Friday 4

Juggle your schedule, do what you must, but don't miss the fifth annual Groundhog Day Juggler's Festival Friday through Sunday.

Sponsored by the Atlanta Juggler's Association, The gathering in the Padeia School gymnasium will bring more than 70 jugglers to Atlanta. The festival will run 4 p.m.-midnight Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. A competition, featuring awards for the most stupendous, incredible and spectacular jugglers, is set for 2 p.m. Saturday. Two public shows will entertain crowds Sunday at 2 and 4 p.m. No admission, but donations will be solicited. 1509 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE.

Eighty jugglers from across the country gathered on Groundhog's Day at Padeia School to trade secrets, practice routines & throw things. Photo by Eric Martin.

The fifth annual Groundhog Day Jugglers Festival will be held February 4-6 in the gymnasium of Paideia School at Ponce

de Leon Avenue and Lullwater Road.

Sponsored by the Atlanta Jugglers Association, the event will bring some 100 jugglers to compete, entertain and help Punxsutawney Phil with his meterological predictions.

Competition on Saturday at 2 p.m. will feature awards for the "most stupendous, incredible and spectacular" juggling feats, according to Toni Shifalo of Decatur, president of the AJA.

The public .. is invited to attend two special free shows at 2 and 4 p.m. The "hat" " will be passed by the performers following the shows.

(right) Among the performers will be Rodger ("Lenny") French and Kenny Raskin (on top), both of DeKalb County.

Groundhog Jugglers

More than 70 jugglers came to Atlanta for the fifth annual Groundhog Day Jugglers Festival at the Paideia School gym over the weekend.  Larry Vee (right) of Philadelphia shows he has no trouble keeping his mind on several objects at once.  Below right, David Blow of Atlanta is the picture of concentration as he plies his trade.  And Larry Vaksman, below left, also of Philadelphia, has his hands full juggling basketballs while riding a unicycle.

1983