Best Festival

This year’s Buskers Festival featured one of the most diverse lineups of performers ever, from extreme martial artists to fireworks demonstrations to skilled “didgeridooists” (not a real word—yet). So how does Kim Hendrickson, executive director of the festival, keep finding these crazy people? “We have contacts around the world, and I meet them regularly at conferences,” explains Hendrickson. “It’s sort of like baseball trading cards: ‘I’ll give you two fire guys and some martial arts for a German horn player.’” Sounds good. No tradesies-backsies. 1869 Upper Water, 429-6164

1st runner-up Atlantic Film Festival, 5600 Sackville, 420-4793

2nd runner-up Atlantic Jazz Festival, 1313 Hollis