Burlington’s Festival of Fools is back, but scaled down from years past. Earlier this year, the Burlington City Arts decided to pause the event because of budget cuts, but area businesses rallied to make sure the show still went on. Now, it’s revived as the Fools’ Block Party.Performers lined Church Street with performances happening near Bank and College streets and in City Hall Park. From music to up-in-the-air performances, there’s something for everyone. “My favorite part was when they tossed the fire,” spectator Arsenie said. Jimi Stuffle said, “I really liked when he did a handstand at the end.”For performers like Yuri Alekhin, a former strongman for Cirque du Soleil, performing on Church Street lets him be closer to the audience. “It’s a really lovely place. There’s nice people, so warm, kindness is nice. It’s like a big, big family,” he said. Yuri and his family are from Russia, but are in the U.S. under asylumHis wife, Inga Maevskaya, said they feel welcomed by Vermont, especially by Friday’s crowds.”I’m really happy to be here, and I’m happy that my husband is a part of this festival. It’s really a very nice event,” she said. “I was really fascinated by the people coming because the audience is so warm and welcoming. This is just wonderful.”It’s still up in the air if the Festival of Fools returns to its normal format. “I think it’s going to depend on our economy, the community at large and how many things are able to be brought back in a fiscally tight period,” said Burlington City Arts executive director Doreen Kraft. “I’m very hopeful.”The party continues Saturday starting at 11 a.m. A full list of performances and locations can be found here.
Burlington’s Festival of Fools is back, but scaled down from years past.
Earlier this year, the Burlington City Arts decided to pause the event because of budget cuts, but area businesses rallied to make sure the show still went on.
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Now, it’s revived as the Fools’ Block Party.
Performers lined Church Street with performances happening near Bank and College streets and in City Hall Park.
From music to up-in-the-air performances, there’s something for everyone.
“My favorite part was when they tossed the fire,” spectator Arsenie said.
Jimi Stuffle said, “I really liked when he did a handstand at the end.”
For performers like Yuri Alekhin, a former strongman for Cirque du Soleil, performing on Church Street lets him be closer to the audience.
“It’s a really lovely place. There’s nice people, so warm, kindness is nice. It’s like a big, big family,” he said.
Yuri and his family are from Russia, but are in the U.S. under asylum
His wife, Inga Maevskaya, said they feel welcomed by Vermont, especially by Friday’s crowds.
“I’m really happy to be here, and I’m happy that my husband is a part of this festival. It’s really a very nice event,” she said. “I was really fascinated by the people coming because the audience is so warm and welcoming. This is just wonderful.”
It’s still up in the air if the Festival of Fools returns to its normal format.
“I think it’s going to depend on our economy, the community at large and how many things are able to be brought back in a fiscally tight period,” said Burlington City Arts executive director Doreen Kraft. “I’m very hopeful.”
The party continues Saturday starting at 11 a.m. A full list of performances and locations can be found here.
