The Newburyport Buskers Festival
was held under sunny skies on Labor Day Weekend 
and entertained crowds in the hundreds!

Special thanks to all the fantastic performers
  - it was an awesome weekend of street theatre in Newburyport!

Images from this year's festival!

Images from the 2007 festival:

The Yo-Yo People share a special  moment at the Market Square Stage.	Audience members and Buskers hula hoop to kick off the Labor Day festivities!
Rob Torres brought his unique brand of comedy to the delight of thousands.	Magic Brian successfully escapes from the Straightjacket of Death in record time!
Rob Torres enlists the help of children  in the audience.	Thousands of locals and visitors enjoyed performances throughout the weekend in downtown Newburyport.
Cap'n Arrr shared stories of his pirate life to the delight of children in Market Square.	Eric Royer entertained with his  one-man band which includes a  special guitar machine.

More images from past festivals:

Alakazam gets a little help from the audience on Inn Street.	Dave Buchanan balances upside-down while juggling knives with the assistance of 2 volunteers
Peter Panic juggles torches while riding a unicycle around Market Square.	Alakazam does contortionist push-ups on Inn Street
Rebecca, one-half of the Yo Yo People hulas 12 hoops to the delight of hundreds on the Inn Street Stage.	Lurk watches the Market Square show with the rest of the crowd.
Elena Robidoux delights crowds with her juggling prowess	Furry Eggs plays his "glass harmonica" on Inn Street. He plays a wide variety of songs on ordinary wine glasses.
John, the Yo-Yo Guy closes the show with the help of a volunteer.

Visit downtown Newburyport during our Annual Buskers Festival
every Labor Day Weekend and be entertained 
by musicians, clowns, jugglers, magicians and 
performers of all stripes!

Though busking was first practiced in medieval Europe, the American busking tradition can be traced to the many traveling circuses that once criss-crossed the nation. In their "off-hours," circus performers would supplement their meager wages by entertaining the townsfolk in public squares and plazas, juggling, clowning, and sword-swallowing for tips.  Buskers are now deeply rooted in our  urban culture...from the street corner to the subway platform, buskers continue to delight and amuse townsfolk the world over. 

The Newburyport Buskers Festival is one of the only Buskers Festivals in the United States. Other great festivals are located in Canada, and international festivals in Italy, Singapore and New Zealand.

Some of the most famous groups and superstars started their careers as buskers. Examples include Joan Baez, Roni Benise, The Blue Man Group, Pierce Brosnan, Jimmy Buffett, George Burns, Cirque du Soleil, Eric Clapton, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, Bob Hope, Steve Martin, Penn & Teller, Gerry Rafferty, Carlos Santana, Simon and Garfunkel, Stomp, and Robin Williams. Many other buskers have also found fame and fortune.

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Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry
38R Merrimac Street, Newburyport MA 01950
Phone: 978-462-6680  Fax: 978-465-4145
info@newburyportchamber.org

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