2012 Festival of Fools (August 2, Burlington)

Burlington City Arts is pleased to present the 5th annual Festival of Fools, a free, fun for all ages street festival taking place in downtown Burlington, kicking off Thursday, August 2nd at dusk (approximately 8:30pm) with the Charlie Chaplin film The Circus in City Hall Park, with street performances running Friday, August 3rd through Sunday, August 5th. Featuring entertainers from around the globe, residents and visitors will experience world-class performances in Downtown Burlington on the Church Street Marketplace and in City Hall Park.

The Festival of Fools is a curated festival of street theater devoted to community engagement through the celebration of circus arts, music and comedy for family audiences. In accord with Burlington City Arts’ mission to make the arts accessible in greater Burlington, the Festival of Fools offers free events, open to the public and appropriate for all age groups.

The Festival of Fools features the best international street performers from around the globe. Four main stage locations surrounding the Church Street Marketplace and City Hall Park will feature continuous street theater, performing to over 10,000 visitors to Church Street each day. The Festival wraps up on Sunday, August 5th with a grand finale featuring all the performers of the festival.

Festival of Fools brings the age-old tradition of busking to Burlington. Busking is the practice of performing in public places for tips and gratuities. Performers will be conducting their acts on various locations called pitches throughout the day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. While the entertainment is free, festival goers should feel free to donate to the performer if they like what they see.

New this year on Saturday and Sunday from 12-5pm, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont’s Kids Zone in City Hall Park features face painting, whimsical make-and-takes, free Bucket O’ Fun circus arts workshops, games and more! Also this year, Bank Street will be closed to traffic and features the Feast of Fools, showcasing foolery, great music and an outdoor food court. And for a special late-night experience, check out the Fool’s Night Out Cabaret, Friday and Saturday at 9pm in Contois Auditorium, City Hall. Fool’s Night Out features Legendary Cirque du Soleil performer Madame Zazou as the outrageous “Mistress of Ceremonies” for two unforgettable Fools’ cabaret shows. A different line-up each night features the cast and their best stage material with Mark Ettinger leading the “all-star” band. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 night of show, available at the Flynn Center Box Office and www.flynntix.org.

Festival of Fools is sponsored by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Vermont, American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, Farmhouse Tap & Grill, El Cortijo, Zero Gravity, Ben & Jerry’s, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Pomerleau Real Estate, Vermont Department of Tourism, Burlington Business Association, Ri Ra, Dealer.com, The Scuffer, Church and Main, NBT Bank, Eyes of the World, Concept 2 and The Church Street Marketplace, with media sponsorship by Star 92.9, WCAX-TV, and Free Press Media. This event is an important part of Burlington City Arts, which is dedicated to the promotion of excellence, experimentation, and education in all forms of contemporary art. For more information about gallery exhibitions, special events, classes and workshops, please call 802.865.7166 or visit BURLINGTONCITYARTS.ORG.