fbpx

All About

The Event

The Toronto International BuskerFest is one of the biggest street performer festivals in North America, and is the largest epilepsy event on the planet!

0
DAYS
0
PERFORMERS
0
Stages

Endless Entertainment

RuggeroCarrara_2029-day_02-32

Ask away

Frequently Asked Questions

Friday, September 1, Noon – 10 pm

Saturday, September 2, Noon – 10 pm

Sunday, September 3, Noon – 10 pm

Monday, September 4, Noon – 7 pm


* Family Fun Zone and Bark in the Park TO around sunset each day

There is ample street parking plus a number of parking lots located in close proximity to the park. 

Since 2016, Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy has taken place in Woodbine Park in the Beach, 1695 Queen Street East (Coxwell Ave at Lakeshore Blvd & Eastern Ave).

Getting Here By TTC
From Line 2 (Bloor/Danforth line): Take the Line 2 and get off at Coxwell Station and take the 22 Bus south. Get off at the Queen and Coxwell stop and walk south one block to Woodbine Park. Or, from Woodbine Station, take the 92 Bus south to Lakeshore.

From Line 1 (Yonge/University line): Arrive at either Queen or Osgoode Station. From either station, take the 501 or 502 streetcar east to Coxwell Avenue, then walk one block south to Woodbine Park.

If you are booking with Wheel Trans, use the code “Buskers-W”, to be dropped off close to our accessibility tent.

This year’s festival promises to be spontaneous, hilarious and contain a broad range of performers from around the globe. Equally fun-loving and diverse, are their visitors. It is the festival’s objective to be the most accessible and inclusive festival in the city.

BuskerAccess:
At the BuskerAccess Tent, visitors are provided with assistance by one of our accessibility volunteers. They are easy to spot by the accessibility symbol on their shirts. Visit the BuskerAccess tent located by the Wheeltrans drop off on Eastern Avenue, just east of Coxwell Avenue, for assistance or information about the following:

  • Basic assistance negotiating the site.
  • Two designated accessible stages with reserved seating.
  • Wheel Trans drop off and pick up assistance
  • Festival accessibility information.
  • ASL interpreted performances on Friday night, 5:00 – 8:00 pm on Stage #3, as well as non-verbal performances throughout the festival.

If you are booking with Wheel Trans, use the code “Buskers-W”, to be dropped off close to our accessibility tent.

Festival admission by donation will directly support the festival organizers, Epilepsy Toronto. We recommend you make your donation online in advance so that we can send you a tax receipt for it. Suggested donation is $10 for individuals, $20 for a family. 

Buskers earn their living by ‘passing the hat’, so if you enjoy their performance let them know when the hat is passed to you. Empty your piggy bank, pockets and swear jar and experience a world of madness and mayhem!

Street performing is one of the most honest forms of entertainment – it allows you to watch the show, and then decide how much to pay for all that laughter and amazement.

Festival admission by donation will directly support the festival organizers, Epilepsy Toronto. With this money, you are not only supporting the festival, but also the 40,000 people living with Epilepsy in the GTA, and their families.

In traditional busker fashion, each performer gets paid by passing their hat after their performance, and anything they collect goes directly to that performer or act. So, be sure to arrive with some spare cash in your pockets: loonies, toonies, $5, $10, and $20’s (there will also be ATM’s on site).

How much you pay the performers is always up to you! But one thing is for sure, no matter what you spend you’ll always get more than your money’s worth!

Yes, we are open rain or shine! If it’s sunny, please consider bringing a hat, refillable water bottle, and some sunscreen. If the day looks grey, bring an umbrella and catch some exciting entertainment in the rain.

This year, the festival returns to Woodbine Park, where there is plenty of green, grassy seats for everyone, but feel free to bring a blanket to sit on, or some lawn chairs to make the experience that much more comfortable.

To apply for a 2023 Vendor spot, please email vendors@epilepsytoronto.org with a description of your proposed booth.

For Sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Festival Director, Bonnie Taylor at bonnie@epilepsytoronto.org.

For volunteer opportunities please contact volunteers@epilepsytoronto.org  or call (416) 964-9095.

BuskerFest 2023 Map

Click the map below to view and download the full version of the map!

PurpleWalkCrowd

All About the Organizers

BuskerFest was established in 2000 by Epilepsy Toronto to provide a vibrant festival experience while raising funds and public awareness of epilepsy.

Epilepsy is the world’s most common neurological disorder, affecting over 40,000 individuals in Toronto. If you know 100 people, then you know someone with Epilepsy. Epilepsy Toronto has been committed to bettering the lives of each of those people through support groups, programs, employment support, counselling and advocacy for over 60 years.  

The Epilepsy Toronto team are dedicated to the promotion of independence and optimal quality of life for all people with epilepsy and their families. To find out more about our services or how you too can make a difference, visit the Epilepsy Toronto Website or follow us on social media.

Newsletter

Subscribe to not miss out on anything important.

“We wanted to create a unique and memorable experience that brought epilepsy out of the shadows and into the public eye; an entertainment extravaganza that supports a greater purpose in aid of people with epilepsy and their families.” Geoff Bobb, Executive Director of Epilepsy Toronto

TORONTOBUSKERFEST.COM | 2022 – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED