give me a surrey with a fringe on top

it sounds like you are talking about an event
where you have to pay to get in

surrounded by other smaller events/venues
that are free?

The thing that comes to mind is the Folk Alliance Conference
where many bands are show cased and many available venues
become the performance area. The conference is an opportunity
for artists, recording labels, venues and organizers have the
chance to meet, greet and plan.

the other event i can think of is the South By South West
http://2006.sxsw.com/ where bands, films and web sites are
featured....
both of these events are centered around entertainment, but
are expos and workshops and more focussed on promoting and
the business aspects of the arts. Do we have "fringe" events
here in U.S.?