TORONTO, Aug. 27 /CNW/ - Scotiabank BuskerFest in support of Epilepsy Toronto is in full swing - rain or shine - and will run to August 29 throughout Toronto's St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood.

The 11th annual Scotiabank BuskerFest is bigger and more exciting than ever, with a stellar array of over 100 of the world's best street performers from Canada, the United States, Hungary, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Argentina, the Netherlands, and England, 50% of whom have never before been seen at the festival.

Scotiabank BuskerFest offers something for everyone - jaw-dropping acts for audiences of all ages, fabulous music, great activities for kids in Scotiabank BuskerPlay, cool contests, spectacular fire performances, a new beer garden, delicious food choices - and just plain fun! Scotiabank BuskerFest is North America's largest festival of its kind, bringing more than 100 of the world's best street performers to Toronto's St. Lawrence Market area in support of Epilepsy Toronto.

New at the Festival this year:

-   Magic Corner (directly behind the Flat Iron building in Berczy park)
    -   Fionn MacCool's Beer Garden (Church near Esplanade)
    -   Sultan's Tent in the Park (between the Berczy Park stage on the
        fountain and the new Magic Corner Stage)
    -   Accessibility Tent and Volunteers (tent will be on Church, North of
        Front)

While awesome acts and events happen all over the site throughout the weekend, Special Performances include:

THURSDAY August 26

    12 noon to 11pm throughout St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood
        -  8pm
           Montreal's Cirque Éloize give a sneak peek of iD, the show that
           opens the newly-renovated Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in
           October in a benefit performance for Epilepsy Toronto at the Metro
           ronto Stage (Berczy Park).

    FRIDAY August 27

    12 noon to 11pm is Scotiabank Day throughout St. Lawrence Market
    neighbourhood
        -  Scotiabank has committed to matching funds raised for
           Epilepsy Toronto through merchandise sales over the course of the
           weekend, and the benefit shows below, up to a total of $15,000.

        -  Photo ops abound! See high-flying aerial artists, knife-wielding
           jugglers, mysterious magicians, comic contortionists, awesome
           musicians and much more!

        5pm - 8pm

        -  Three special shows with American Sign Language Interpretation at
           the Metro Stage (Berczy Park). Another accessibility initiative
           offers wheelchair-reserved seating areas at the Scotiabank and CTV
           stages.

        9:30pm

        -  The Fire Show at the Scotiabank Stage at Church & Front St. (rain
           date August 29)
        -  The 5th Annual Fire Show showcases the 'hottest' fire performers
           at the festival. Normally buskers keep the proceeds that they
           gather after a performance; but, for this special performance and
           the Finale, all proceeds go to Epilepsy Toronto!

    SATURDAY August 28

    Festival runs 11am to 11pm throughout St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood

        -  Photo ops of extraordinary acts abound throughout the area!

    SUNDAY August 29

    Festival runs 11am to 8pm throughout St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood

        -  Photo ops of extraordinary acts abound throughout the area!

        6:30pm

        Grand Finale at the Metro Stage in Berczy Park (near Church & Front
        St.)

        -  Scotiabank BuskerFest wraps up with another hot show: the Grande
           Finale. This Gala performance features a collection of different
           buskers collaborating and showing off the best of their talents.
           All proceeds will be graciously donated to Epilepsy Toronto. As
           well, the winner of this year's Metro People's Choice Award will
           be awarded to the act that received the most audience votes.

                Media: Check in with DW Communications at the
             Media Table in the Scotiabank BuskerFest Info Tent
             on the Front Street median just east of Church St.
                          to pick up accreditation.

                      11th Annual Scotiabank BuskerFest
               Toronto International Street Performers Festival
                Thursday, August 26 - Sunday, August 29, 2010
              throughout the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood:
      Front Street from Jarvis Street to Yonge Street, and all adjacent
                                 side streets
              Thursday, noon - 10 p.m., Friday, noon - 11 p.m.,
             Saturday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
           Admission is by voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto.
       www.torontobuskerfest.com   www.facebook.com/BuskerFestToronto.