most people are leaving the Island to live in supposedly more exciting places.

Jack and Mhairi had a belief that Ventnor could be such a place, and over the years they have helped turn it into one.

Venues in the town that hadn't seen the light of day for years, were discovered by the Fringe team, so over the decade there have been performances in underground tunnels, people's houses, empty buildings, and more — showcasing the potential the town has.

One thing the Fringe has succeeded so well at, is in getting everyone on board.

The businesses all benefit from the extra footfall, but it is more than that — many of them open their doors to provide unusual venues for the acts.

Hence Ventnor Darlings serenading from the balcony of Tour de Monde on the High Street, the RUG Band playing in the launderette, Mike Christie from G4 singing in St Catherine's Church — there were more than 100 other gigs this year alone that could be listed as examples.

Another big change to Ventnor, thanks to the Fringe, is the permanent artwork created by street artist Phlegm last year, which proudly adorns a huge wall on the High Street. It was met with nothing but positivity from locals.

There was a huge photography project, Portrait of a Town, a few years ago, which captured hundreds of Ventnor faces, and displayed them on posters all over town. It was another bold and imaginative move by the Fringe team.

As the marquees are taken down and the final edition of the Fringe newspaper, Fringe Review, is printed, one can only get excited about what surprises the team have in store for 2020.