Buskers play to record crowds
Record crowds and a good proportion of out-of-town visitors made this year's World Buskers Festival a smash hit.
The 10-day festival, which receives support from the City Council, included 447 shows and organisers estimate the crowd numbers at more than 250,000.
A survey done during the January event by University of Canterbury marketing graduates included interviews with more than 400 people. Nine out of 10 rated the festival as very good to outstanding. Both locals and tourists enjoyed the event, with 72 per cent of those surveyed from New Zealand and 28% overseas visitors. About 80% said they came into the Central City especially to see the acts. Festival goers were all ages too, with the largest percentage (68%) aged between 15 and 35, while 13% were over 50.
The survey concluded there is strong evidence to indicate the World Buskers Festival also attracts tourists. Of the tourists questioned, 67% said they would stay longer in Christchurch because of the festival.
"The festival's a worthwhile event and people really enjoy it," the survey team says.
Festival organiser Jodi Wright says the success of the festival is a team effort, and core funding from the Christchurch City Council, along with assistance from 29 other sponsors and supporters is greatly appreciated and worthwhile.
"The festival's reputation for excellence and our great locations in the heart of Christchurch's cultural and heritage precinct are big drawcards for international and domestic visitors, as well as for local residents, and it has become an icon event for the city," she says.
Christchurch is one of the world's top 10 buskers festivals, behind famous events in Linz, Austria; Edinburgh, Scotland and Halifax, Canada. Overseas acts are keen to take part and the event also attracts strong overseas and New Zealand media coverage.
Jodi Wright's next project is the International Jazz Festival from 24-30 April.
Popeyed was among the festival acts which drew strong crowds into the Central City.
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