Dublin City Spectacular: What to Expect Plus 13 Top Street Performances of All Time

Find out what to expect at Dublin City Spectacular (aka Street Performance World Championships). Read about top street performances of all time.

Summer is festival season in Dublin and one of my favorite festivals in Ireland has to be the Dublin City Spectacular (formerly known as the Street Performance World Championships). 

Buskers from around the world set up in Merrion Square and perform their hearts out all for the love of the crowd (and don't forget the tips!) 

Anticipation of this year's festival inspired me to reminisce about my top memories from years past. Check out some of the mind blowing performances and other activities below. I can't wait to see what this year's festival has in store!

SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Dublin has so much to offer including many free things to do. Check out our huge list of one day Dublin City itineraries for ideas.

1. Where's Wally?

My absolute favorite memory from the Street Performance World Championships is participating in the Where's Wally World Record Attempt. 

There was something just so much fun about dressing up in red stripes with more than 10,000 other people. And we nailed it! It was indeed a historic occasion and one for the record books.

2. Impromptu Hip Hop Street Art (Japanese Style!) with Yukinko Akira

The Dublin City Spectacular attracts street artists from all over the world. Yukinko Akira from Japan is another one of my all time faves. 

Part carving, part spray paint, part hip hop dance performance, Yukinko needs to be seen to be believed. So talented!

3. Fraser Hooper - The Boxing Mime

Fraser Hooper, the boxing mime, simply made us smile. He set up a boxing ring, picked out an unsuspecting member of the audience and proceeded to comically spar with them, all while staying totally silent. 

4. USA Breakdancers

The USA Breakdancers brought their A-game, pulling off some fantastic moves alongside Merrion Square.

5. Mime Magic Breakdancing and Puppetry with Funny Bones

Funny Bones was another of my all time favorite acts. They combined a mixture of miming, breakdancing and puppetry into a magical performance.

6. The Book of Love  

Lindsay Benner put on am imaginative performance in 2011. Lindsay combined juggling with theatrical storytelling and copious audience participation.  

Titled The Book of Love, Lindsay acted out the stages of a relationship from 'Catching Mr. Right' to the 'First Date' to 'Falling in Love' to 'Turning up the Heat'.  At each stage she tried to impress her man with feats of daring.

7. I'm a little Teapot with Senmaru

Senmaru, another Japanese street artist left us all in awe as he juggled a teapot on a stick held between his teeth. Whut?!

8. Shep Huntly

Shep exudes bravado and good humor while preparing to lay down on a bed of forks and have a bowling ball dropped upon him!

9. Jardu the Magician

You haven't properly experienced a street performance festival until you watch someone swallow a sword. For his finale, Jardu did just that: he swallowed a really, really long sword as the Merrion Square audience looked on.

 

10. Wacky Chad

Wacky Chad did an impressive job juggling from an extra-tall unicycle while carrying on some self-deprecating banter.

  

11. Ernest the Magnifico

Ernest the Magnifico specializes in family-friendly comedic stunts.

12. Derek Derek

Derek Derek spent a good amount of time miming and clowning around getting various kids and other audience members to help set up his pole.  He then wowed the crowd with acrobatic moves performed high above the cold hard street.

13. The Space Cowboy

Most of the acts in the Street Performance World Championships and broader City Spectacular change every year. However, there is one performer that comes year after year: the award winning Space Cowboy. 

His sword swallowing routine is not to be missed and will leave you amazing and in fear for his life!

Art Guitar Giveaways

Back in 2014, The Dublin City Spectacular expanded beyond the Street Performance World Championships to bring us the City Soul Picnic. 

As part of the festival, the organizers sold raffle tickets to benefit children's music-focused charities with a number of art guitars as prizes. Would you believe I won one?! 

I always think back fondly on the festival whenever I look at my guitar which has pride of place alongside our living room mantle.

Great Gigs

The City Soul Picnic in Merrion Square also featured a number of talented local musicians. The Dublin City Spectacular seems to get better every year!

When is Dublin City Spectacular 2023?

The Laya Healthcare City Spectacular will be back on in Dublin in 2023. When is the Dublin City Spectacular scheduled? Top street performers from around the world will converge on Merrion Square from Friday July 14th until Sunday July 16th for some jaw-dropping and free fun in Dublin.