Eight great reasons to head to the Street Performance World Championships

One of Ireland's favourite free festivals is coming back to Dublin and Cork… and here's a taste of what you can expect.

Anyone knocking around Dublin at the weekend would do well to check out the action at the 2013 Street Performance World Championships (SPWC) on Merrion Square.

Yep, it's that time of the year again, when the world's best buskers and street perfomers converge on the capital - and then, the weekend after, the real capital, to battle it out for the title of world's best.

Along with the headliner perfomances from selected finalists there's loads of other stuff going on under the 'Ministry of Silly Ideas' label - Rainbow Disco, Custard Pie Throwing Championship and our personal favourite - Water Ballooning Ray D'Arcy (yes, that is him in the picture).

There's heaps of information on the festival's official website and Facebook page, but in the meantime we've had a look down through the list of 16 finalists to pick our favourites.

And here they are…

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1. THE GUY WHO CAN SQUISH THROUGH A SQUASH RACKET

Billing himself 'the human knot', Australia's Alakazam is a master of freaky contortions and pithy one-liners. "The best street performer I have ever seen," said Bruce Springsteen, and who are we to argue?

2. THE GUYS WHO WON LAST YEAR

Back for another tilt at the title are Hungary's Cirque No Problem, aka Noa and Uri Weiss, who won audiences over last year with 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' performed on a portable trapeze.

3. THE WORLD'S BEST FEMALE BEATBOXER*

Seriously, you haven't lived until you've seen 'chicken beatboxing'.

4. THESE TWO CHANCERS

Representing the home nation at the prestigious games are Lords of Strut, the twinkliest-toed duo since the heyday of Flatler and Butley.

5. THIS MAN DESTINED TO REMAIN A BACHELOR FOR ETERNITY

This man once held the world record for 'most rubber bands on the face'. His mother must be so proud.

6. THIS MINIATURE MEXICAN ACROBAT

We had no idea what a Cyr Wheel was before we watched this clip of Mexico's Pancho Libre. It's pretty awesome what he can do with it.

7. THE HEAVY METAL MAGICIAN

You see, the thing that makes you want to run most magicians through a meat grinder is how SERIOUSLY they take themselves. Not Nigel Blackstorm - the Spinal Tap of sleight of hand.

8. THIS SWORD-SWALLOWING DOMINATRIX IN SKINTIGHT RED PVC*

Oh to have been a fly on the wall during her career guidance sessions…

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The Laya Healthcare Street Performance World Championships take place on Dublin’s Merrion Square from July 12-14 and on St Patrick's St, Cork from July 20-21.

For the full list of 16 festival finalists visit here

*Dublin festival only