If you wander into Waterford this weekend, you might be accosted by some scary-looking people on the street. Fear not, dear visitor, for these strange, fire-breathing, juggling, stilt-walking and dancing creatures are here to entertain you, and you won't even have to give them any money. Non-stop street performance is all part of the fun at the city's annual Spraoi festival, and this year's event will squeeze performers from Europe, Africa and the Americas onto every available public space.
Described as "one of Ireland's best-kept festival secrets", Spraoi has been noisily going about its business since 1993, but the firmly local focus has kept the rest of the world out of earshot. As the festival has matured, however, more visitors have beaten a path to Waterford in search of a good street carnival.
This year, 50,000 spectators are expected to watch tomorrow's Spraoi Parade and finale, and not all of them will be local.
During the weekend, Circus Zaparelli will be swerving their unicycles around the throng, while Tanzanian troupe The Black Eagles will be dancing like dervishes to an African beat. The Chipolatas will mix spicy funk music with sizzling acrobatics, and Men In Coats will have some surreal slapstick and bizarre comedy up their sleeves.
No big international names on the music front but, say the organisers, it's not that kind of gig. Expect lively East European gypsy sounds from The Bagdaddies, hot Brazilian pop from Xaya, and eccentric humour from French band Zic Zazou. More information from: www.spraoi.com
