2025 Groundhog Day Jugglers Festival 47th Annual

Atlanta, GA Feb 2, 2025 at the Yaraab Shrine Center

Festival report by Charles Shapiro

Photos of the festival by Joyce Howard and others

Videos of the festival by Andrew Austin, Official Videographer

Videos of the festival by others

Yaraab Shrine Tylers - Greg Martin, Mark Martin, Charles

 

Games

Director - Spencer Schwab

Assistant - Madelyn Dinnerstein

Games Winners

  • 3-Ball Simon Says - 1st Kyle Brown, 2nd Bret Jones
  • 5-Ball Endurance - 1st Kyle Brown, 2nd John Nations
  • Club Balancing - 1st Karsyn Fletcher, 2nd Jake Zerkel
  • Club Crown - 1st Adam Wade, 2nd Max Housman
  • Quarters - 1st Joshua Black, 2nd Kyle Brown
  • 7-Club Passing - 1st Matt Guzzardo & Karsyn Fletcher
  • Blind Juggling - 1st Caleb Black, 2nd Kyle Brown
  • Huggling - 1st Adam Wade & Patrick Russell, 2nd Kerstin Fagerstrom & Logan Pearce
  • Ball Combat Juggling - Josh Black
  • Club Combat Juggling - Dan Brown

 2023games500

 

Competition

Director and MC - Dan Howard

Stagehands - Charlotte Howard, Richard Kennison

Raffle Director - Austin Childs

Raffle Runner - Cash Howard

Judges Wrangler and Timer - Jonathan Perry

Judges - Lynn Houston, ?, ?

Sound - Kelly Macklin

Passing the Hat - John Nations, Ziggy as the Minion and young helpers

Entertainer while judges deliberate - Uriyah Keith McNeil

Entertainment by the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable Band

Presentation of the new Nations Award to John Nations by Dan Howard

Competitors

  • Tohm Pace (Charlotte NC)
  • "Monster Mash" - Louella Whitaker (Philadelphia PA)
  • Caleb Black (Atlanta GA)
  • "Institute of Jugglology" - Galen Harp (Fayetteville AR)
  • "The Amazing Atticus" - Atticus Abraham (Crossville TN)
  • Ziggy Zaptacular (Zaptacular Land)

2023winners500


2024 PHIL Groundhog trophy winners

  • "Screamingly Fresh" - Galen Harp
  • "Most Whimsical" - Tohm Pace
  • "Playfully Clever" - Caleb Black

 

Workshops

Director - Logan Pearce

Entire schedule with leaders and descriptions

 

Cabaret

Director - Bruce Plott

Sound - Kelly Macklin

Stage Manager - 

MC - Just Joey

Cabaret

  • Mike Garner
  • UGA Jugglers
  • Kit Summers
  • Tyler Cartwright and Jojo - Sign Spinners
  • Ziggy Zaptacular - Flow Dance
  • John Nations
  • Paige Marmolejo
  • Tohm Pace

  

Vendors and Sponsors

 

More Festival Volunteers

It was great having so many volunteers helping put on the festival!

Location Negotiations and Contract - Joyce Howard

Vendor Coordinator and Raffle - Austin and Kelley Childs

Publicity, Social Media and Website - Joyce Howard

Treasurer - Jay Jones

Registration - Austin and Kelley Childs, Madelyn Dinnerstein,  Anne Rohr, Jen Jackman, Jay Jones

Nametags, Wristbands, Poster - Chuck Lazarow, Spencer Schwab, Jay Jones

Trophies - Walter Beals and Spencer Schwab

Artwork for T-shirt, Nametags, Wristbands and Trophies - Andrew Austin, John Jessmon, Chuck Lazarow

Festival booklet - Andrew Austin, Joyce Howard

Facilities Director - Alan Tidwell

Transport, Setup and Takedown Helpers - Alan Tidwell, Austin and Kelley Childs, Charles Shapiro, Dan Howard, Andrew Austin, Jay Jones, Joyce Howard, Ray Stern, Don Lewis, Jen Jackman, Logan Pearce, Graham Daniel, Madelyn Dinnerstein, Bruce Plott, Natalie Hazen, Calvin Robinson, Ziggy, Daniel Dames and many others

AJA Banner Setup and Takedown - Andy Ford

Forms, Signs, Posters - Austin Childs, Daniel Dames

Workshops Director - Logan Pearce

Workshop Leaders - Don Lewis, Logan Pearce, Ziggy Zaptacular, Sean Tessier, Richard Kennison, Alan Tidwell, Graham Daniel, Andrew Austin, Chris Jost, Kerstin, DrewBob, Natalie Hazen

Maté and Snacks - Bruce Plott, Natalie Hazen and others

Kids Korner, Water and Cups - Ray Stern

Post Festival Dinner Coordinator & Festival Reporter - Charles Shapiro

Hosts for out-of-town Guests - Shivella Schwab, Austin and Kelley Childs, Bruce Plott, Joyce Howard, Jay Jones, Jimmy Robertson and others