Buskers by the Lake is bringing three days of adrenaline, creativity and sword swallowing to Lake Kawana
Creativity and personal expression come in many forms. Some of us sing, some dance, some may participate in adrenaline sports and others, well, they play with fire and swallow swords. The Australian and international busking community is rich with incredibly talented individuals that thrive on doing what they love in the hopes that it will entertain others. Buskers by the Lake is a Sunshine Coast festival that gives renowned and up-and-coming buskers the chance to show off their skills as part of a wider project, entertaining audiences over three days in one giant, lakeside extravaganza. The festival theme is ‘Fantasyland’, so get ready to soak up the sunshine and experience a whole new world of mystique, magic and marvel.
Lake Kawana and the surrounds in Bokarina will be transformed into a busking wonderland as more than 250 performers prepare to entertain crowds for Buskers by the Lake from August 19–21. The event will feature 13 stages, each playing host to the glitz, wonder and vivacious energy that comes with an array of musicians, circus stunts, comedy, teen prodigies, sword swallowing, world-record attempts and more. As if that isn’t enough, there will also be a floating (yes, floating!) skate ramp. Here daredevils can flip, spin and slide with BMX bikes, skateboards and scooters. When it comes to the performers, you can expect the likes of Samora Squid, the Tasmanian stretchy sweetheart of sideshow that effortlessly combines contortion, sword swallowing and punk singing. There’s Hannah Cryle, who enjoys contorting herself through rings, and, of course, The Space Cowboy, one of Australia’s most prolific sideshow performers that is no stranger to chainsaw juggling and unicycle knife throwing – yikes. If your stomach (and anxiety) isn’t up to watching these jaw-dropping stunts, you can rest assured that there are plenty of, ah, more wholesome shows to enjoy. Dance crew Floorlegendz will show off their edgy power moves, and Gold Coast artist Anthony Pieters will mesmerise audiences with his combined music, art and dance performances.
Aside from these headline acts, you are welcome to meander through the Buskers by the Lake festival and stumble upon any other acts that take your fancy. With emerging singer-songwriters, self-proclaimed festival freaks, dancers, actors and more preparing to entertain, there will no doubt be something for everyone to enjoy. There will also be two bars serving up icy-cold brews and artisan cocktails, and an international menu with an array of cuisines available to purchase on the day. This family-friendly festival will ensure the grommets are entertained all day with kid’s creative art spaces that feature face painting, hula hooping, tie-dye workshops, art and more. When the schedule is this jam-packed, it can be hard to choose what day to attend. Thankfully, the event organisers have decided to turn a one-day ticket into a full weekend pass. This offer is available to anyone who snags the early-bird tickets, so scoot over to the Buskers by the Lake website to nab yours and check out the complete event program today!
This article was written in partnership with our friends at Visit Sunshine Coast.
To find out more about what’s on in Brisbane, head to our Event Guide.
