Buskerfest


Buskerfest is the name of a traveling festivals of buskers—street performers. Buskers in the festivals visit a series of host cities each summer. Host cities often shut down one of more blocks of a prominent downtown street for the festival.
host cityyears
held
notes
Ottawa1995–present
  • Unlike other cities Ottawa has a permanent pedstrian mall, and the festival is held there.
  • Typically held for five days, the first week of August.
Toronto2000–present
  • Organized by and as a fundraiser for Epilepsy Toronto.
  • First hosted in 2000 at Nathan Phillips Square.
  • In 2013 moved from the St Lawrence Market area to an entire kilometer of Yonge Street where the festival remained for 2014 and 2015
  • In 2016 moved to Woodbine Park in Toronto's Beach neighbourhood.
  • Currently runs for four consecutive days, ending on Labour Day.
  • Lawrence, Kansas2008–present
  • Features poets in addition to more traditional buskers.
  • Long Beach, California2009–present
  • Held in early September.
  • The festival is devoted solely to musical busking.
  • Abingdon, Virginia2015–present
  • First festival to be held over the Labor Day weekend, 2015.
  • Denver, Colorado2016-present
  • Held in early August at Denver Union Station.