The Juggling Club hosted its annual Juggling Festival at Little Acorn Park from April 17 to 19, marking the 50th time it’s been held since its commencement in 1977. The festival juggled a variety of events, such as teaching workshops, professional fire juggling and a public show featuring various juggling styles.
The Flying Cohen Brothers performed synchronized juggling in black and white coordinated costumes. Yogita Sharma / Daily Nexus
All proceeds of the festival’s public show, were donated to the non-profit organization, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA). The Juggling Festival was created in memory of Pattey Laney, a UC Santa Barbara student and juggler, who was sexually violated and murdered in 1977 by serial killer Thor Christiansen. Since its creation, the Juggling Festival has raised awareness of sexual violence against women and support for survivors of sexual assault.
Alex Franklin Chen, a fourth-year aquatic biology major and co-president of the juggling club, expressed that the fire-lit performances, live music and decades-long friendships defined the festival
“It’s a bunch of friends that are still around,” he said. “They’re still around and still friends, and they all still love to juggle.”
On the first day of the festival attendees experimented with rings, clubs, juggling balls, mini basketballs, a rope dart and a diabolo. The diabolo, also known as the Chinese Yo-Yo, is an hourglass-shaped prop that’s meant to be spun, tossed and caught on a string. While a formal workshop was held, instruction organically flowed throughout the afternoon.
The first night of the festival featured a fire and glow juggling session that drew a crowd of about 60 spectators. Once the fire ring was established, participants held six rounds of “combat juggling,” a competitive format in which jugglers try to knock each other out of their routines. UCSB alumnus and former juggling club President David Ton joined the head-to-head matches.
All proceeds of the festival’s public show, were donated to the non-profit organization, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA). Yogita Sharma / Daily Nexus
The juggling activities resumed Saturday and was one of the festival’s busiest days. Throughout the day, open juggling sessions transitioned into a live music showcase at Little Acorn Park featuring local bands Girl Boner, The Radar, Junkyard I.V. and Oracles.
The public show, which featured professional juggler performances, was held at the I.V. theater on April 18 with an estimated 250-300 people in attendance, the largest turnout of the weekend. The show’s performance lineup mixed technical skill with comedy and audience interaction.
The Flying Cohen Brothers performed synchronized juggling in black and white coordinated costumes. Rick Rubenstein, the inventor of Rubenstein’s Revenge, a 3-ball juggling pattern, delivered a juggling-based comedy act that incorporated drawing an audience member.
Gideon Elson, a 2024 International Juggling Association bronze medalist, closed with a silent juggling performance. Other performances included the Raspyni Brothers, comedy juggler Scotty Meltzer, Karen Quest and long-time Cirque du Soleil performer John Gilkey, paired up with Ron Persky.
The festival concluded on Sunday and began again with open juggling and an informal atmosphere. A segment dubbed “Vamp n’ Chill,” a reference to a juggling technique where one hand maintains a pattern while the other does something unrelated, reflected the event’s playful tone.
Juggling club Co-President and fourth-year Spanish major Harrison Majersik said his favorite part of juggling is that there is always a way to level up his skills and include different props.
“There’s always a level up,” Majersik said. “There’s always a level up in something different, clubs are different than balls and the diabolo is something I really, really love.”
The last day also featured a slackline and a returning art vendor, May Camp, who sold miniature origami displayed in glass bottles alongside photography and prints.
The festival concluded with a farewell juggling session as participants gradually dispersed after three days of continuous activity.
Organizers said the festival’s success came despite significant logistical challenges, including funding hurdles, venue limitations and a compressed planning timeline.
The festival drew participants ranging from first-time student jugglers to veterans with decades of experience. As the festival closed Sunday evening, organizers said they expect the tradition to continue, even as Juggling Club leadership changes.
“[The festival] was great! I’m super stoked on how it turned out,“ Majersik said. “I mean, just about everything went amazing, taught tons of people, and overall it was super fun.”
