Things are about to get weird and wonderful on the streets of Perth as the city kicks off its seventh Fringe Festival on Friday, despite a few minor hiccups including cancellations at Elizabeth Quay.

Over the next four-and-a-half weeks Perth will host more than 700 shows across 150 venues, spread from Midland down to Mandurah, with a focus on local content this year.

"At the heart and soul of the Fringe World festival, really is the West Australian artists," festival director Amber Hasler said.

"We're really proud that approximately half of the program is made up of local artists, and that this platform exists for people and our artists here to present their work to their own hometown, in their own backyard."

The wildly popular event, which briefly transforms the inner city into a diverse and colourful cultural hub, last year sold almost 1 million tickets.

Ms Hasler said the event would allow people to "escape the everyday".

"We really feel that the size of the program, it is big, there is a lot in it, but Perth is really open to having so much on offer," she said.

"I think being able to offer such a large program really allows people to choose their own adventure and, you know, perhaps escape the everyday of the summer holidays."

Elizabeth Quay to lie empty amid celebrations

However, this year's event has already seen some minor hiccups, including a last-minute venue change, after the Sky Bar in Northbridge was repossessed earlier this month, leaving a handful of acts squeezed into other venues at the 11th hour.

The State Government's $440 million Elizabeth Quay, which was designed to draw crowds from the city's CBD to the riverfront, will not see any Fringe traffic this year, after the show scheduled there — The Royal Croquet Club — was cancelled at the last minute.

There will be festivities at the quay for Chinese New Year on January 27.

Last year the quay hosted a 'fairground' and shows such as Limbo, which this year has moved to the heart of Northbridge.

Last year's event was also plagued by reports of security risks, with performers reportedly copping abuse and threats from the public as they moved through the city.

Organisers have pledged to this year liaise with police to ensure performers are safe.