Venues and Towns

First Sunday and the Three Musketeers

John the balloon man worked with Goldsboro Parks and Rec and Wayne County Arts Council to entertain and amuse during the September ‘Art in the Park’ event at Herman Park.

We noticed a number of people in costume; they staged a sword fight.

The cast from Ken Ludwig's Three Musketeers, staged at the Paramount Theater on Sept 28-30, 2012, visited Art in the Park on the first Sunday in September. — The cast from Ken Ludwig’s Three Musketeers, staged at the Paramount Theater on Sept 28-30, 2012, visited Art in the Park on the first Sunday in September.

John quickly twisted himself a sword, belt, and Magic Helmet and challenged the winner to a duel.

His first challenger, having remarked that John was a better swordsman than he would have imagined, was undone after the discovery that John is NOT right handed. The unorthodox style of sword work employed by those of the “sinister hand” soon undid the plucky young man, and he was bested by the balloon swordsman. Immediately following the first vanquished foe, another musketeer leaped into the fray.

His sword was longer and sharper, his footwork was dazzling and his blade fairly sang as it cut through the humid, warm air of that sultry day. Alas, though, he too was quickly dispatched by the brilliant work of our Brillat-Savarin of Balloon Sword fighting.

Thirdly, and clearly, the musketeers had saved their best for last, yet another sword master lifted steel against balloon. After a brief flurry of dizzying flashing blades, the musketeer’s blade popped the balloon sword, rendering it into the shape of, what’s this?!?!, a balloon gun! John the Balloon man exclaimed “Isn’t that just like a silly Musketeer to bring a sword to a gun fight”! He then dispatched the hapless man with a single shot.

The fight ends without bloodshed, but the balloon sword is down for the count.

Hilarity ensued, the three Musketeers and the balloon wielding entertainer all shook hands and congratulated each other on their respective brilliance.

Center Stage Theater was advertising their production of Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers, to be presented at the Paramount Theater September 28-30, at 139 S. Center Street, Goldsboro. For more information about that show, see www.goldsboroparmount.com.

Sunday in the Garden, Goldsboro NC

Ubi the Clown and Karen the hula hoop lady brought hoops and balloon animals to Sunday in the Garden for several years. The Arts Council of Wayne County sponsored the event.

The party was a regular part of the September calendar in Goldsboro.

Children playing with hula hoops at Sunday in the Garden, sponsored by Wayne Arts Council.

Children and parents waiting for a balloon animal at Sunday in the Garden, sponsored by the Arts Council of Wayne County.

Children waiting in line for a balloon at Arts in Wayne park, during Sunday in the Garden.

Give me a puff, please?

Ubi listening to a parent while he makes a balloon for a child.

Ubi in full makeup and dress stripes.

Unfortunately, Hurricane Irene (August 2011) felled several trees in the park. By the time the trees were cleared, the Arts Council had moved to a new location downtown.

Sunday in the Garden was transformed into the Art in the Park event now held at Herman Park during the spring and early fall months.

Balloon Hats at the Breasticle Festival, UNC-CH

John supports the American Cancer Society events. He was invited to participate in the student-run Breasticle Festival at UNC-CH (Chapel Hill).

Due to weather and space constraints, Karen the Hoop Lady couldn’t bring her hula hoops to the party.

Event organizers showing off their new hats.

Dragonhigh flat, an original Ubi the Clown creation.

John shopped for weeks to find the right hat and matching shirt for the Breasticle Festival.

Thank you note from the organizers of the UNC-CH Bresticle Festival.

Great breasts are worth fighting for! The ACS slogan for event.

One of the organizers of the event was very happy with her hat.

Making hats at the Breasticle Festival, UNC-CH (Chapel Hill).

A more demure flower hat for a more demure festival participant.

Balloon hat with bunny ears and a teddy bear.

Bye bye till next year!

Thank you note from the organizers of the UNC-CH Bresticle Festival, outside.

Pink for breast cancer awareness; purple for testicular cancer awareness. John had a special order of balloons for the event.

John worked the lobby of the event, making hats for the participants, while bands and dance troops entertained in the main ballroom.

John received a lovely thank you note from the organizing committee.

K-Days in Kinston, NC

Ubi the clown and his partner, Karen the Hoop Lady, have entertained children at K Days at Emma Webb Park in Kinston, NC, more than once. It’s a pleasant Saturday afternoon picnic, with food vendors, a DJ, and plenty of things to do.

Here are a few pictures of people hooping and children getting balloon animals from the 2012 party.

Hooping in the foreground, balloon twisting under the red umbrella in the background at K Days celebration, Labor Day weekend. — Hooping in the foreground, balloon twisting under the red umbrella in the background at K Days celebration, Labor Day weekend in Kinston, NC.

The children in the big hoop are about to figure out it won't hoop two people that way. — The children in the big hoop are about to figure out it won’t hoop two people that way.

Ubi the Pirate Clown at the Pirate Invasion, Beaufort, NC

Ubi the Pirate Clown made a rare appearance this year at the Pirate Invasion in Beaufort, NC.

Ubi adds a pink heart to a pirate girl’s black sword balloon.

Ubi arrived just after the Pirate Parade passed through downtown Beaufort and set up his twisting chair on the waterfront, outside the Dockhouse Restaurant.

Ships in the harbor at the Pirate Invasion. Look for the Jolly Roger!

Some of the more modern pirates arrived in cars and RVs, but many of the authentic pirates came to Beaufort the way they always had, by sail and by sea. More than one ship in the harbor flew the Jolly Roger.

Flags from just a few of the countries who sent pirates!

The harbor flags flew greetings to all who arrived across the water.

Ubi the Pirate Clown twisting a black kitty balloon.

After twisting many a balloon sword for many a carefully costumed lad and lass, the occasional poodle or puppy balloon
was a welcome break!

Ubi chatting with boys asking for skull and crossbone balloons.

Boys wanted cutlasses and crossbones.

Rusty Cutlass (that’s Rusty with an Arrrgh!)

Ubi the Pirate Clown was twisting right across the plaza from the music stage, where the band Rusty Cutlass (that’s Rusty with an Arrgh!) entertained for two sets in the afternoon. That’s a mermaid playing a fiddle on the left front side of the stage!

By the second song, people were dancing. Ubi wanted to dance a jig, but he had too many people waiting for balloons!

Ubi the pirate clown inflates a blue heart balloon.

Some of the youngest children got magic wand balloons with hearts.

The pirate clown makes a sword balloon. — Ubi adds a pink heart to a pirate girl’s black sword balloon.

The face painters nearby were doing a banner business in painting moustaches, beards and bandanas on people who didn’t wake up with facial hair that day!

Ubi the pirate clown worked at the Pirate Festival in Beaufort, NC. — Ubi chatting with parents while he twists balloons for their children at the Pirate Invasion.

Cool breezes off the water kept the August heat at bay and a good time was had by all!