Edmonton Street Performers Festival

Along with the other festivals happening in town, early July's Street Performer's Festival in Churchhill square was yet another success. For a whole week Edmontonians got to enjoy the comedic and talent-fueled acts of artists from around the globe. The performances range from acrobatic to awe-inspiring to hilarious. My personal G-rated favourite was a young lady who goes by the pseudonym Becky Hoops. On a trip to the Tulip Festival in Ottawa last year, I had the pleasure of experiencing Becky Hoop's performance for the first time.

She is a fearless entertainer who gives street performance a new edge and authenticity that the crowd seems to really go for. Not only is she genuine and pleasant to look at, Becky Hoops is also rib-breakingly hilarious. Her act consists of well, hula hoops, lively music, a crowd-volunteerd dj, a crowd-volunteer boy-toy, and a daring closing act where Becky hula hoops all of her twenty odd hoops at once! We hope to see you back next year Becky!

Edmonton Festivals: A local perspective

I've been to some amazing events already this summer in Edmonton. A few weekends ago I was able to check out The Art Walk event on Whyte Avenue. The Art Walk, which happened from July 15-17 this year, is an opportunity for local artists to set up a mini studio/gallery out on the sidewalk amidst hundreds of fellow artists. There was a broad range of art to view and a sliding scale of talent from mediocre to life altering. Two of my new local favourites were there this year including Giselle Denis and Maria Pace-Wynters. Giselle Denis, who I've linked on my blog, is a refreshing young artist whose colourful images inspire feeling of whimsy and excitement, at least in my opinion. Maria Pace-Wynters' work is duelly colourful as she depicts charming clowns, children and other playful subjects against intricate, textured backdrops.

Additionally, I paid two visits to Heritage Days and was pleasantly surprised by the magnitude of Edmonton's ethnic diversity. It was visceral this past weekend that Edmonton is truly an international hub and one that works well at celebrating culture. Although I shamelessly started at the Dutch pavilion in lieu of my own heritage, I was easily lured away by the many tantalizing aromas that were wafting around Hawerlak Park. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the Pakoras and the Chot-Poti at the Bangladesh booth and the Sukumawiki and Chapati at the Kenyan pavilion. What really shocked me though were the amount of chile-covered mangos-on-a-stick that were being consumed! I was so enticed by the walking advertisements that I decided to go to the Guatemala booth and get one myself. The fifty-man line, however, made me spend my food tickets on Danish Vinarterta instead. The music and apparel was great too, especially the garb found at the India tent by the lovely ladies who sell the Saraswati line. I can't wait to see what the infamous Fringe will have to offer us in a couple of weeks.