Street Performers Festival celebrates 32 years of community

When roving performer Rick Kunst thinks of the Edmonton Street Performers Festival, he’s reminded of connection, togetherness, and community.

Having been a part of the event for seven years and counting, he’s always been able to see continual growth and positivity from the festival and its attendees. And, he says, it holds a very special place in his heart.

“It’s a treat of a festival,” he says. “In some places, it feels almost as if (as a performer) you’re competing against leisure time to get an audience. But here, (the festival) really seems to be a part of people’s leisure time ― they just enjoy it, they come out in all kinds of weather, and they’re so open and accepting and willing to interact that it’s absolutely wonderful when you’re a performer.

“It’s very unique in that way, even among other Canadian festivals.”

The festival’s artistic producer Shelley Switzer agrees. “It’s about the access,” she says, “and the idea that everybody is welcome. Here, there are kinds of different people, and they’re all sharing the same space. There are people of all ages and all ethnic, mental, physical, and economic backgrounds ― and they’re all invited to come play at our festival. The whole world is here.”

The Street Performers Festival, held annually in Sir Winston Churchill Square, has been an exciting attraction for Edmontonians since 1985. Now after 32 years, the festival has adapted to changing landscapes, demographics, and crowd sizes, but many things about the festival have remained firmly constant throughout the years. Unlike traditional theatre, for instance, the lights are always on, and there is no price for admission.

In the more than 1,500 shows included in the festival’s nine-day roster, there is no separation between performers and attendees, or between members of the audience. Inclusivity and interaction, the building of community, is such a deeply rooted part of the festival that it has never hosted beer gardens or alcoholic drink stations because of the separation it would cause ― liquor laws dictate that walls must be put around any areas serving alcoholic beverages, and in Switzer’s words, such barriers would undoubtedly change the vibe of the event, detracting from the sense of an all-ages community the festival values so highly.

That vibe is crucial to the happiness of attendees, and it’s what has made the festival a success.

“Nobody comes to this festival with the intention of having a bad time,” Switzer remarks of the people wandering freely through the Square, joining in on the fun, and chatting with roving actors. “We’re bringing people together here, and sharing the laughs. We’re making this a peaceful community.”

The 2016 season’s Street Performers Festival wrapped up this past weekend, but curious visitors who’d like to share the laughs to be had during next year’s run are advised to speak with the volunteers at the information booth in Churchill Square if they’d like some direction among the wide selection of daily shows. Armed with the latest scheduling information, volunteers will be able to tailor a custom itinerary for those who speak about their interests and expectations for the day.

So in 2017, be at the Square or be square.