By JoAnn Ireland
The University of Maryland (UMD) and the student run University of Maryland Juggling Club hosted the 32nd Congress of Jugglers that was open to the public with free admission and commenced on Friday, May 1st during the late afternoon, welcoming jugglers of all experience levels to the Ritchie Coliseum, a gymnasium on campus, drawing jugglers from surrounding states. The UMD Juggling Club’s mission is to serve as a forum for teaching, learning, and performing juggling and other related arts of object manipulation. The Congress of Jugglers was free to attend and funded on t-shirt and raffle ticket sales.
There were plenty of great raffle prize options, including five sets of flower sticks from the JollyLama, two sets of Wes Peden LED juggling balls and one set of Spinballs LED poi both distributed by Fun in Motion Toys, a $75 gift card from Flowtoys, a set of three cigar boxes, two sets of three hoops, and two sets of two colorful plastic spinning plates. If you are coming to the Congress of Jugglers next year, it’s all the more reason to consider bringing something to donate that another juggler / object manipulator would appreciate.
32nd Congress of Jugglers, Ritchie Coliseum
Workshops at 32nd Congress of Jugglers
Jugglers’ Baseball and Passing at 32nd Congress of Jugglers
Saturday morning and afternoon included juggling in the gym, plenty of social passing, and workshops (e.g., on plate spinning, flower sticks, and yo-yo) that were taking place in the gym. There was also an impromptu game of jugglers’ baseball where jugglers were eventually juggling three while pitching and trying to catch any hit balls while subsequently going into a three ball cascade. Another convention highlight that had lots of activity around it was the bicycle wheel that was mounted on a bicycle front fork that was attached to a stool. This device allowed players to gradually spin the wheel that had two spoons attached to the rim, with the goal to get a ping pong ball that was placed on the rim to land on one of the spoons – a whole new take on the art of object manipulation. There was plenty of socializing also as attendees met up with friends and made new ones.
Bob Swaim manipulating a ping pong ball on a bicycle wheel rim
Jugglers at the 32nd Congress of Jugglers
The Saturday evening show was conveniently located in the gym this year and started at 8:00 pm. The show was put together by Wil Allyn from Bowie, Maryland and he was also the emcee. A wonderful show has always been put together, often in the matter of a few hours, and it’s a great opportunity for jugglers to try out new material for a welcoming audience.
Eric and Eli – Flower Sticks
The first performers were Eric and Eli who each used flower sticks and then also demonstrated their passing skills with one and then two flower sticks.
Matt Gunn – LED balls
Matt Gunn was the next performer; he’s a student at the University of Virginia and his favorite juggling pattern is Mills Mess. Matt performed a very solid and drop-free routine with three and four LED juggling balls that did include three ball Mills Mess and four ball patterns that included columns patterns – red, white, and blue were his LED ball color choices.
Alexander Tai – Diabolos
Alexander Tai (YouTube: @alextai0430) started playing with diabolo eleven years ago. In 2025 he got second place in the USA Diabolo Association (USADA) national competition for individuals 18+, first place in the USADA diabolo battle, and third place in the IJA Individuals competition. Alexander also helped to start the UMD diabolo club. Alexander started with one diabolo and performed numerous impressive tricks, including many where he grasped the string and artistically spun the handsticks. He also performed tricks with two and concluded with three diabolos. The crowd clearly enjoyed his performance and it was very impressive to watch.
Rich Potter – Clubs
Star Atwa (a.k.a. Rich Potter) performed a humorous and spirited movement piece with three clubs while very briefly juggling with an under the leg throw, behind the back throw, and brief chin balance. He also very briefly juggled four clubs. Rich is not only a juggler, he’s a talented artist, whose artwork I happened to be wearing from another festival’s t-shirt, when we talked prior to the start of the show, he exclaimed, “Hey, that’s my shirt!” (See the photo at the end of this article).
Club passing demonstration at 32nd Congress of Jugglers
Next was a group club passing demo (with six passers in total) starting with seven clubs and then briefly eight clubs between two jugglers. This was followed by a traditional nine club feed with three jugglers and they proceeded to switch off who was feeding the clubs. The passers then added a fourth juggler (and three more clubs) while performing in a Y-pattern. They concluded with a ten club passing pattern between three jugglers. (Editor’s Note: In alphabetical order, the jugglers were Brandt Braunschweig, Daniel Daugherty, David Fritts, Torrey Hamilton, Donna Koczaja, and John Pereira)
Jim Frank at 32nd Congress of Jugglers
Jim Frank was the final performer, he’s a specialist in the arena arts and performs at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, he used an extensive collection of ropes and bullwhips during his routine. He also used a wooden construction horse that looked like a cow, a neat addition to his act. He thoroughly explained his roping skills that included catch roping and trick roping. He also explained how trick roping became popular during Vaudeville by Will Rogers, and further noted that when he died in a plane crash in Alaska, he then had one of the largest funerals there was in Hollywood. Jim’s whip cracking skills included using a kangaroo bull whip from Australia, which is often considered the strongest type of leather. He also used an American bull whip made of cow leather, adding as he provided technical explanations as to what makes the sound of the circus crack and around-the-world that he has a degree in physics and his parents are so proud. Jim also broke a strand of spaghetti that was in his mouth with a whip. He concluded his routine with a “volunteer” on stage, Kate, who held targets (strands of dried linguine) in each outstretched arm that he proceeded to cut with the crack of his whip. He also emphasized that as every juggler knows, you can get hurt, so you have to learn tricks with your right and left hands and performed his final trick with first his right and then his left arm.
Final bow at 32nd Congress of Jugglers
Fire and LED juggling Saturday evening at the 32 nd Congress of Jugglers
After the evening show, juggling continued in the gym and outside with LED and fire juggling, as well as fire breathing. Juggling also took place in the Ritchie Coliseum on Sunday throughout the afternoon.
There are also plenty of places to eat along, or not far off of Baltimore Ave. – Route 1 that are within walking distance to the UMD Ritchie Coliseum. There are also a few picnic tables outside the UMD Ritchie Coliseum, so it’s also very convenient if you want to pack some food to eat at the juggling event, or pick some food up at the Trader Joe’s grocery store that is south on Baltimore Ave. and only 0.6 mile from the gym. Editor-in-Chief of eJuggle, Eric Shibuya went to and thoroughly enjoyed Tacos a la Madre. For some unique shopping, you can check out Franklin’s General Store in nearby Hyattsville (less than three miles from the gym with plenty of parking) with unique gifts, games and souvenirs that you won’t see in traditional stores including a very extensive toy selection and their wall of hot sauces. Franklin’s also has a large restaurant and ice cream scoop shop at the same location for one stop dining and shopping! For additional suggestions of what to see and do in the immediate area, check out last year’s Congress of Jugglers recap.
Annapolis, Maryland
A bit farther away, but it makes for a very nice day trip, is Maryland’s state capital, Annapolis; located approximately 30 miles east of College Park. While there you can enjoy the atmosphere of a waterfront town, with plenty of unique dining and shopping options, in addition to the U.S. Naval Academy. While my parents and I visited on Sunday, we came across the Inner West Street Association (IWSA) First Sunday Arts Festival with 150 vendors, food trucks, live music and cafe dining that had many attendees. There were also many street performing musicians in the waterfront area.
Again, huge thanks go out to the UMD Juggling Club members and Saturday evening show organizer, Wil Allyn, as well as the performers for putting together another entertaining Congress of Jugglers.
Definitely keep a lookout for the 33rd Congress of Jugglers at the University of Maryland next year (the event is typically in early May, although it has also been in March and April). And if your schedule or circumstances just don’t allow you to attend in person, they have during the past two years live-streamed the public show on their YouTube channel (YouTube: @umdjugglingclub5582), that are also still available to watch.
Postcards were also prominently available for upcoming festivals that are nearby on the East coast:
NYC Excelsior Juggling Convention: May 22-24, 2026 (with a free day on Thursday, May 21st)
Philadelphia Juggling Festival: June 12-14, 2026
JoAnn Ireland and Rich Potter with his t-shirt design (Photo Courtesy of: Bob Swaim)
JoAnn Ireland
JoAnn Ireland is a longtime hobbyist juggler who especially prefers juggling beanbags, joggles (running and juggling), and occasionally rides a unicycle. She is grateful for the opportunity to have been able to attend many IJA and regional juggling festivals.