CentreFest buskers kid-friendly
By Ashley Joannou - Red Deer Advocate
Published: July 22, 2008 6:22 PM
Children will get a chance to channel their inner busker at this weekend’s CentreFest.
For the first time, some of the 18 acts taking part in this year’s street festival will also put on various workshops for the younger members of the crowd.
“The idea is that kids will be able to see these acts in person and then try some things out for themselves,” said festival director Esterina Manyluk.
Located in Kids World, workshops will include hip hop dancing, juggling and balancing, Manyluk said.
CentreFest will take place downtown in the Ross Street and Gaetz Avenue area from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Kid’s World will be located just north of the intersection.
Kids workshops run from noon to 5 p.m. each day on a first-come, first-serve basis.
In its sixth year, the CentreFest features local acts as well as performers from as far away as Thailand and Australia.
“These acts are part of a circuit that travels around Alberta and part of B.C. for the summer,” explained Manyluk. “Some of them even travel all around the world going wherever the festivals are.”
Manyluk said Red Deer has become known in the busking community as a good place to perform.
“The acts that come here really like our audiences,” she said. “They say we are respectful and generous and like to have a good time.”
This year’s performers include The English Gents, a pair of acrobats from the UK; Space Cowboy, an Australian sideshow performer whose talents include sword swallowing and knife throwing; and American vaudeville magician Magic Brian.
Entrance to CentreFest is free, despite an annual budget of more than $100,000.
“It’s important to us that anyone of any economic level has access to the event,” Manyluk said.
“But that means we do rely on a lot of volunteers and sponsors to help us run it.”
Anyone interested in volunteering over the weekend can call 403-346-4636. For more information on CentreFest, visit www.centrefest.ca
Contact Ashley Joannou at ajoannou@reddeeradvocate.com
