Buskin' It Up

We spent yesterday in Saint John for the final day of the "Buskers on the Boardwalk" festival -- although due to inclement weather, the "boardwalk" ended up inside Market Square.

The Silly People kicked things off with some juggling, yo-yo tricks, balloon silliness, and a special appearance by yours truly, after which Jeff Collins regaled the crowd with crude, offensive humour (his favourite line was "Don't worry, the kids don't get it"), a bit of juggling, and some fire-eating. Maren cried through most of the performance, but pulled it together to watch the grand finale: Jeff breathing a gigantic fireball. (Turned out to be one of the highlights of the day for her!)

If you ever have a chance to check out SQUID, don't hesitate. They all began in competitive highland pipe and drum bands, and have evolved into a performance art group of drummers and a piper who spins in circles on the ground. (We've got a DVD and a couch on which you can watch it with us.) We stuck around for Dream State Circus -- kind of a mini-Cirque de Soleil with the whole deal ... juggling, fire, acrobalance, rope walking, that trapeze thing with the long silks. They were fantastic and very professional!

That was a good note to end on before Harley Bladewalker, who I'm sure is charming, but a little too exciting for our kids, I think. (At one point during his show, Jeff Collins said, "Do you want to see something a little more dangerous?" Maren screamed, "NO!" Yep, not so much into the danger.) Sword-swallowing and sword-walking may not have been so much entertaining as terror-inducing.