The 1982 Adelaide Festival Fringe was held from 26 February - 21 March.

In 1982, the Adelaide Festival Fringe programme listed details of performances by 86 performing arts groups, in more than 50 venues; 56 visual arts exhibitions and another 16 performing groups who presented a diversity of activities in schools and public places in the larger metropolitan area.
 
The Festival Fringe at the time stated that "the Fringe is 'an open platform' for the Arts, so we, as an organisation, don’t dictate who can and can't perform."
 
They also commented the Festival Fringe is complementary to the main Festival. "We are in fact, just as official. We have been in existence ever since the first Festival, many years ago, but it's only since the '76 Festival that we have been an official organisation. We were first known as Focus but while we still retain focus in our full name, we are now the Fringe."

Publicity from the 1982 Festival Fringe stated:

• The Adelaide Festival Fringe
• Is the biggest community arts festival in Australia today
• Is ranked second only, behind the internationally renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe
• Embraces all events at Festival time that are not part of the 'official' Festival program
• Provides the opportunity for all artists, whatever their calling, to publicly express themselves in the chosen art forms.

1982 Festival Fringe highlights:

• The inaugural Fringe vs Media Event was staged (see Chairman's Statement).
• The first Fringe Opening Night Hindley Street Party was held (see Festival Fringe to throw a Party).
• A Fringe School for Performing Arts was held
• Another successful 'A Lark in the Park' was held  – A series of midweek children's events in a midcity location.
• 80 amateur Buskers gate-crashed Rundle Mall causing a lot of chaos.
• The Fringe Club continued to grow, located at Adelaide University, Kintore Avenue.
• For the first time documentation on the growth of the Fringe was made.
• Don Dunstan, 1982 Festival Fringe patron called upon the State Government to assist with funding of the festival (see Dunstan raps Fringe support).

The facts:               
Fringe Participants - 180
Performing Arts participants - 114
Estimated Total Ticket Sales - 104,000
Youth Theatre Participants - 43
Attendance by Children - 30,000                         

Sources:
1982 Fringe Progam Guide
1984 Sponsorship Proposal Information