Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, June 14, 2012 - Scotiabank BuskerFest, Toronto's wildly successful international street performers festival, returns for its 13th wacky, outlandish year. Produced by Epilepsy Toronto, this year's event runs Thursday, August 23 to Sunday, August 26, 2012 throughout the historic St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood.
North America's largest busker festival, Scotiabank BuskerFest was named for the fifth time in a row as one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario for 2012 by Festivals & Events Ontario, a not-for-profit organization representing the Ontario festivals and events industry. The Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario designation is presented each year to a select few out of more than 2,000 that occur annually within the province.
Spontaneous, colourful and bursting with the unexpected, Scotiabank BuskerFest features some of the most unique pogo-sticking, hula-hooping, fire-breathing, pillow juggling, body-contorting, whip-cracking, cyr wheel spinning, sword swallowing, flaming-rope jumping performances in the world! As well as the buskers, children can also enjoy Scotiabank BuskerPlay, an area featuring face painting, balloon-twisting, free workshops and more family fun.
Over 100 of the best street performers from Canada and around the world will once again descend upon Toronto's historic St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood to excite and amaze. The event helps raise money for Epilepsy Toronto, a non-profit organization dedicated to help people with epilepsy and their families live well by providing counseling, employment support, advocacy and education.
Some of the 40-plus acts coming to this sparkling fest include:
o Three-time winner of the festival's Metro People's Choice Award, Alakazam, the Human Knot from Australia who returns to the festival after a three year hiatus to comically contort his body and perform sky-high feats of danger; who brings high skill circus skills to the street including cyr wheel and chinese pole;
o Mexico's Pancho Libra, a graduate of the National Circus School of China, brings high skill circus skills to the street including cyr wheel and chinese pole; and,
o Toronto's only 14-piece Balkan-klezmer-gypsy-party-punk super-band, The Lemon Bucket Orkestra, making its festival debut.
With more than one million spectators expected from North America and around the world, Scotiabank BuskerFest is proving to be a great weekend getaway and now is the time for travellers to plan to attend. Scotiabank BuskerFest has made arrangements for the following hotel deals for out-of-town guests - as well as locals - looking for a getaway in the heart of the city. Visit www.torontobuskerfest.com to book special festival deals on these:
o Novotel Toronto Centre (45 The Esplanade) is the official host hotel for Scotiabank BuskerFest. Located just one block away from the festival, the hotel is located at 45 The Esplanade and offers a special room rate starting at $155 per night plus applicable taxes, if booked by July 24, 2012.
o The Strathcona Hotel Downtown Toronto (60 York Street) is offering a special rate for Scotiabank BuskerFest attendees of $135 for SMART Twin rooms; $145 for SMART Queen rooms and Executive level rooms starting at $165, all plus applicable taxes if booked by August 4, 2012.
"Once again, this year's festival promises an exciting and spectacular assortment of acts, and more importantly, promises to continue raising much needed awareness and funding for a great cause, Epilepsy Toronto," said John Doig, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President, Toronto Region. "Scotiabank BuskerFest is the largest epilepsy awareness event in the world, and through the pay-what-you-can admission, helps support the estimated 40,000 Torontonians living with epilepsy and their families, through counselling, information, and support."
Scotiabank BuskerFest
Toronto International Street Performers Festival
Thursday August 23 - Sunday August 26, 2012 throughout the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood,
Front Street all the way from Jarvis to Yonge and adjacent side streets
Thursday noon-10pm, Friday noon-11pm, Saturday 11am-11pm. Sun 11am-8pm
Admission is by voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto
For information, visit www.torontobuskerfest.com - http://www.facebook.com/BuskerFestToronto
Photo: Dream State Circus at BuskerFest Fire Show.
2012-06-14
Toronto: Dates announced for the 13th Annual Scotiabank BuskerFest – August 23-26