Busking Brilliance at Lake Kawana
After the year that was, Buskers by the Lake is returning to the Sunshine Coast in an extravagant celebration of street performers. From 29 to 31 October, a few hundred artists and even more audiences will descend on Bokarina for a weekend of magic, mystique and marvel.
Why does a creek become a lake? Because the waterflow is always seeking new depths. This is the destination of Australia’s largest busking festival, surging to the banks of Lake Kawana in a swell of vivacious music, cabaret and stunt performances. Buskers by the Lake is throwing down the tip hats and instrument cases for the region’s undiscovered artists, staging a weekend of local entertainment for the Sunshine Coast.
Formerly known as Buskers by the Creek, this lakeside event will feature over 300 performers from across the country and the world. There’ll be a dancing dog, an acrobatic archer, a chainsaw juggler, a wheel of fire daredevil, a guitar playing hula hooper and musicians galore, from award-winning artists to talented teens.
Buskers by the Lake comes after a year of shutdowns and tossups, too precarious to host such a lively community event. Now event organisers are bringing back the love. They’re driving some much-needed passion into the community, stirring up the neglected careers and reconnecting artists and audiences.
The weekend kicks off with Battle of the Buskers, the ultimate showdown of busking brilliance for the festival’s top up-and-coming artists. Discover the undiscovered on 29 October at Eleven Dive Bar, with Child Prodigies performing at 3.30pm and Emerging Talent at 7pm. After previous winners including award-winning artist Tones and I, you might be witnessing the origins of our next megastar.
On 30 October, Déjà Voodoo rocks Venue 114 with record breaking stunts, mindboggling illusions and death-defying escapes. You’ll be jumping off the edge of your seat as The Space Cowboy and his devilish cast, including Zoe L’amore, Phoebe Blue, Lollita Pop and Rani Huszar, perform dangerous acts of the unimaginable with swords, sparks, flames and power tools.
During the daytime, meander through the festival to enjoy a colourful collection of performers and grab some grub from an international menu. The crowd favourite – a floating half pipe filled with BMX and skateboarding daredevils – will touch down on the surface of Lake Kawana. The event closes with the Sundowner Celebration, an exclusive 18+ party paradise with a tight-lipped line-up of entertainment.
Check out the festival and its headline events below:
Buskers by the Lake
30 to 31 October, 10am to 6pm
Kawana Lake, Sportsmans Drive, Bokarina, Sunshine Coast
Déjà Voodoo with The Space Cowboy and his devilish cast in a Halloween Shock Show
30 October
Venue 114, 114 Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina
Sundowner Celebration with bohemian powerhouse, Lucy Gallant, the charismatic funked up duo, Burger Joint and the masked mariachis, Kallidad.
30 to 31 October, 6.30pm to 10pm
Heartlands Bar
Kawana Lake, Sportsmans Drive, Bokarina, Sunshine Coast
Visit www.buskersbythelake.com.au/tickets to purchase.
