A week of soaking-wet weather did not dampen the attendance numbers for Edmonton’s International Street Performers Festival. The event, which ended July 18, attracted some 230,000 visitors to Churchill Square. The record attendance figure was 250,000.
Shelley Switzer, artistic director for Streetfest, said that during periods of good weather, the crowds were so heavy that the pavement was not visible. Switzer said that because street performers are accustomed to all kinds of weather, they had no problem with entertaining their audiences in the rain. She likened the streets of Edmonton to the performers’ offices, saying that Streetfest is a totally outdoor experience, regardless of weather conditions.
As of July 18, 71.5 mm of rain fell in Edmonton since the beginning of the month. The heaviest amount of rain, 24mm, arrived on July 13. Per Environment Canada, Edmonton’s record for rainfall on a monthly basis is 92mm. It is possible that if stormy weather continues, the record may be broken in 2010.
Attendance has been negatively impacted at the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, said Marianne Copithorne, the event’s artistic director. She said that people have been intimidated by the many thunderstorms that have occurred this month. However, she noted, the amphitheatre tent in Hawrelak Park has seating to accommodate 1,100 people. Copithorne said that about 600 people attended the July 18 presentation of Macbeth. The Shakespeare Festival will continue through July 25. Along with Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing will be featured, with performances appearing on alternate nights.