Three Months Till World Buskers Festival, In ChCh

Three months till curtain lifts on World Buskers Festival in Christchurch

With the curtain lifting on the Southern Hemisphere's largest buskers' festival in just three months, organisers are urging those planning on coming to Christchurch for the event to book ahead.

The 10-day World Buskers' Festival (WBF) is the most popular festival on Christchurch's busy events calendar and with 2008 marking WBF's 15th birthday, organisers have pulled out all the stops to assemble a stellar international line-up that will have audiences in fits of laughter.

Each year the festival gets bigger and better, which means it is becoming more important than ever for people planning on visiting Christchurch for the festival, which runs from January 17 to 27, to make their arrangements early rather than leaving it to the last minute.

Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism chief executive Christine Prince says a growing number of visitors from around New Zealand and from overseas are being drawn to Christchurch for the festival because of the high calibre of performers it attracts.

"It really is a world class event and that's why it continues to go from strength to strength. When the festival first started 15 years ago it was mainly just locals attending but now the crowds are made up of people from far and wide.''

Christine Prince says out-of-town visitors who are planning on attending January's festival should book their travel and accommodation now to avoid any disappointment as summer is traditionally a very busy time.

"Christchurch is a great place to visit at any time of the year but it's an extra special place to be when the World Buskers' Festival is on. It's an amazing atmosphere here - and something everyone should experience at least once in their life-time.''

Festival director Jodi Wright says the line-up for next year's festival 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.''

Among the line-up already announced for the festival are New Zealand's Topp Twins, The Chipolatas from the UK, the Two Sopranos from Wales, the Daredevil Chicken Club from the US, and the Piano Juggler from the Canada.

Details of the other acts will be announced shortly.

ENDS

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