Port Credit Buskerfest is Coming this Weekend
Published August 19, 2015 at 1:13 pm
Port Credit’s 10th annual Buskerfest is set to hit the city-within-the-city this weekend and there’s a lot on tap for the festival’s tenth anniversary.
Some of you under-rock dwellers might be asking yourselves what a Buskerfest is and why you should attend. For those who don’t know, Buskerfests are basically daring and elaborate street festivals that feature buskers — performers who specialize in theatre, comedy, contortionism, magic, juggling, acrobatics and more. It’s a modern circus infused with performance art and it attracts acts and performers from all nooks and crannies of the globe. Indeed, this year’s Buskers hail from all over the world, with some calling Germany, Japan, Thailand, Italy, Brazil, the U.S. and Canada home.
Port Credit’s Buskerfest will kick off on Aug. 21 and run until Aug. 23. It boasts 40 performers, 10 staging areas, four fire shows and some “surprise fly pitches” scattered throughout the neighbourhood. As for pitches, that term refers to performance spots. This year’s pitches will be located at Port Credit Memorial Park, Burrito Boyz, Pizza Pizza and other spots throughout the district.
If you want to get started early, you can check out the Friday night festivities. The party will kick off at 7 pm and wrap at 11 pm. If you’re into fire (and who isn’t?), you can check out the Pyromancer and Dream State Circus at the Westaire Pitch and Fire Guy and Seb Whipits at the Xtreme Fire Garage Pitch. Throughout the evening, you can catch magic, aerial, acrobatic, musical, unicycle and breakdancing acts (just to name a few). Some of the buskers include the Catwall Acrobats, USA Breakdancers and Bearded Gypsy Band. You can see the complete schedule for Friday here.
On Saturday, the event will run from 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm and you’ll be able to catch all the acts you might have missed on Friday, plus sword swallowing from Jack Wise at the 10th Anniversary Pitch (located at Lakeshore and Hurontario) at 4 pm. You can see Saturday’s schedule here. If you want to stick around on Sunday (or come out for the first time to end your weekend with a little whimsy), you’ll catch the Xtreme Finale at the Xtreme Tire Garage Pitch in Memorial Park at 6:45. The finale, which will feature 10 exceptional performers in one final show, should be a colourful (and, ideally, memorable) way to wrap the event. In terms of daytime entertainment, you can check out the same acts and performers from previous days and make time to see something you didn’t catch the first time — such as Extreme Pogo, Bucket Drumming or Artistic Illusion.
If you’re looking for a little education, you can check out some Busker Academy workshops in the Memorial Park Gazebo — held on Saturday and Sunday only — and learn the interesting arts of clowning, stilts, juggling and more. Beyond learning about a skill you were never taught in school, you’ll also get a chance to meet some notable performers. To see a workshop schedule, click here.
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If you want to keep partying after the day’s events end, you can mingle with some performers at Ten Restaurant and Wine Bar after 10 pm. If you have little ones (and are therefore not interested in drinking with jugglers with the offspring in tow), you can bring your kids to Busker Bop. Busker Bop — new this year — offers face painting, balloon artists, bubbles and kid-friendly busker workshops. It’ll be located in the Port Credit Street Market next to Ten.
If you really love a busker, remember to cast a ballot for him or her for the People’s Choice Award. The winner will be invited back for next year’s event. Another way to show your appreciation? Tip the performers and purchase their CDs. It’s a small way to show your appreciation and, if you make a purchase, add to your music collection.
For more information on acts, performers and schedules, click here.
Here’s a clip of Peter Rabbit that was on insauga.com TV show a few weeks ago to give you a a little taste!
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