The Ferrara Buskers Festival was founded in 1987, born from an idea by Stefano Bottoni. A musician and craftsman, Stefano conceived the project in his workshop, where he envisioned an entire city embracing street music. Since 2019, the festival has been led by Rebecca Bottoni, who serves as president of the organizing association and head of artistic direction.

The decisive inspiration came from an article published on July 30, 1987, recounting how two street musicians had been sent away by local police. That incident sparked a desire to transform Ferrara into a place where musicians could perform freely—at least for a few days each year.

The idea quickly gained the Mayor's support and took shape through the establishment of the association that still organizes the festival today. It was then that the name "Buskers" was chosen—a term little known in Italy at the time, but destined to become the standard designation for street musicians.

That same year, Stefano Bottoni met Lucio Dalla in his workshop. Two years later, the renowned artist made a surprise appearance at the festival, playing the clarinet alongside Jimmy Villotti in a small square in Ferrara, blending in with the other buskers.

Today, the Ferrara Buskers Festival is an internationally renowned event that has inspired numerous similar festivals worldwide, all while preserving the spirit of its origins: a simple idea, born in a workshop, that grew into a globally recognized tradition.