Buskers are back as Rotaryfest kicks off

Buskers will be entertaining audiences at Clergue Park during Rotaryfest, which officially got underway at 12 p.m. today.

Three Montreal performers including Marianne Trenka,  Samuel Letourneau and Sonia Legault will be joined by Ottawa busker Jon the Cowguy.

Trenka performs both as a solo artist and as part of AllezUp Circus with Letourneau.

Trenka and Letourneau were warming up to start their act while Legault, walking on stilts, greeted visitors of all ages at Clergue Park on Thursday afternoon.

The buskers will entertain the public Thursday, Friday and Saturday with hula hoops, acrobatics, juggling, mini-bicycle riding and by walking on stilts.

Beginning at 8:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, AllezUp Circus will present a light show that includes fire breathing, fire dancing, fire eating and other daring stunts.

“I think what I like best about busking is the proximity to our audience,” Trenka told SooToday.

"It’s different from doing a big stage show like Cirque du Soleil, who we’ve worked with before. I like to be able to be close to the audience, to meet them, to let kids try juggling if they want to, to inspire them to try circus arts for themselves, to answer their questions. I can talk to them about my life as a performer and tell them what busking is whereas if you’re on a stage you feel far from the audience. I really like to be close to the audience.”

The four buskers have entertained audiences across Canada and in various other countries around the world. 

Letourneau said the Sault is a special place for him as it was during his performance at Rotaryfest in 2019 that he decided to join AllezUp Circus with Trenka.

This year’s Rotaryfest will include the 100th annual Rotary Community Day Parade on Queen St. E. on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

The festival will include live entertainment from several bands on Stage One and on SooToday’s Stage Two.

Food, snacks and beverages are available from visiting vendors at Ribfest as well as from local businesses.

There is a wide variety of activities for children to enjoy, including fun on inflatables, pony rides, ringette, painting, giant chess and face painting.

A full list of activities and schedule for Rotaryfest 2023 can be found by clicking here.