YEG Festival City: 30th International Street Performer's Festival
It’s finally the heart of summer—the heat is on and YEG Festival City is out in full force. Downtown, all the signs are obvious—mini donut and lemonade stands marking the sidewalks, live music carrying through the streets, and foot traffic enough to rival that of cars. Oliver Square is no exception with the International Street Performer’s Festival celebrating its 30th year of lightening up our city’s core. Featuring returning favourites and brand-new performers, this year’s Street Performer’s Festival runs the gamut from dancers and musicians, to comedic characters and magicians, all here to make you smile, laugh, or just be plain ol’ amazed.
This year, over 40 professional performers take to the Square from July 4-13th, with special acts for the kids (like Kids’ World, featuring Cap’n Arr, so your little ones can learn how to act like pirates), and big kids (like Late Night Madness, featuring outrageous cabaret characters). Or perhaps you’d like to take to the stage yourself? Try out the Be Your Own Busker workshops, and learn to juggle, stilt walk, or break dance!
Be sure to check out the big tent—where performer Phileas Flash is hard at play throughout the week creating a balloon sculpture to celebrate the festival’s 30th year. And if nothing else puts a smile on your face, feel good about all the fun, as this festival’s got its karma straight—StreetFest presents Comedy Cares, an award-winning outreach that serves up laughter as medicine to hospitals and care facilities in the Edmonton area.
For more information, a full list of performers, and schedules, check out www.edmontonstreetfest.com. And be sure to let us know your favourite shows!
All photos courtesy of the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival. Used with permission.