Street corners in Okotoks’ downtown will be filled with entertainers of all types in a cultural event that draws huge crowds every year.
The Town of Okotoks is inviting musicians, actors, magicians, jugglers, dancers and street performers from across the region to showcase their talent at the annual Buskersfest.
“This is one of people’s favourite events,” said Mark Doherty, Okotoks community events specialist. “It’s such a variety of different types of music and whatnot. It just animates the downtown with people strolling along and appreciating the music and the performance value of it.”
Running June 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., this year marks the sixth time Okotoks has hosted the event, which Doherty said began with 16 performers and last year grew to 38.
“It continues to grow in popularity,” he said. “When we first started it was mainly music but now we’re starting to get street performers like jugglers and magicians and different types of acts. Some are professional buskers. The quality of the entertainment has gotten better.”
Buskers register for the event at the Olde Towne Plaza between 11 a.m. and noon on June 24 where they are assigned a location to perform. There is no cost to register and all acts must be unplugged.
McRae and North Railway Streets will be closed from Veterans Way to the Okotoks Art Gallery, said Doherty.
“A lot of these guys are just looking for an opportunity to gain the exposure and confidence for playing for a large crowd,” he said. “From day one they’ve been very appreciative of the amount put into their instrument cases or hats. Some come out with $250.”
Each busker will be assigned a number and the public is encouraged to vote for their favourite to determine the best buskers of the day, said Doherty.
In past years, judges selected the best buskers and there was also a people’s choice component, but Doherty decided to change things up this year.
“We found it very difficult picking three out of so many great talented people,” he said. “I think the public is the best judge. While that can be stacked when they bring 20 family members, because of the sheer volume of spectators 8,000 to 10,000, we are quite confident that 8,000 of those aren’t all one person’s relatives.”
Votes will be tallied throughout the day and the winners announced at the Olde Towne Plaza at around 3 p.m. Cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 will be awarded to first, second and third place winners respectively.
The top buskers will be invited to perform at the Best of Buskersfest event on Sept. 29 during Alberta Culture Days, as well as various Town events including ChiliFest, Harvest and Blues Festival, Light Up Okotoks and Taste of Okotoks.
In addition to viewing the buskers, people can shop in local boutiques and attend the artisans market. Craft tables will be set out in front of the Okotoks Art Gallery for youngsters to take part in, said Andrea Spiers, with Okotoks culture and heritage.
Spiers said they usually have a good turnout at the craft tables and encourage people to tour through the exhibits at the Okotoks Museum and Archives and Okotoks Art Gallery.
For more details about Buskersfest go to www.okotoksculture.ca
