The Pocono Juggle/Circus Arts Fest held this past weekend at Panther Valley Junior/Senior High School was, for spectators, a mix of entertainment, humor, education and a display of labyrinthine skills. For the attending enthusiasts, some who traveled long distances, it was serious camaraderie.

Jugglers, magicians, balance artists and vaudeville artists from throughout the East Coast presented the show. Attendees came from as far away as Ontario, Canada and such states as Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Kentucky and Florida, to name a few.

Hosted and organized by Kim Laird and Rob Barowski of Nesquehoning, present were hobbyists and professionals; teens and senior citizens, and people of varied professions including janitors, lawyers, a college professor and educators.

This is the 13th year for Juggle Fest, a three-day collage of activities founded by Laird and Barowski.

The festival included workshops on bubble magic, begleri and three ball exploration.

Performers were varied from jugglers to devil stickers. There was even a sword swallower as well as an individual doing rope tricks like an Old West Show.

The main event was “The Big Show” on Saturday Night which featured nine professional acts of entertaining dexterity skills including Diabolo, hula hoops, bike tricks, comedy, and, of course, juggling.

Among the headliners was Meadow Perry of Oreland, Montgomery County, who demonstrated her bubble artist skills. Perry has appeared on The CW Television Network show “Masters of Illusion” and performed in the famous Hollywood Magic Castle. She works regularly on a major cruise ship line.

Although her show was staged Saturday night, she was so impressed with the Juggle Fest that she stayed an extra day to take juggling lessons from Laird and Barowski, hoping to further her repertoire of entertaining skills.

She has been doing the bubble artist shtick for about eight years, morphing into it while working at a Party Princess store.

“I started doing giant bubbles as a fairy (at the store),” she said. “People liked it so much so I started doing more things and made a show. Then I started adding magic and more ball tricks.”

Jonathan Mazer, a lawyer from New York City, enjoys juggling to the extent that he has attended all 13 Pocono Juggle Fests. “I started in college,” he said, and it has been a passionate pastime ever since.

His son, Bennett Santora, 20, a student at Cornell University, picked up the art from his father when only age 6. It appears he has surpassed the master in the skill. Santore stood next to his father, juggling seven balls at one time, while Mazur handled three pins. Santora said he has already juggled nine balls at one time.

Laird said about 300 people attended the Saturday evening stage show, the only event for which admission was charged.

While pleased with the three-day turnout, Laird said, “I would love for more of the local people to just come out and experience this. There’s something to just sitting and watching the patterns of people juggling. It’s very relaxing. There’s a certain quality about it.”

Barowski, an educator, has been juggling since age 12.

“I was just bored and when I saw it, I tried it,” he said, noting he was primarily self-taught.

Laird, who retired as a Panther Valley teacher, got interested in juggling through Barowski. She has been enjoying the activity for over 30 years. At one time, she even had a local “circus troupe,” consisting of students who raised money for their endeavors strictly with performances.

Gary Phillips of Kingston, Ontario, Canada is a university professor, teaching software engineering. He said he has so much fun juggling that “I will travel to any juggling event within a reasonable driving distance.”

He said this is the sixth time he attended the Pocono Juggle Fest, adding he has known Barowski and Laird for about 25 years.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Phillips said. “Jugglers tend to be really nice people.”

Mazer said that although there are many skilled jugglers and other performers at the event, “the real stars of this place are Kim and Rob, who organize it.”

Laird said the date is already set for next year’s event. It will be March 6-8.