The Lizardman, The Space Cowboy, sword swallowers and the rubber woman will descend on Ballarat in 2015 for the World Sideshow Festival.

World Sideshow Festival producer Shed Shepard said the festival was a collection of performances that highlighted the potential of the human body.

“Sideshow is best described as all the unusual acts that didn’t quite fit into the circus ... perhaps we could call it extreme circus,” he said.

“Over the last 15 years, sideshow has developed a depth and, theatricality, it is now seen as an legitimate genre of circus. It is no longer as the name suggests, a sideshow.”

Mr Shepard said while sideshow stunts had been performed in circuses, pubs and rock concerts for hundreds of years, never had there been a whole event dedicated to the weird and wacky performers.

“Never before has sideshow had its own festival, let alone an international festival featuring artists from around the world,” he said. “The genre has come of age and now it’s time to celebrate.”

But despite the excitement around the world leading up to the festival, funds are still needed by Wednesday to ensure the event runs smoothly.

“It’s imperative we make target and hopefully go over, because there are so many costs involved in producing a festival,” Mr Shepard said.

“Making target will ensure this event is an elite international event.”

World Sideshow Festival will be held at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, in Sturt Street, on May 21 to 23.

For information, visit worldsideshowfestival. com or to donate pozible.com/project/187848