The Buskers Are Coming

Posted on July 7, 2008, by Harvey Kirkpatrick 
Filed Under Art & Literature, Events

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Kingston’s “special” event calendar is rather sparse, and during certain parts of the year it is downright embarrassing. To clarify, today’s post won’t focus on the new under-used K-Rock Centre, as I’m more concerned with the other big crowd pleaser’s that attract people to the heart of the city. Shortcomings aside, downtown diamonds in the rough include Feb Fest, the Blues Festival and this weekend’s Buskers Rendezvous. Buskers has been a summer staple for many years, which has allowed it to grow in popularity, and attract a very sizable crowd. Onlookers will descend on the downtown like locusts and devour food in our restaurants, as well as other consumables from local merchants.

Although the financial impact of an event such as Buskers is difficult to calculate, I can already hear a faint symphony of cash registers coming from downtown. Modest estimates put last year’s attendance at 75,000, while others believe that Kingston’s Buskers Rendezvous has grown to attract nearly 100,000 people. If each local attendee spends $10/day, and out of towners spend $100/day the results literally pave the downtown with gold. Ultimately, Buskers’ cash injection is vital to our downtown, especially in light of the new Division Street/401 development, which is likely to divert shoppers, and their money in a new direction.

I don’t believe that the heart of the city will ever be totally vacant, as it is prime commercial real estate for those looking to target the Queen’s, RMC and St. Lawrence market. In addition, the K-Rock Centre, Grand Theatre, historic sites and residential neighborhoods, provide the area with a solid base that will prevent it from ever turning into a boarded up ghost town. That said, some businesses will not be able to weather the storm, which makes the spin off of Buskers, Movies in the Square, Feb Fest, and so forth all the more important.

So there’s my save the downtown, support Buskers pitch. From 10 to 13 July, the whole family can enjoy more magic, dance, comedy, and music (Allan Hope Simpson, Peter Rabbit, Fuori) than you can shake a stick at. Returning acts include the amazing Checkerboard Guy, as well as Dynamike, who (no word of a lie) juggled some kids last year. With face painting, balloon animals and sidewalk chalk artist Rachel Peters, it’s bound to be worth the free admission.

If you’ve never been and don’t plan on hitting up Buskers this year, I’ll make sure to post lot’s of pictures to entice you to attend Buskers Rendezvous 2009.

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