The 19th annual buskers festival officially opens in Christchurch on Thursday evening despite a lack of central city streets and venues due to earthquake damage.
The 10-day Stronger Christchurch World Buskers Festival features 60 acts from 12 countries.
The programme begins on Friday from 11am and this year will be based at a village specially created in North Hagley Park.
Organiser Jo Blair says it has been a challenge pulling the event together, given the disruption caused by the quakes, but this year has the biggest line-up yet.
Ms Blair says last year's festival, held a month before the devastating quake on 22 February, generated $3.3 million of new money (ie from visitors outside Christchurch), with about $6 million generated overall.
A large number of buskers want to perform in Christchurch as a show of support, she says.
