The City of St. John’s tourism committee is impressed with a Downtown Development Commission (DDC) proposal to establish an annual Downtown Buskers Festival. This year’s event will be held during the Aug 7-8 weekend.

Busking – known as street performing by entertainers for tips – attracts international and local artists from various fields, including fire spitters, jugglers, cartoonists, acrobats, comedians, actors, magicians and circus clowns.

The DDC projects $18,400 will be required to for this year’s festival, which will attract some big name international buskers and local talent. Beni Malone and his Wonderbolt Circus said the buskers festival is a “fabulous” idea.

“Busking transforms the City of Halifax and its reputation,” he said, adding St. John’s should see similar benefits. “It’s going to be fantastic,” he said, noting it will also be of major benefit to the local arts community. People will get to see some world class artists during the weekend festival, Malone said, noting local businesses, such as retailers and restaurants, all stand to profit from it. “It’s going to be very positive,” he said.

DDC chairman Bill Mahoney said it will create additional traffic downtown. “Our local merchants would certainly benefit by that,” he said adding it’s also a positive feature for people who work and live downtown. “It will be good, family-oriented entertainment.”

Busker festivals are also major tourist attractions, he said, adding this year’s festival has attracted “experienced and very talented” artists. For instance, one participant, Berlin native Mirko Trierenberg, is an established fire spitter, juggler and acrobat who has entertained audiences throughout Germany and many other parts of the world. “I think it will be just a tremendous asset for the downtown by providing world-class entertainment,” Mahoney said.

The timing of the Downtown Buskers Festival couldn’t be better, occurring at a time when there are plenty of people in the city taking advantage of various events. It follows the Aug 4 Royal St. John’s Regatta and the July 29 to Aug 3 George Street Festival. The buskers will also perform on the same weekend of the Bannerman Park Folk Festival.

Mahoney said the busker festival wouldn’t be possible without the support of several players such as the corporate sponsors – The Telegram, Steele Communications, George Street Entertainment District and the Delta Hotel and Conference Center.

“We are pleased to play a role in the community and participate in the Downtown Buskers Festival,” said Jeanette Payne, marketing/production manager of the Telegram. “This event will showcase exceptional talents throughout the various entertainment fields and will prove to be beneficial to the downtown, particularly for our citizens, businesses and tourists. “Trancontinental, parent company of the Telegram, is committed to the communities it serves.”

The City of St, John’s also plans to play a big role in the event. “We are very pleased to that the Downtown Development Commission is looking at trying to enliven the downtown during a key tourism time of the year,” said Councilor Sandy Hickman, chairman of the city’s tourism committee. “To have another major activity is really something we’ve been grappling with for a long time.”

The tourism committee is recommending city council approve a $7,000 grant to the DDC and other in-kind contributions for this year’s event. Hickman said the committee will also recommend the city guarantee participation in the festival for the next three years.

The committee is also recommending council approve several in-kind contributions to the DDC for the event, including access to the Prince Edward stage on George Street, electricity and cleanup.

Mahoney, meanwhile, said the DDC would like to see the planned buskers festivals become a tradition in downtown St. John’s and he doesn’t doubt for a second that can be accomplished.

The Telegram, July 24, 2004 by Craig Jackson.