• Submitted
• Jeremiah Johnston

The art of juggling encompasses object manipulation of many things: clubs, fire, diabolos, yo-yos, poi balls, cups, cantaloupes and chainsaws. There's individual juggling, multiple-person juggling, contact juggling and more, with all types of performance styles.

Those wanting to run away and join the circus can learn a few tricks of the trade (including most of the aforementioned) at the Humboldt Juggling Festival happening March 16-18 at Humboldt State's West Gym (free). Billed as "An event of extraordinary feats of juggling, sleight of hand, spinning, staff, poi, hooping, rings, whips, wands, clowning, clubs, diabolos, devil sticks, acrobatic yoga, unicycle, comedy, clowning, courage, kindness and cooperation," the festival draws performers and attendees from all over the world. The Humboldt Juggling Society, which has presented the festival for nearly two decades, invites attendees to unleash their inner clowns through dozens of workshops.

The festival isn't just three days of fun and workshops, there's also the festival's Big Public Show: Spring Fling! held at The D Street Neighborhood Center on Saturday, March 17 at 7 p.m. ($15, $12 students w/ID, $5 kids 6-10, free for kids 5 and under). The performance, emceed by local comedic fairy "Trish The Dish" showcases homegrown and world-class talents from many walks of the modern circus, juggling and performance communities.