An idea from a City Hall staffer for bringing more foot traffic to downtown Lewiston has quickly turned into reality, with the city set to host its first busking festival Oct. 4.

Lewiston Live, the city’s first attempt at hosting such an event, will take place from 4-7 p.m. on a closed section of Lisbon Street between Ash and Main streets. It plans to feature 15 acts ranging from New Orleans street jazz to an energetic stunt comedy group.

Busking is the act of street performance in public spaces. It can include music, dance, magic, acrobatics and other unique talents to engage passersby. Each performer will receive a stipend from the city, with buskers also having the opportunity to accept tips from the audience.

Joe Grochmal, special assistant to the city administrator and the staff lead behind the festival, said he’s been pleasantly surprised by the response from performers, particularly “homegrown talent” that is taking part.

All the performers, he said, are either based in Maine or have a connection to the state, and represent a huge variety of talents and genres from blues, bluegrass and rock musicians to a drum group and the secret-agent-themed “Her Majesty’s Secret Circus.”

Ten of the acts will perform for 90-minute blocks at five locations on the street, with another five acts doing 45-minute sets in Dufresne Plaza on Lisbon Street. The festival is free to attend.

Grochmal, who brought the idea forward as Lewiston seeks to reinvigorate its downtown arts district, said events like “Lewiston Live” can activate space in the downtown, but also “the cultural capacity of our community.”

“I was hoping when we opened this up that it would attract local talent and I’m glad it worked out that way,” he said, adding that several performers who weren’t able to take part in the inaugural event have already signed on for events planned in 2026.

When pitching the busking festival idea in May, Grochmal said the plan was to test the concept in the fall and hopefully build momentum for launching a full slate of events in 2026.

Earlier this year, the city hired an organization called Community Busk to help develop the festival and will pay the organization $24,000 out of its marketing budget.

A recently launched website for the festival says it will transform Lisbon Street “into an open-air stage filled with music, dance, spoken word, and visual art.”

“Our goal is to highlight incredible local artists and talent from around Lewiston while welcoming others with strong regional ties, creating a shared public experience that reflects the energy, diversity, and interests of our community,” the website says.

From its inception, officials have eyed the busking festival as a creative way to get more residents downtown, engaging with local restaurants and businesses. The first-year launch is part of a larger effort to “activate public spaces through the arts and make downtown feel more welcoming, cultural, and connected,” city staff said.

Prior to coming to Lewiston, Grochmal was part of a team that coordinated the popular Berkshire Busk festival in his hometown of Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He said he’s seen how familiar streets can be “brought to life” by events like these.

Angelynne Amores, Lewiston’s director of marketing and communications, said one of the things she’s heard from residents during recent public meetings hosted by city administration is the desire for year-round programming.

Grochmal said the performers, which also include Carand Burnet, Dusty Buckets, and Plague Dad, will be spaced out strategically on the street, with the public able to engage with different acts throughout their time.

“You could spend 10 minutes with one act and then catch another, and then circle back,” he said. “We felt this way was the best to encourage spontaneity for our guests.”

Those interested in performing at future events or volunteering can sign up via the website at lewistonlivefestival.com.

Grochmal said based on the amount of interest this year, planning for next year is looking good.

“I haven’t even had to fire up my tuba yet,” he said.