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    Media Advisory / Photo Op - Scotiabank BuskerFest Opening Ceremonies - at New Location!

    Incredible Acrobats, Break Dancers, Escape Artists and Internationally Renowned Acts!
    INCLUDING RECREATION OF HARRY HOUDINI ICONIC STUNT!

    TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2013 /CNW/ -

    Thursday, August 22, 2013: 12 noon to 1PM in Yonge-Dundas Square

    WHAT In celebration of the 14th annual Scotiabank BuskerFest, media are invited to the festival's OPENING CEREMONIES in its new location in the Downtown Yonge Neighbourhood. Scotiabank BuskerFest is the largest and most vibrant street performer festival in North America, attracting local and international talent.
       
    WHO
    		 Toronto's own Fire Guy hosts the ceremony and will wow with his world-class devil sticks and quick-witted charm
    Daryl Yeo, President, Epilepsy Toronto Board of Directors
    John Doig, Scotiabank Senior Vice President, Toronto Region
       
      A recreation of an iconic Harry Houdini stunt by Guinness World Record holder and British escape artist Rob Roy Collins will cap the ceremonies! Collins will attempt an upside down escape from a strait jacket while hanging from his ankles 100 feet in the air! Tied up in a strait jacket, he will be hoisted up by his ankles on the North West corner of Yonge and Dundas St., where he will attempt to escape and be lowered to ground as quickly as possible to avoid too much blood flowing to his head and passing out.
       
    A selection of MORE TOP BUSKERS at the festival perform as well including:
      - Quebec City's Catwall Acrobats defy the laws of physics as they teeter on a teeterboard that propels them 9 metres in the air!
    - Sauruses, from Holland's Close Act Theatre, are beautiful, larger-than-life dinosaurs, who are absolutely thrilling!
    - Charlie Caper, astonishing magician, won Sweden's Got Talent as well as a silver medal at the 2009 World Championship of Magic.
    - Lisa Lottie, a world-class hoola hoopist from the Netherlands
    - Silver Elvis, The Giant Seagulls, Krazy K and other performers will be on hand for exciting and colourful photo opportunities.
       
    WHEN  Thursday, August 22, 2013     12 NOON - 1PM
       
    WHERE  Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto
       
    WHY   Scotiabank BuskerFest, in support of Epilepsy Toronto, runs August 22-25 at its new location this year throughout Toronto's Downtown Yonge Neighbourhood and features a dazzling display of over 100 awesome street performers from Canada, the USA, Europe and Australia: acrobats, contortionists, musicians, magicians, fire jugglers, aerialists and a few other incredible artists no words can describe!
       
      Scotiabank BuskerFest raises much needed funds and awareness for Epilepsy Toronto through its pay-what-you-can admission.  An estimated 40,000 Torontonians living with epilepsy and their families benefit from the work of Epilepsy Toronto through services such as counseling, information and support.
       
      Scotiabank BuskerFest is one of the premiere events of its kind world-wide and features the elite of street performers from around the globe. It is also the largest epilepsy awareness-raising event in the world and this year's festival is expected to surpass the estimated one million spectators it attracted last year.

    14th Annual Scotiabank BuskerFest
    in support of Epilepsy Toronto
    Thursday, August 22 - Sunday, August 25, 2013
    throughout the Downtown Yonge Neighbourhood from Queen Street to College Street

    Festival Preview with performances in Yonge-Dundas Square, Trinity Square Park and on Gould at Victoria St.: Thursday, Aug 22: Noon-6pm

    Festival in Full Swing (Full road closures in effect from Thursday at 6pm onwards):
    Thursday, Aug 22: 6pm - 11pm, Friday, Aug 23: Noon - 11pm,
    Saturday, Aug 24: 11am - 11pm; Sunday, Aug 25: 11am - 8pm

    Admission is by voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto

    For information, visit: http://www.torontobuskerfest.com
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BuskerFestToronto, Twitter: buskerfestto  hashtag: #SBBF

    SOURCE Scotiabank

    For further information:

    Media Refer:     For performer photos visit: torontobuskerfest.com/mediaresources (login: media, password: epilepsy)
    For Scotiabank BuskerFest: Dianne Weinrib or Josh Dumont, DW Communications, 416-703-5479 or dw@dwcommunications.net
    BUT during the event, make sure to email - dw@dwcommunications.net or call if urgent or time-sensitive.
    Josh Dumont  cell at 647-290-6787     Dianne Weinrib cell at 416-889-7239.