Friendly, Familiar Atlanta Fest Celebrates Its 20th

The stalwarts of the Atlanta Juggler's Association hosted their 20th annual Groundhog Day Juggler's Festival this year. The watchwords of this event have become, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" so regular attendees weren't surprised to find the festival format unchanged. 

More than 125 jugglers from points near and far enjoyed each other's company during the weekend, and a large crowd of "civilians" joined them for shows on Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon. Jugglers got off by them- selves on Saturday night for a cabaret show as well. 

The highlight event was Saturday after- noon's competition for "The Phils," groundhog- adorned trophies designated for the "Most Stupendous," "Most Fantastic" and "Most Incredible" acts of the day. The AJA's Toni Shifalo again snagged three non-jugglers just before the show, designated them as event judges and sat them down on the front row to make the choice of prize winners. 

Following the traditional kickoff antics of the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable Band, nine acts showed their four-minute best. The "Most Stupendous" was "Tesselation," the Athens, Ga., team of Eli Wright and Jeff Estes. One member of the duo is a math teacher, and the group name was chosen because it represents a geometric transformation. This duo did simultaneous moves with three balls each ad some six ball passing. They have each juggled three years, but only been performing together for six months. 

The other two winners brought considerably more experience to the stage. "Most Fantastic" was Peter Panic from Cambridge, Mass., a professional street performer for the past 17 who has performed in all 50 states and most of Europe. Panic's trademark trick is balancing a shopping cart on his chin, but in Atlanta he showed his skills with up to five water polo balls. His act included a cascade with five, as well as juggling four while bouncing one on his head. He also emphasized ball rolling down his arms and on his head, ball spinning and balancing balls on other balls. He said he was not comfortable presenting a four-minute act to music, since he usually has all the time he wants and talks to crowds constantly. Still, he was happy to add another Phil to his collection (he also won in 1991), and said he will give the trophy to his 95-year-old grandmother since she has always encouraged him in his work. 

The "Most Incredible" act was Charlie Peachock, half of the winning team in this past summer's IJA Teams Championship. Peachock, from Kent, Ohio, was flashy and almost flawless with a fast-paced demonstration of up to five balls, five clubs and five rings. His act earned the only standing ovation of the festival.

Charlie and his brother, Mark, now perform as "Freefall," and are working on cruise ships. They had just returned from Australia, and are planning a four-month summer cruise in the Mediterranean with the Princess line. 

Other acts in the show included Peter Kaseman with up to three diabolos, David Dimuzio with balls, clubs and clubs on a unicycle, Scott Cone with balls and a devil stick, Lao Alovus with clubs, balls and a spinning top, Henry Huggler devil sticking two stuffed camels, and Michael Greavy with some club and ball work. 

Sunday's show included Just Joey with some yo-yo tricks and silliness, Rodger French with a three ball routine, Andreas Dieberger with contact juggling, diabolo and some hat silliness, and Dan Berg teamed witti David Dimuzio to pass oversize plastic baseball bats. Charlie and Mark Peachock teamed up to present some outstanding club juggling, including runarounds, passing while Charlie was lying on his back, eight club singles, five ring takeaways and nine ring passing. During the show the AJA present- ed its seventh annual "Mouse Award" to Rodger French, a founding member of the AJA who suggested more than 20 years ago that the club should host a fest on Groundhog Day because it coincided with the anniversary date of his discharge from the Navy 

Looking 30 Years Into The Groundhog Day Crystal Ball.... 

by Henry Slack 

This year, the AJA celebrated it's 20th Groundhog Day Festival. Many of the same people who helped organize the first festival in 1978 are still around - but older. Most vow they'll continue to return forever, and no one doubts their resolve. With that in mind, what might we expect to find at the 50th Annual Groundhog Day Festival in 2028? Perhaps.... 

* Geritol and Ibuprofen sold at the snack counter 

* Pre-festival publicity in "Modern Maturity" magazine. 

* The Big Finish: five clubs while balanced on a uni-wheelchair. 

* The gym is still really dim, but nobody cares because their eyesight's shot anyway 

* The Marching Abominable band drops and "dies" on stage - but never gets up 

* Two club Combat with walkers.

* AJA Festival Commemorative Neckties.

* The audience finally semaphores a message back to Rodger French: S-T-O-P. 

* Vendors offer bifocal opera glasses. 

* Grandchildren pick up winning act's drops. 

* Floor is filled with one ball passing routine.

* Drunken brawl after the convention takes place in the nursing home cafeteria. 

* The most often heard comment becomes, "I USED to do that!".

* "Midnight Cabaret" begins at 6 p.m. 

* AJA founders are no longer the only ones to spend the entire Festival without juggling.