Jugglers, Comedy Acts, Musicians: It’s all part of the Olympic entertainment.

You don’t have to go to a Live City site to be entertained  during the 2010 Winter Olympics. There’s plenty of acts to amuse you anywhere you go in the downtown core or Granville Island.  And the busker and street entertainers are making big bucks in tips.

There are performers of all kinds putting on shows on the sidewalks and pedestrian malls wowing audiences with their balancing act, comedy and mime routines or to-tapping music.  There’s a unicyclist on Robson Street near the Art Gallery who has the crowd mesmerized with his dare devil tricks while balancing on a three metre high unicycle while juggling three baseball bats.  It’s a real circus act, skillfully performed.

By the Bay, a violinist in full Mariachi costume plays a familiar Mexican tune, while over by the GE Ice Plaza another fiddler performs toe-tapping East Coast tunes.

On Granville Island, a female performer has four guys from the audience on stage participating in various zany routines while she keeps up a comical chatter with the amused crowd.  Farther over on the wharf by the Market, a crazy comedian/juggler who could be an act from a circus, captures the crowd’s attention with some breath-taking balancing acts and humorous chatter.

It’s all part of the Olympic scene, and these talented performers have come here from all over the country to take part in the party. It’s worth a walk around the Granville Street pedestrian mall, Robson Street or a trip over to Granville Island to take in some of this fine entertainment.  Like the athletes who participate in the sporting events, each of these buskers have practiced to perfect their tricks and it’s amazing to watch them.  Don’t forget to drop a few coin in their tip jars or hats.  They deserve it!

PHOTOS by W. Ruth Kozak