Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Amid the historic and funky shops and restaurants on Queen Street, the Niagara Falls Buskerfest comes to life at the end of August. From Friday, August 31 to Sunday, September 2, 2012, Niagara Falls Buskerfest will bring acts from around the world showcasing three days of colourful street performances by more than 20 world-class, talented buskers. The extraordinary and bizarre talents at this year’s festival will provide outdoor amusement for all, unlike any other festival in the Niagara Region.
Downtown Queen Street is not only a great setting, but an easy way to experience some of the biggest and best names – from acrobats, jugglers, daredevils, aerialists, stilt walkers, contortionists, and magicians.
St. Catharines Busker Festival was created in 2011 by Kelly Daniels and Ric Reid of Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects (LTP). Last year’s Busker Festival held in downtown St. Catharines brought smiles and laughter to close to 20,000 people in three days.
The Downtown Niagara Falls BIA has agreed to sponsor Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects’ Niagara Falls Buskerfest with a $10,000 sponsorship. General manager Namanja Kuntos states, “The Niagara Falls Downtown BIA is very excited to be hosting Niagara Falls Buskerfest 2012 . Busker festivals have been gaining popularity all over Canada in recent years. The newly revitalized Queen Street District is proud to be partnering with Lyndesfrane Theatre Projects to bring a great event like Buskerfest to Niagara Falls.
Festival producer, Kelly Daniels states, “since we have relocated our theatre company to the Seneca Queen on Queen Street in Niagara Falls, it made sense to host Buskerfest here. The new location for the festival offers a fabulously revitalized street with a lot of charm right in the heart of the arts district downtown. For just the drop of a coin in a hat audiences will be treated to some world-class talent that will leave everyone young and old with memorable moments.”
Niagara Falls Buskerfest 2012 features: over 85 performances, vendors, special performances, and record breaking attempts for the Guinness Book of World Records. Visit all five "pitches," (a busker's stage), at each intersection along Queen Street and the Children's Pitch on the beautiful grounds of City Hall in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where performances will run from morning til night daily.
The Festival is comprised of five stages stationed along Queen Street where performances will rotate from morning until evening each day.
Niagara Falls Buskerfest happens on Queen Street in Niagara Falls:
Friday, August 31, 2012 @ 4 p.m. Opening Ceremonies
First shows begin at 4:30 p.m. - Shows run until 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012 @ 11:00 a.m. Children show at the Mainstage
Workshops begin at 11:30 a.m.
First show at Noon - shows run til 9:00 p.m.
Late Night Adult Cabaret - 10:30 p.m. - Midnight
Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012 @ 11:00 a.m. - Children show at the Mainstage
Workshops begin at 11:30 a.m.
First show at Noon - shows run until 8:00 p.m.
Final Family Showdown: 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Some acts for the 2012 Festival include: Dream State Circus (UK); Funny Bones (UK and Japan); Jack Wise (Ireland); Bendy Em (Australia); Monsters of Schlock (Niagara Falls); Alex Kazam (St. Catharines); Chalkmaster Dave (Montreal); The Checkerboard Guy (Vancouver); Ernest the Magnifico ; The Fire Guy ; Silver Elvis (Grimsby/TO); Kobbler Jay (Beamsville); Rueben Dot (Germany); Lisa Lottie (Netherlands); and returning to us once more from the UK with his new show The Street Olympics - Rob Roy Collins!
The Niagara Falls Buskerfest is an all ages community event! Admission is by voluntary donation.
Photo: Fireguy Brant Matthews. ©2011.
2012-08-29
Niagara Falls: Niagara Falls Buskerfest runs August 31-September 2