BUSKERFEST RETURNS WITH SOME ALL TIME FAVORITE ACTS!
It is once again that time of year when a collection of the highest skilled, greatest risk-taking and most entertaining street performers from around the globe gather in downtown Toronto to bring the thrill of world class theatre to our city streets.
This year’s line-up of street artists hail from across Canada and the U.S. and as far away as Australia, Austria, Brazil, Hungary, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Peru, Slovakia, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland and Thailand.
It is estimated that over 1.5 million spectators attended the festival last year, and organizers believe that this year will be even bigger. The festival is widely recognized as one of the best of its kind on the planet, featuring daredevil stunts, high skill circus acts, and some serious street comedy.
This year’ line-up is chalk full of impressive performs, including Yo-Yo Guy, a 4 time Guinness world record holder, the unbelievable Rubik’s Cube magician, Steven Brundage, who recently appeared on Penn & Teller’s “Fool Us” and did!; and Sparx, the current 2nd ranked female beat boxer in the world! There are many festival favorites returning to Toronto this year, including Australian/UK acrobat duo, Dream State Circus. Their act is so jam-packed full of high skill and physical feats of strength and beauty that it’s easy to forget just how difficult it is to do what they do. Their shows feature deathdefying hand-to-hand acrobatics and feats of balance. In the evening, they add some of the most stunning fire manipulations you will likely ever see. All of this is tied together with a warmth and charm that makes it easy to understand why they are such crowd pleasers.
Also making a much-anticipated return, Saurus, the 18' roaming dinosaurs. This will be the 3rd appearance at the festival by these awe inspiring prehistoric beasts. Like magical monsters, they arrive out of the mist to tease, taunt and excite audiences. From a distance, they seem majestic and mystical; up close they are playful and mischievous. These unique creatures, developed by Close Act - an internationally acclaimed street theatre company from the Netherlands, are interactive and surprising; alluring and just a little bit terrifying.
Their incredibly lifelike movements cause audience members to stop and stare, up… way up.
How much does all this world class entertainment cost? That’s the beauty of street theatre – YOU get to decide. “Street performing is one of the most honest trades in the world,” says Entertainment Director, Mackenzie Muldoon, “You are able to watch the show, and then decide how much you want to pay – when else do you get to do that?”
Between shows, attendees can sample some of the amazing festival eats, such as funnel cakes and blooming onions, stroll the rows of artisans booths or take in the sights and sounds of roving musicians, stilt walkers, human statues, chalk artists and more.
With over 170 performers and more than 70 different acts, Toronto’s International Busker-Fest is the largest street performer festival in North America.
What makes this festival especially unique is that it is produced by Epilepsy Toronto as their largest fundraiser of the year. All guests of the fest are asked to donate at the gate to Epilepsy. These donations support critical programs and services for 40,000 people with epilepsy in Toronto.
The performers, who earn their keep by passing a hat after the show, also do their part to support Epilepsy Toronto with benefit shows at Yonge-Dundas Square. Be sure to show up with lots of cash; most street performers don’t accept plastic… not yet anyway!