Creative. Unconventional. Unique. Quirky.
It’s BuskerFest — a celebration of the street performer and a festival of the unexpected.
You could say it’s like a circus without a tent.
The 12th edition of the one-day spectacle is sure to once again capture the attention of thousands at Wayne and Calhoun streets in downtown Fort Wayne from 3-9 p.m. on Saturday, May 20.
Impossible made possible
By whatever definition, BuskerFest is an event all its own with musicians, jugglers, poets, and acrobats across two performance areas and even more street performers roaming throughout downtown.
After 12 years, it’s become a local favorite.
“There’s no other event like it in Fort Wayne,” said program manager Rick Zolman of Downtown Fort Wayne. “To be able to bring that unique style of event here makes it special. For us to do all of this in six hours, and do it well and have everyone walk away with a smile, we couldn’t ask for anything more. “
Fort Wayne drew its inspiration from a five-day event in Toronto that draws more than 1 million people over Labor Day Weekend.
What makes BuskerFest so popular is its novelty. It’s built around talents and physical arts that you didn’t even think were possible — until you witness them with your own eyes.
Zolman calls the uncommon skills put on by street performers well-crafted spontaneity.
“It’s developed, just as an athlete would develop it,” he said. “They practice it. We get to see the final version, but there’s a lot of work behind the scenes. They fall. They drop things. It’s not all perfect. But when they get here, we get the polished version.”
Some acts are nationally and internationally sought after. Others are locals who are making their mark. That’s by design.
“It’s a different kind of art and we’re happy to do those types of things,” Zolman said. “The key to this is a mixture of both local talent and national talent. I think we do a good job of kind of mixing it up.”
Performers
The music and performance acts are officially held in two places — Busker Central Pitch at Wayne and Calhoun and Loud & Local Music Pitch at Berry and Calhoun.
At Busker Central, you can catch Shimmy Collective and two performances each by Kilted Colin and Cate Great, as well as festival closer, Pyroscope.
Kilted Colin is an act Fort Wayne has been trying for years to book. It is a one-person show of comedy, accented with charisma and flare. Did I mention he does it in a tartan kilt on a unicycle about 10 feet in the air?
Cate Great is back for the first time since 2017. She is equally adept at winning over crowds. She’s a twisting, turning acrobat who balances on a small platform when she’s not captivating fans with her juggling and wise cracks.
Busker Central Pitch opens at 3:30 p.m. with Fort Wayne Dance Collective’s Shimmy Collective. Pyroscope’s fire dancers cap the event at 8:30 p.m.
“It’s dusk, it’s fire,” Zolman said of the popular local act Pyroscope. “It’s the contrast. You can’t go wrong with fire.”
Musicians
Local music is just a block away at Berry and Calhoun streets, where six local bands will be performing, beginning with Four Piece at 3 p.m.
“It’s going to rock down there this year,” Zolman said of the Loud & Local Music Pitch area. “It is a pretty well put together event, and we are excited about the talent that we have. They are all basically instrumental. It’s a wide mixture of locals. “
It’s a collection of mini-concerts that are all 30 minutes or less. Zolman says they created it to help up-and-coming bands get exposure.
“We focus on newer bands or younger bands,” he said. “If you are in high school, it’s an opportunity to get noticed.”
Along with Four Piece, other local bands getting exposure at BuskerFest will be Intrepid Cat, Jersey Money, Swimming Into View, The Murmurations, and Randara.
Tip your busker
Local act Aerial Evolution will dazzle the crowd — in the crowd from 3-8 p.m.
Utilizing a tripod, they’ll spin above the audience with silk strands and rings, sparking plenty of oohs and ahhs. The local duo have performed around the area, including in stage productions.
Throughout the day, a variety of other buskers will mingle the streets. Princesses, poets, mimes, musicians, balloon artists, dumpster drummers, belly dancers, and others make up the organic entertainment.
It’s a chance to make memories and snap photos — all while making sure to tip.
Zolman says buskers are entertainers who spend considerable time on their art. Because they share their talents for amusement, they are allowed and encouraged to ask for tips and donations.
“If you see somebody doing something that you enjoy, please bring some cash and throw a one or a five in there,” he said.
