Jugglers, comedians, contortionists, unicyclists, clowns, musicians, dancers, acrobats, aerialists and living statues are set to take over Christchurch for the World Buskers Festival.

The festival is boasting the largest contingent of circus, street and stage acts that Christchurch has ever seen when the 10-day event kicks off on January 17.Jugglers, comedians, contortionists, unicyclists, clowns, musicians, dancers, acrobats, aerialists and living statues are set to take over Christchurch for the World Buskers Festival.

The festival is boasting the largest contingent of circus, street and stage acts that Christchurch has ever seen when the 10-day event kicks off on January 17.Among the line-up for the festival are New Zealand's iconic musical duo the 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.

The festival will feature 25 international and 15 national acts, chosen for their ability to captivate and titillate audiences young and old.

Victoria Square will be transformed into a three-ringed circus environment - Busker Park - where audiences can interact with strange beasties, purge themselves of a fine (or dirty) joke in The Confessional and get confused by living statues or awed by trapeze and aerial artists.

Last year an estimated 250,000 people attended events during the course of the 10-day festival.

Festival director 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.

"The festival is the ultimate boredom and stress-buster,'' she said.

"People love the festival because it is accessible, it appeals to all ages, and it gives people a chance to relax, laugh and just enjoy themselves.''

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 dollars 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!

Where: Christchurch
When: January 17 to 27
Tickets: Free but donations welcomed
Schedule: World Buskers

10/01/08