White Rock Buskers & Comedy Festival
When: May 25 – 27, 2023 (with Busking activities only on May 27)
Where: Several venues around Uptown and Five Corners
Mark your calendar for the highly anticipated 2023 White Rock Buskers & Comedy Festival!
Get ready for a weekend of non-stop entertainment- with an exciting lineup of talented performers that is sure to leave you amazed and laughing.
During the day on Saturday May 27, FREE outdoor busking performances will take place in select locations around Uptown and Five Corners. Featuring a diverse mix of musicians, circus acts, and magicians, these performances will bring stunning displays of talent, jaw-dropping stunts, and captivating tricks that will leave you in awe.
As the sun sets, the festival will continue with ticketed comedy shows featuring some of the industry’s biggest names and most hilarious comedy acts for the grown-ups.
This year’s festival boasts a star-studded lineup of stand-up comedians that are sure to deliver side-splitting laughter:
- Julie Kim– is one of Canada’s top stand-up comedians, having been featured on national TV and radio many times and toured with Ronny Chieng of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.
- Ola Dada– is a runner-up in the Canada-wide “SiriusXM Top Comic Competition” and appeared on CBC’s The New Wave of Stand Up.
- Patrick Maliha– is an award-winning comedian and writer from “Mystery Science Theater 3000, as well as the world record holder for the most impressions in one minute.
- Jacob Samuel– is a Juno Award-winning comedian and frequent guest of CBC’s “The Debaters.”
… and many, many more!
The White Rock Buskers & Comedy Festival is presented by Grant Residential Group and sponsored by the Province of British Columbia and Yuk Yuks Surrey.
The White Rock Buskers and Comedy Festival is produced by the White Rock BIA.
Comedy shows:
Dates and Locations for this year’s evening Comedy shows:
For almost all shows, there will be multiple times for every show each night. Be sure to pick the time and venue that works for you- and allows you to see multiple shows each night!
Thursday (May 25) shows: Elks Hall & White Rock Beach Beer
We’re thrilled to partner with White Rock’s own Hilarapy to open the 2023 White Rock Buskers & Comedy Festival- featuring some of the best graduates from Hilarapy’s program and headlined by Lizzie Allan!
- Headliner Lizzie Allan is a dynamic, internationally-renowned comedian known for her witty humor and relatable stories. She is the creator of an award-winning company Hilarapy- Healing with Humour and a local member of the White Rock Community.
We’re bringing in a new format for the 2023 White Rock Buskers & Comedy Festival- an open mic night!
Submit a short (2 minute) demo reel to us and you could be asked to perform a five-seven minute set at the open mic night. The winner of the open mic night, chosen by our independent judging panel and will receive a paid slot at one of our Friday or Saturday night shows for an opportunity to achieve your stand-up dreams.
There are two ways you can submit your reel:
- Message us your video through Facebook or Instagram;
- Upload your video to YouTube and email a link to info@whiterockbia.com
- Host Chris Gaskin is one of Canada’s fastest rising comedians with a knack for improvisation and audience interaction. He was featured on SiriusXM Satellite Radio and has won the Champion of Champions Comedy Competition.
Think you’re ready to perform a five minute set in front of a crowd? Keep an eye here for details on how you can submit your demo reel.
Friday (May 26) show: Islands Cafe & Blue Frog Studios
Times: 7 pm and 9:15 pm
Enjoy Islands Café after hours, as Vancouver’s up-and-coming comedy talents take the stage and give you a night to remember. The comedians in this show are on the path to stardom- this is your chance to see them before they get big!
- Headliner Ola Dada is the runner-up in the Canada-wide “SiriusXM Top Comic Competition,” appeared on CBC’s The New Wave of Stand Up, and was a semi-finalist on Canada’s Got Talent.
- Host Amber Harper-Young is the winner of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Talent Search and a signed feature performer with Yuk Yuk’s International since 2014.
… and many many more!
Times: 7 pm and 9:15 pm
The White Rock Buskers & Comedy Festival returns to Blue Frog Studios for an intimate night featuring North America’s top comedy talent!
- Headliner Patrick Maliha is a seasoned veteran with years of experience. He is the world record holder for most impressions in one minute- beating out Dana Carvey- and has been featured on CBC radio, XM and Sirius satellite radio’s various comedy programs He has been voted as one of Vancouver’s Favourite Comedians in both the Georgia Straight and Westender for numerous years.
- Featured Comedian Trumaine Bradley is a rising talent, bringing his unique perspective and engaging performance style to the stage. He has been featured on MTV, NPR, and the Altercation Comedy Festival.
- Host Sophia Johnson is an accomplished actor and comedian, performing internationally to sold-out shows including at Just for Laughs and all three of New Zealand’s International Comedy Festivals. Her show “50 minutes plus laughs” was received with great acclaim by its sold-out audiences.
Saturday (May 27) show: Oceana PARC Playhouse & Laura’s Coffee Corner
Times: 4 pm and 7 pm
Don’t miss the gala comedy show of the 2023 White Rock Buskers & Comedy Show, featuring Canada’s top comedians:
- Headliner Julie Kim is a national and international comedy sensation, having been featured on national TV and radio many times. She recently toured with Ronny Chieng of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.
- Feature Jacob Samuel is a Juno award-winning Canadian stand-up comic based in Vancouver, BC, and has been featured on Sirius XM and CBC’s “The Debaters.”
- Host Chris Griffin is a winner of the Vancouver Comedy Competition and finals of the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition. He is a two-time winner and five-time nominee of the Vancouver Comedy Awards.
… and more!
Times: 7 pm and 9:15 pm
We’re turning one of White Rock’s beloved businesses into an after-hours comedy show- featuring Ryan Lachance and Friends!
- Ryan Lachance is a White Rock local and seasoned comedian known for his quick wit, relatable humor, and engaging stage presence. He recently headlined at House of Comedy, is a regular headline and feature act at Yuk Yuks and Just for Laughs, and collaborated on the Just for Laughs Best of the West comedy album compilation.
- Peter Hudson is an experienced comedian who knows how to keep the audience entertained and the laughter flowing throughout the show.
… and more!
Downloadable Digital Program Guide: Buskers & Comedy Festival
Busking Performances:
FREE busking performances around town- so be sure to bring your family and friends to catch the several AMAZING acts!
Buskers Activities Schedule:
Saturday, May 27
Miramar Village (1425 Johnson Rd):
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM: NZR Production
12:45 PM – 1:30 PM: NZR Production
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM: NZR Production & Travis Bernhardt
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM: Jessaii
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM: Roots Peruvian Folk Dance
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM: Duncan Minett
Five Corners (Johnston Rd and Pacific Ave):
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM: Duncan Minett
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM: Jessaii
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM: Roots Peruvian Folk Dance
Outside Laura’s Coffee Corner (15259 Pacific Ave):
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Travis Bernhardt
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM: Little Fox
2:45 PM – 3:30 PM: Little Fox
Downloadable PDF version: Buskers Activities Schedule
Sponsors:
The White Rock Buskers & Comedy Festival is presented by Grant Residential Group and sponsored by the Province of British Columbia and Yuk Yuks Surrey.
The White Rock Buskers and Comedy Festival is produced by the White Rock BIA.
