FronteraFest is a five-week long performance festival showcasing Austin's dynamic and diverse performing arts community, ranging from actors and dancers to performance artists and poets and beyond. FronteraFest began in 1993 as a four-week showcase for short works of 25 minutes or less. By 1999, the festival had expanded to include the Long Fringe (works of 45-90 minutes), Mi Casa Es Su Teatro (works presented in homes throughout Austin) and Bring Your Own Venue (site-specific work or shows running in other spaces) were added to the Short Fringe (performances of 25 minutes or less).

The festival was originally produced by Frontera Productions at the Hyde Park Theatre in Austin, Texas by Artistic Director Vicky Boone. When Boone moved on to the film industry Frontera Productions ended, but she offered the Hyde Park Theatre space to Ken Webster's Subterranean Productions, which became Hyde Park Theatre. Boone encouraged Austin Script Works (now ScriptWorks) to take over FronteraFest and in 2002 they joined with Hyde Park Theatre as co-producers of the festival. There is no requirement that the work presented in the festival is original, but the vast majority of performances are new works, a testament to Austin's love for innovation and creativity. Although, primarily a showcase for Austin artists, FronteraFest has also attracted performers from as far away as Canada, New York, Seattle and San Francisco as participants.