While Alexander couldn’t bring in an actual tent due to fire regulations, he draped the ceiling with white fabric, backlit with colourful LED lights. A semicircle stage was painted onto the floor, with a backdrop of iconic yellow and red stripes that channeled a three-ring circus. Buskers circulated both inside and outside, interacting with guests and giving spontaneous performances. “I wanted to keep the jovial, juvenile character and feeling of [busking],” Alexander said.
This year, BuskerBall raised close to $120,000 for Epilepsy Toronto, surpassing its goal by $20,000. The event included silent and live auctions, a raffle, and a “balloon burst,” where guests paid $20 for a balloon they popped to get a prize inside.
Neighbourhood restaurants served food from tents that lined the venue. Wines were paired with each food item.
![E21299sa](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/08/e21299sa.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Red and yellow stripes covered the backdrop for the indoor stage.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e21299dsc_0778.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Rather than having a sit-down dinner, Jamie Alexander opted to have guests eat at high-top tables and interact with buskers.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e21299dsc_0753.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Epilepsy Toronto hoped to raise $50,000 from the live and silent auctions.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e21299_06p8058.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Bright colours added to the playful circus theme.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e21299dsc_0748.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Some busker acts performed on the painted stage inside, while others wandered among the guests.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e21299_06p8468.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![A 15-foot insect made a grand entrance early in the evening.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e21299_tan6640.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Each participating restaurant had its own tent either inside the North Market or outside in the courtyard. All the food was donated by local restaurants and food vendors.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e21299dsc_0741.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Guests lined up for poutine in the courtyard.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e21299dsc_0768.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Inside, food was served in wineglasses.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e21299dsc_0783.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![An outdoor fire show was the grand finale of the evening.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e21299_tan7217.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)