This is a guest post by Billy Jean Louis, a UF journalism major and self proclaimed entertainment news junkie. Billy has handwritten a book in French at 15 and interviewed Frankie Muniz. Follow him @BillyJeanLouis .
Cirque du Soleil has nothing on Williston.
The small town proved that one doesn’t need to venture to a big city to see the exciting acts of the circus when the Two Hawk Hammock held its fourth annual Fall festival and first ever Country Circus last Saturday.
From psychic readings and trapeze artists to Middle Eastern belly dancers and a performance by a Peruvian horse named Magnifico, guests from Gainesville, Ocala and Williston were wowed with circus feats of all kinds.
Via: ocala.com
Hammock owner and event organizer Heidi Schwiebert said she hosts events throughout the year, but Saturday’s event “was the big deal.”
“It’s a time people can be together,” she said. “Everybody enjoys the same activity.”
Early on in the day, the event lacked the bustling circus vibes, but around 2 p.m., more than 250 guests showed up to the farm to feast their eyes on the acts of 20 performers.
The guests enjoyed the performances while enjoying refreshing drinks and cheat eats. Apple, banana, cherry and lemon-flavored drinks were available from Tropical Sno as well as sandwich and lemonade combos for as little as $3.
Dustin Cottrell, Schwiebert’s son, traveled from Atlanta to rock out in Williston for the third time. He arrived early to set up his instruments and equipment under his tent.
“It’s one of these gigs that we’re willing to travel for,” he said.
He performed alongside his band, Cottrells, which has been performing for five years. His wife Adrienne also hopped on stage for more than an hour of his show. The band performed the Nancy Sinatra song “These Boots are Made for Walkin,” as well as tunes from John Denver and Dave Matthews. They even threw in the Carly Simon’s song “You’re so Vain” to get the crowd singing along.
“I started playing professionally when I was 15,” Dustin said. “I don’t remember ever not playing music.”
While Daniel immerses himself in music as a means of self therapy, another performer, Rev. Sunemaura O’Brien, offers her therapy to circus goers.
She sat on a chair about five feet from the ticket table without a tent and laid secret cards on the table while waiting for guests to appear. She was excited to read their palms.
O’Brien has been practicing psychic readings for 15 years. Unlike most traditional “fortune tellers” she does not tell the future of her clients, but instead, practices a spiritual healing process called Reiki.
“I tell people about their life path,” she said. “I provide encouragement about what they might be feeling.”
Among her skills is feeling if someone’s life is coming to end and feeling if there is an emotional rift or dishonesty between partners.
Via: freelovetarotredings.net
The act that stole the show, however was not a mystical human, but a performing elephant.
The massive, gray beast pranced in circles, waved with its trunks and gave its best elephant grin to the crowd. At a mere 10 feet away from it, the audience cheered wildly. At the end of the performance, the elephant held its left foot up, wiggled its ears and smiled again.
As the day wore on, Wendy Richards, a local Gainesville resident, smiled and confessed how much she enjoyed seeing the kids having fun and enjoying themselves in all of the activities.
Williston might be not be the first place that comes to mind when envisioning grand entertainment, but wander over to the County Circus next year and you’ll be surprised at how the local talents (both human and animal) can wow you.
Photo courtesy of: CircusNoSpin
