Buskers Festival transforms Christchurch into the Giggle City

17th December 2007 - Press Release
Whether you throw the kids in the car or jump in a plane there’s only one place in New Zealand to be come January 17 – and that’s Christchurch, the Giggle City. For 10 days the city pulsates with the sound of laughter as some of the best street performers from around the globe take part in the World Buskers Festival.

“The festival is the ultimate boredom and stress-buster,’’ says director Jodi Wright, who has been the master-mind behind the festival since its inception 15 years ago.

Last year an estimated 250,000 people attended events during the course of the 10 day festival. Jodi Wright is hoping the numbers will be even higher this year, with more out-of-town visitors making the festival part of their holiday plans.

“We’ve got the locals well and truly hooked; now it’s just a matter of making sure the rest of New Zealand is let in on the secret so they too can enjoy all that Christchurch has to offer during the World Buskers Festival,’’ Jodi Wright says.

The line-up for next month’s festival, which runs from January 17 to 27, is one of the strongest ever.

“As the festival has grown in reputation more and more performers have wanted to take part. It is tough selecting the acts because we are dealing with the best street performers in the world. I’d have them all here if I could but logistically we have to whittle the numbers down,’’ Jodi Wright says.

“A lot of the acts I’ve chosen this time around haven’t performed at the festival before and I think audiences are going to be blown away by what they see and hear. I can’t wait for it to get underway.’’

So if your holiday plans are still up in the air, here are 15 reasons why you should be heading to Christchurch for the World Buskers Festival:

• It helps burn off those unwanted Christmas calories by giving you a good ab work-out
• It’s the best outdoor fun you can have in New Zealand with your clothes on
• It’s free
• It hasn’t yet been captured by the politically-correct brigade
• It attracts the best street performers in the world
• It celebrates wackiness in a city once renowned for it conservatism
• It helps dull the pain of the back-to-work blues
• It discriminates against no one – everyone, young, old, fat, skinny, bald or Martian is open to ridicule
• It’s never the same two years running
• Even if you’re accident prone you’re only likely to end up in stitches, not plaster
• It is boredom-buster certified.
• It adds mucho $$$ into the economy and creates a buzz in the central city
• It’s funky and edgy but you can still take your grandmother along
• It’s something that is uniquely Christchurch
• It makes you feel good!

For more information on the festival log onto www.worldbuskersfestival.com.
- Ends –

For further information and photos, please contact:

Anabel Darby
Darby ID Limited
Tel: (03) 379 2990
Mob: 021 668 090
Email: anabel@darbyid.com