Neighbourhoods

Dundas Buskerfest This Weekend

By Ryan McGreal
Published June 04, 2009

Don't forget to check out the annual Dundas Buskerfest this June 5, 6 and 7. It features a motley global crew of buskers, sword jugglers, fire eaters, godless heathen mimes and other purveyors of moderately illicit thrills and unseemly entertainments.

You also get to enjoy a major street closed to vehicles and packed with people, a big sidewalk sale, the Buskerfest Bazaar, a "Junior Jesters workshop" where your kids can learn how to juggle the fine china, and more.

One of my favourite memories is taking my older son to the Buskerfest when he was little and watching a young Australian juggler of glittering blades and flaming torches. He peppered his shtick with lots of colourful language, which was obviously making the grown-ups feel uncomfortable. He let the tension build almost to the breaking point, and then stopped his show to address it.

"Now parents," he said, "I can see that some of you are fretting about the language I'm using around your children, and I'd like to set your minds at east. Kids," he went on, addressing the assembled children, "I want you to raise your hands if you've ever heard your parents use the word, 'shit'."

Every hand went up.

"See, folks?" he finished, looking back at the parents. "They're not learning it from me."

He had it down to a science.

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

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By Frank (registered) | Posted June 04, 2009 at 13:47:48

I love the buskerfest. Took my little brother there once...he loved it!

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By Jada walters (anonymous) | Posted May 25, 2012 at 16:37:39

Im 14 and i took my 8 year old sister and she and i both loved it so much we now go
EVERY YEAR!! i love spending that time with my family and friends

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