The first Singapore River Buskers' Festival was held along the Singapore River from 15 to 23 November 1997. The event was organised by The A Team Promotions, with the support of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (STPB). It featured 17 overseas busking acts that included juggling, mime and comedy. International busking acts from Argentina, Canada, Japan, the United States and Yugoslavia participated in the first festival. It marked the lifting of a three-year ban to busking although interestingly, the buskers brought in for the festival were already paid by the organisers.