Grape Festival audience encouraged to participate in circus show act
For 35 years, Andy Swan has brought laughter and entertainment to those attending the Lodi Grape Festival, and this year will be no different.
“I just love performing. Mark (Armstrong) has been incredible as a manager supporting me over the years,” Swan said, explaining why he continues to perform at the Grape Festival. “I think they see that I really enjoy what I’m doing, and that’s half the battle. If you really enjoy what you are doing, that permeates to everybody”
Swan has a variety of circus acts he interchanges every year, and he has a few new things in store for this year’s festival, including a little more comedy magic.
He also plans to include more audience participation into his act. Children have the opportunity to put on costumes and be a part of the show.
Swan will also be fire-juggling, stiltwalking and entertaining the crowd with a few plate-spinning routines. Children will be able to join in on the fun and try their hand at plate spinning before the show.
“It’s an audience-participation, hands-on circus show, and anybody that comes to the show, they’re going to have an opportunity to participate,” Swan said.
This year, Swan will bring back his comedy juggling act, which is a crowd favorite. Swan is known for his juggling and was even featured on “The Gong Show” in 1977.
Those planning to attend the show can also look forward to confetti blasts at the opening and ending of the show and a disco dance contest in which the winner will receive a disco hat.
“That’s always fun, seeing the little kids dancing in the circus center ring. I look forward to that,” Swan said. “Everyone has their own style of dance and sometimes I even invite the parents and grandparents up there. It’s for children of all ages.”
Because Swan has been performing at the Grape Festival for so long, he has regular patrons that come out to see his show year after year.
Some have been attending since they were children and are now bringing their children to see the show.
With this year’s show, Swan is looking forward to having some good old-fashioned fun.
“My philosophy is we don’t stop playing because we get older, we get older because we stop playing,” Swan said.
While Swan’s circus act won’t include any live animals, he will have a few animal costumes that he will allow the children to dress up in. He will also have a large blowup elephant that is about 20 feet high.
“It’s kind of a dress-up circus clown show, where we kind of get into the spirit of the circus,” Swan said.
Swan is really looking forward to today’s opening show set for 5 p.m. in the big top.
The big top will be white with yellow stripes and can be spotted in the back right corner of the fairgrounds near the petting zoo.
There will be encore performances at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
According to Swan, the show is being sponsored by American Medical Response, and they have been the sponsors for the past three years. He is very grateful for all their help with the show.
There is no additional fee to see the Swan Bros. Circus at the festival. Its is one of several shows that will be free with admission.