THUNDER BAY - The fifth annual Bay and Algoma Busker’s Festival might go down as the best one yet.
At least, according to Brian Hamilton, chair of the Busker’s Committee.
“It’s been a great turnout so far - super busy,” Hamilton told tbnewswatch.com in the morning.
“People know it’s hot so everyone is coming early. But there’s a lot of shelter and shade, so people know this is going to be the place to be if you’re in Thunder Bay today."
“We got everything. Banjos, jugglers, magicians, acrobats, a gold guy getting money to move.”
That “gold guy” is Cody Creed - a Winnipeg resident who came down for Busker’s Fest.
“I’ve been a living busker statue for four years, they just gave me an e-mail and I came down.”
The statue man - a new addition to the festival this year - covers his clothes in latex and gold spray paint to give himself the dazzling look. A glitter-coated beard is the final touch.
“The weird thing is the spray paint itself can actually rust. It’s all metal-based so it turns blue if you let it.”
The colourful statue wasn’t the only new addition to this year’s festival.
The Finlandia Association is setting up a beer garden in the afternoon, where Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. will sell their beer.
Hamilton also said there is a lot of outside talent to go along with the local, with acts from Toronto, Winnipeg performing.
“A ton of vendors, too,” Hamilton added. “Clothes, food... you name it.”
Josh Lilley, 10, thinks just about all of Busker’s Festival is pretty cool.
“All the music, all the stuff, the tents, the food, the magic,” Josh said. “It’s just fun.”
The festival features 40 bands that run throughout the weekend.
People can check it out from 10:30 a.m., to 5:00 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday.
