It’s a big week for street theatre in Halifax.
Hundreds of people were on the Halifax waterfront Thursday afternoon for the The 39th annual Buskers Festival started Wednesday and runs through the end of Monday.
You could feel the excitement in the air as people cheered for Luth Wolff, a
Luth Wolff, a circus performer from Australia, said this festival is her first time touring her “Abso-LUTH-ly” show across Canada.
“I do a bit of hula hooping, and then I hula hoop on my own hair, and I do skipping while riding a unicycle,” said Wolff.
Hula hooping on her hair was the silliest thing she could come up with during the pandemic, she said. Wolff gets volunteers to hold onto her hair while she jumps up and down, swinging the hoops on her braids.
Kayla Kreatrix swallows a sword and spins a hula hoop, with balls of flame attached, around the hilt of the sword as the audience watches. Pictured July 31, 2025. (Jacob Moore/Acadia Broadcasting)
The festival was founded in 1986 and runs over the Natal Day long weekend each year.
There are four stages on the Halifax waterfront and another at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth.
There are dozens of performances by people from all across the world. Check out the Buskers Fest website here for a full schedule.
Sharleen Kane and Janet Barrett planted foldout lawn chairs near the Sackville Landing stage to sit and watch each performance as they came and went.
Janet Barrett (left) and Sharleen Kane wait for the next buskers show at the Sackville Landing stage on July 31, 2025. (Jacob Moore/Acadia Broadcasting)
“We love it here, because we bring our chairs and we don’t have to move,” said Kane.
Her favourite thing to see is break dancing and to hear the excitement from the children watching and clapping for the shows.
Barrett said her favourite part was being among all the people there to watch the shows.
“I say come on down and enjoy the fun,” said Barrett.
Wolff said Halifax is beautiful community with people ready to come out and see a show.
“Street theater is one of those things where there’s something for absolutely everyone. Everyone’s going to find something that they love, that they enjoy,” she said.
“Be generous, tip the buskers, and have a beautiful time.”
