You’ll see over 100 street performers including magicians, acrobats, pyrotechnics, clowns, performers on stilts, puppets and musicians from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia.
Some of the buskers include:
- Lisa Lottie, a world-class hula hoopist from the Netherlands who will demonstrate stunts demonstrating flexibility
- Dream State Circus from Australia perform hand balancing, juggling, and dangerous fire manipulations
- The Flying Dutchmen
Kids can visit the Scotiabank BuskerPlay Kids Zone in Trinity Square Park (behind the Eaton Centre to enjoy face painting, balloon twisting, a Fancy Pants Dress Up area, hula hooping and workshops. Acts include Kohel Mintz, a 13-year-old yoyo whiz; the Puppet Tamer, a “stunt ventriloquist” whose action comedy puppet show includes juggling, unicycling and on-the-spot improvising; and USA Break Dancers, a high energy, action packed, interactive, family-oriented break dance show, inciting roars of laughter and thunderous cheers.
One of the Buskerfest highlights is the Fire Show that takes place on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 9:30 p.m. at Yonge-Dundas Square. The eighth annual event showcases fire acts including FireGuy, Seb Whipits, Dream State Circus, PyRomeo and Pyromancer.
The fifth annual Scotiabank BuskerBall takes place on Tuesday, August 20 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens). Co-chaired by former Toronto Maple Leafs’ Darcy Tucker, the evening features gourmet offerings, silent and live auctions and a preview of the performers headlining this year’s festival. Andria Case of CTV News will host the event. Tickets for the BuskerBall are $175 with proceeds going to Epilepsy Toronto.
Proceeds from Scotiabank Buskerfest will benefit Epilepsy Toronto, a non-profit organization that provides counselling, advocacy, employment support and education to help people with epilepsy and their families live well.
