TORONTO, ON - May 30, 2014 /CNW/ - Scotiabank BuskerFest in support of Epilepsy Toronto, the city's wildly successful international street performers festival, returns for its 15th wacky, outlandish year. Organizers Epilepsy Toronto, in partnership with the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (BIA), announced that the festival will run Thursday, August 21 to Sunday, August 24, 2014 in the Downtown Yonge Neighbourhood (Yonge St. from Queen to College St.), its second time in the new location.

Scotiabank BuskerFest is 4 days and 4 nights of non-stop, action-packed, fun-filled entertainment: comedians, contortionists, fire jugglers, acrobats, clowns, daredevils, magicians, and lots of music!

WHAT: Scotiabank BuskerFest -- Toronto International Street Performers Festival

WHEN:  Thursday August 21 -- Sunday August 24, 2014 
Thursday Noon-11pm, Friday Noon-11pm, Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 11am-8pm EST

WHERE:  Downtown Yonge Neighbourhood (Yonge St. from Queen to College St.)

HOW:  Admission is by voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto
For information, visit www.scotiabankbuskerfest.com 
http://www.facebook.com/BuskerFestToronto

Over 120 of the best street performers from Canada and around the world will excite and amaze Torontonians and tourists alike. North America's largest busker festival, Scotiabank BuskerFest is also the largest epilepsy awareness event in the world! The event raises money for Epilepsy Toronto, a non-profit organization dedicated to help people with epilepsy and their families live well by providing counseling, employment support, advocacy and education.

Last year, an estimated 1.5 million spectators attended the festival at its new location along Canada's most iconic street. Geoff Bobb, Epilepsy Toronto's Executive Director, announced just a few of the over 50 top acts from Canada and around the world that audiences will get to see this year :

• First time at the festival, but well known in the world of Street Performing, Australia's Reuben DotDotDot has not only performed at street performer festivals around the world (including 2^nd place in Street Performance World Championship, Dublin), he also toured extensively as a Chinese Pole specialist with Cirque du Soleil. With a spinning one-handed balance 20 feet up in the air, concrete never looked so hard!
• Born on the Street, and now, back to the Street, Les Frères Taquins from Brussels make their first appearance in Toronto at this year's festival. This amazing duo has spent the last 30 years performing on every continent on the planet. Their many prizes include the Gold Award (World Circus Festival in Paris) and a Bronze Clown (Monte-Carlo Circus Festival). Technique, emotion and humour are their secrets for an outstandingly funny, exceptionally visual and truly unique show.
• Another first at the fest! The Austrian/Mexican duo NoMaD Cirquel, voted best show at the International Street ART Festival in Switzerland, brings its spectacular version of The Prophesies to the street with high-energy acrobatics, a lot of fire, and almost extinct traditions from many different unique cultures.
• Festival regulars will be pleased to hear that FlameOz, the incredible Aussie fire troupe, are returning with their perfectly choreographed, high-impact fire dance, skilful circus artistry and stunning imagery.

And many more to be announced!

In addition to the buskers, children can also enjoy Scotiabank BuskerPlay, an area featuring face painting, balloon-twisting, free workshops and more family fun.

Scotiabank BuskerFest has made arrangements for the following hotel deal for out-of-town guests -- as well as locals looking for a getaway in the heart of the city:

• Eaton Chelsea (33 Gerrard Street West) is the official host hotel for Scotiabank BuskerFest. Located just steps from the festival site, Eaton Chelsea -- Canada's largest hotel -- is offering a special Deluxe room rate of $139 per night plus applicable taxes, if booked by July 22, 2014. To receive this special rate, guests should visit scotiabuskerfest.com/hotels or call 1-800-CHELSEA and simply state that they are coming in to enjoy Scotiabank BuskerFest.

"For more than a decade, this festival has attracted some of the world's best street performers to Toronto, and more importantly, has raised much needed awareness and funding for a great cause, Epilepsy Toronto," said Claude Norfolk, Scotiabank's Senior Vice President of Toronto Region. "Scotiabank BuskerFest is the largest epilepsy awareness event in the world and through the pay-what-you-can admission, locals and tourists alike can delight in the dazzling performances in the Downtown Yonge Neighbourhood."

About Scotiabank BuskerFest
Since its inception in 2000, Scotiabank BuskerFest has featured hundreds of the best street performers from around the world, hosted millions of amazed spectators and helped raise much-needed funds for Epilepsy Toronto. Scotiabank BuskerFest is the largest street performers' festival in North America and is the largest Epilepsy awareness-raising event in the world.

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is a leading financial services provider in over 55 countries and Canada's most international bank. Through Bright Future, our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level across six pillars: health, education, social services, arts and culture, environment and sports. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has contributed on average some $50 million annually over the last five years to community causes around the world. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

Media Refer: 
Dianne Weinrib
Josh Dumont
DW Communications
416-703-5479
dw@dwcommunications.net

Interviews on request. For photo downloads of last year's festival:
www.torontobuskerfest.com/mediaresources/19
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