BUY TICKETS
St. Catharines, Ontario, March 9, 2011 --- St. Catharines International Busker Festival, presented by Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects (LTP) with support from the City of St Catharines, is proud to announce the launch of its new website www.stcbuskerfest.com and supporting partners for the upcoming Festival August 12-14, 2011.
Busker Fest will welcome artists from around the globe performing over 100 acts during the three days of the Festival. All performances will take place in downtown St. Catharines with the temporary closure of James St. to Church Street, and a sweeping corridor along King Street to include Market Square. Performances are slated for six stages (5 outdoor) as buskers entertain crowds with unforgettable acts. The festival is a free community event for all ages and marks the first of its kinds in the Niagara Peninsula.
"This unique festival will bring fun, family entertainment to our community", said Mayor Brian McMullan. "Buskers will surely create a feeling of excitement, wonder and amazement as they draw people into our downtown and help shine a spotlight on local businesses."
Food, drink and artisan vendors will line the streets. At King Street from Garden Park to James, Niagara Inflatables Kidz Stage will host an inflatable playground for children to welcome the youngest of us into a world of make believe.
Market Square will be hosted by Busker Fest partners Niagara College Canadian Food and Wine Institute. The area will be licensed throughout the festival, and offer food, wine and draft beer on tap. An elevated stage in the centre of the Square will host international buskers performing for a seated audience.
Other 'pitch' or stage locations include the James Street side entrance of City Hall; the St Catharines Public Library: The Niagara Inflatables Kidz Zone along King St. to Garden Park; the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre; King and James as the Main Stage for opening and closing ceremonies and The Late Night Cabaret on Sat Night August 13; and one the Enviro-Busker stage, mid James close to St Paul.
In October 2010, Busker Fest announced it partnership with the City of St. Catharines thanks to a $10,000 economic development start up grant in support of the event.
"The creative future of St. Catharines is building and theres a great spirit of collaboration," said Kelly Daniels, LTPs Artistic Director. "It has always been Lyndesfarnes desire to make a strong contribution to the revitalization of the downtown core and were extremely proud to have so much support. Busker Fest is truly becoming a total community partnership."
Suitcase in Point Theatre Company (SIP) will produce The Late Night Cabaret (Saturday, August 13, 2011) with creative staff Deanna Lynn Jones with all 2011 Buskers. The cabaret will also feature works from the best of In the Soil, thus enabling Busker Fest to promote local talent in an international festival setting. Carousel Players will provide the theatre, as well as in-kind donations of storage space, stage gear and equipment. BuskerFestival will produce small theatrical one-acts from 10 to 90 minutes in the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre. Additionally, Busker Festival will engage THE RAFT youth under the guidance of Executive Director, Mike Lethby.
Partner, Jackson Triggs in Niagara-on-the-Lake will host the Inaugural Busker Ball set for Thursday, August 11, 2011. This preferential fundraiser will feature Vineyard Grille wine and food stations, as Buskers showcase their talents throughout the evening. Visit the website for further details.
For all things Busker, visit www.stcbuskerfest.com and sign up to join our mailing list.
With thanks to the support of the following sponsors & partners:
City of St Catharines
Niagara Inflatables & Games Inc.
Canadian Tire Financial Services, Footprints in the Community
Sun Media Niagara, Official Media Partner
Burtnik Printing
Carousel Players
Chimpanzee Evolved Thinking
Jackson Triggs, host, the Inaugural Busker Ball, August 11, 2011
Niagara Wine Festival
St Catharines Downtown Association
The Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College
For additional information, members of the media may contact:
Kelly Daniels, Producer, T: 905-938-1222: E-mail: lyndesfarne_aol.com
Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects is an affiliate member of PACT (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres).
LTP engages under the Independent Theatre Agreement, professional theatre artists who are members of Canadian Actors Equity Association.
Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects is an enthusiastic supporter of a new Niagara Centre for the Arts in downtown St. Catharines!
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