You may not be familiar with the term "busker," but undoubtedly, you've stopped to watch and be entertained by one (or in the case of mimes, been thoroughly annoyed). Don't know what a busker is? Sure you do - they are street entertainers that perform for tips. They can be musicians, clowns, jugglers, magicians, dancers, monkeys, and, yes, mimes - pretty much anyone that keeps the crowds in popular public places entertained and amused with their talent, or lack thereof.

The term busking was first noted in the English language around the middle 1860s. The word busk comes from the Spanish root word buscar, meaning "to seek" – buskers are literally seeking fame and fortune. Famous entertainers have been known to busk, either pre- or post- fame: Paul McCartney, Sting, Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Jewel, Joni Mitchell...

Downtown’s Seaport Village will come alive with the extraordinary and bizarre when one-of-a-kind performers take to the cobblestone streets for a weekend of outdoor family amusement at the Spring Busker Festival—a celebration of street performers—Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The second annual festival will showcase a variety of street performers rivaling last year’s Didjeridoo player, jugglers, stilt walker, magician and others. The performer earning the most votes cast by the public will be offered a three-month contract to perform at Seaport Village this summer.

Oh, yeah, and while the Spring Busker Festival is free of charge, all buskers, of course, will be accepting tips. For more details about the Spring Busker Festival, visit the Seaport Village website.