The Asheville Juggling Festival kicked off yesterday and runs all weekend long. This year, FYI, is “The Year of the Hootenany!” according to the event website.
The festival includes shows and workshops.
Workshops are held on Saturday, as well, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (an hour each) and include club tricks, partner acrobatics, club passing, diabolo, staff manipulation, hoop isolation and fire safety. Go here for the full schedule and workshop info. Workshops are held at the Stephens-Lee Community Center and are free.
The Saturday Evening Variety Extravaganza is held Saturday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. at Toy Boat Community Art Space (101 Fairview Road, Asheville). The all-ages show includes: “Tom Hughes (a.k.a. Professor Whizzpop), a truly talented magician and delightful raconteur, who will once again grace our stage to explain exactly why he thinks the ability to catch things sequentially and throw them away again can hardly be considered ‘entertainment.’ His gut-busting comedy will be interlaced with a host of skilled performers throughout the evening.”
Performer are: Wendal Wandell (magic), Madison J. Cripps (puppeteering), David Winston (diabolo), Sadye Ostrloh (trapeze), Brandon Malzahn (contact juggling), Laura Goetz (hoop manipulation), Forty Fingers & A Missing Tooth featuring Will Murray (club passing) and more. Go here to read performer bios. $10 suggested donation.
There’s also open gym time, a free ‘80s dance and juggle party (Saturday, 10 p.m. at Toy Boat) and more.
