Edmonton International Street Performers Festival

For a sneak look at  what’s going on at the next Edmonton International Street Performers Festival in Alberta - take a look at  the latest newsletter at  that has lots of information about signing up to volunteer for the 2011 festival and the annual general meeting and membership drive.

The facebook page for the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival is packed with useful information.

Each year in mid July, Edmonton’s downtown core is transformed into the ultimate play zone as street performers from around the globe gather for ten days of fun and laughter in the annual Edmonton International Street Performers Festival.

A main attraction for over 26 years, the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival was the first of its kind in North America when it began in 1985.

For more information take a look at the Top Events Canada page about the festival at: http://www.topeventscanada.com/alberta-edmonton-international-street-performers-festival.html

The brand new site celebrating the wonderful events and festivals throughout Canada is brought to you by the team who has produced the highly successful Top Events USA at http://www.topeventsUSA.com

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan

Summer is almost here and it is only a month to go before the start of the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan festival! 

Contemporary and traditional productions of plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries are presented in large tents on the banks of the beautiful South Saskatchewan River in the heart of Saskatoon.

Now in its twenty-seventh summer at the South Saskatchewan River locations, the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan season for 2011 season of Magic and Mirth features the hilarious romantic folly of Love's Labour's Lost, playing in repertory with Shakespeare's touching blend of drama and comedy, The Winter's Tale.

Performances run from July 6th To August 21st with the ticket office opening in a few days on June 9th, 2011.  Look to book on line at www.shakespeareonthesaskatchewan.com/tickets/ or call Ticketmaster at (306) 938-7800

Prices vary from $10 to $30.

For more special events and festivals in Saskatchewan please visit the Top Events Canada page dedicated to top events and festivals in Saskatchewan.

Summer Vancouver Events

There’s lots of fun to be had in Vancouver this summer, with several very popular events.

At the end of June, the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival brings some of music’s edge-pushers, mainstayers and international ambassadors to Vancouver. For 10 days, music lovers can enjoy 400 concerts in 40 venues across the city. Each day from noon to the wee hours, jazz of all styles and stripes resonates throughout Vancouver. 

Click here for more details about the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival or visit the official web site at http://www.coastaljazz.ca

A month later, at the end of July, the Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival that started as a courageous and peaceful protest in 1978 has become one of the most spirited and well attended celebrations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride anywhere. Drawing 650,000-plus spectators, the parade begins on Robson Street, travels through the West End, and finishes at the Sunset Beach festival site. Showcasing colourful floats, rainbow-coloured balloons, music, dancers, and a heck of a party, it’s no wonder Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival is one of Vancouver’s can’t-miss summer events. 

Click here for more details about the The Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival or visit the official web site at http://www.vancouverpride.ca 

The largest off-shore fireworks competition in the world, the Celebration of Light Fireworks Festival (July 30, August 3 and August 6 at 10:00 pm) takes place over three nights in the summer. Lighting up the sky over English Bay and the city’s downtown core, the amazing pyrotechnic show is choreographed to music and showcased free to the public, drawing crowds of more than 1.5 million people annually to the city’s beaches, waterfront parks and restaurants. All performances begin at 10:00 pm. 

Click here for more details about the Celebration of Light or visit the official web site at http://www.celebration-of-light.com/

Just for Laughs

Just For Laughs, held in June in Montréal, Québec (QC) is now known as the world’s largest comedy event, and attracts more than 2 million people each year who come to take part in a wide range of activities from live performances of world famous comedians, to comedic film previews and television specials.

The 2011 fest is, claim the officials, “ridiculously awesome”. 

Massive shows include Russell Peters: Best Night Ever, Modern Love, hosted by ABC’s Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet and Craig Ferguson’s International House of Comedy should be amazing as well. It his third time hosting a Videotron Gala, so he knows what he's doing!

This year, the Just for Laughs festivals is the longest presentation ever, and covers more than 3 weeks packed with comedy stars.  All the fun takes place from July 11th to the end of the month.

Click here for more information on the Just for Laughs Festival in Montréal or visit the official web site at www.hahaha.com

Tickets for the festival are available on line at https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/pack_home.htmI?l=EN&team=jprjfl

SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival

The ever popular SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is offering a wide range of treats for this year, including:

• New Orleans legend Aaron Neville will make a return to the Festival on Sunday, June 26, when he brings his soulful brand of R&B and gospel to the TD Mainstage, joined by his funky quintet and his brother Charles Neville.
  
• The Broadway Theatre will welcome one of the world’s great young jazz musicians on Monday, June 27, as bassist Christian McBride and his acoustic jazz quintet Inside Straight perform a collection of hard swing-to-bluesy groove tunes.
  
• On Saturday, July 2, a night of eclectic hip hop comes to the Bessborough Gardens, featuring Arrested Development‘s potent concoction of funk, rap, soul and jazz music, and the playful wordplay of De La Soul.
  
• Regina-born blues guitarist Colin James comes home to Saskatchewan to play the Festival on Saturday, June 25.
  
• Reunited for the first time since 1992, the original lineup of Béla Fleck & The Flecktones will perform their extraordinary music on Tuesday, June 28.
  
• Indie folk-rock duo Tegan and Sara will draw the Festival to a close on Sunday, July 3, in their first visit to Saskatoon since their sold-out concert at TCU place in January, 2010.  

For more information visit the new Top Events Canada web site and see the information on the SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival or visit the official web site at http://saskjazz.com/

Highland Storm on Prince Edward Island

Part of the annual Summerside Highland Gathering  in Summerside on Prince Edward Island, the all new production of Celtic music and dance, Highland Storm, takes place throughout July and August and showcases the very best in PEI talent!

Featuring a cast of over thirty including Highland and step dancers performing to the sounds of the pipes and drums, the high energy Highland Storm show runs four nights a week, outdoors in the covered amphitheatre in Summerside.

Click here for Top Events Canada for more details about the Summerside Highland Gathering celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage ( including step-dancing, Highland dancing competitions, bagpiping and bagpiping competitions, drumming and Scottish athletic events ) or visit the official web site at www.collegeofpiping.com

Held at the end of June, the Summerside Highland Gathering attracts locals and visitors from all over the world to take part in the competitions, wander through the clan tents, visit Celtic gift vendors, try the Scottish food and enjoy the music in the entertainment tent or at the outdoor main stage.

Luminato Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity

For ten days each year in June, the five-year old Luminato, the Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, transforms the stages, streets and public spaces of Toronto with theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, literature, food, visual arts, fashion, film, food and design.

For the fourth consecutive year, Luminato is presenting The Canadian Songbook, which celebrates Canadian songs each year and, on June 15, Luminato pays tribute to Ron Sexsmith at Toronto’s iconic Massey Hall, where Sexsmith shares the stage with friends and fellow musicians.

Additional guest artists include Kevin Hearn, Band Member of the Barenaked Ladies who will be the Musical Director for the evening, Greg Keelor, the award winning Canadian singer-songwriter and band member of Blue Rodeo, multi instrumentalist Julie Fader, Andy Kim, Montreal-born rock indie pop singer/songwriter who has been awarded Canada’s top music industry honor twice, the JUNO Award for Outstanding Achievements in the record industry, Juno-nominated, Toronto-based singer songwriter Matthew Barber, Shane Koyczan: Award-winning Canadian spoken word artist, seen at the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics, and Measha Brueggergosman, the multi-award-winning Canadian soprano who performs both as an opera singer and concert artist.

Luminato takes place from June 10-19, 2011.

Click here for more details about Luminato - The Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity or visit the official Luminato web site at www.luminato.com