• All events are indoors, except a possible bonfire.
• 4:30 pm: circle dancing and chanting
• 5:30 pm: potluck supper
• 6:00 pm: music and merriment (bring your musical instruments)
• evening: bonfire outside depending on interest and the weather

Performers are from the The New Old Time Chautauqua, who will be leading many circus events on July 21st, too.

The day’s event schedule is:

12:00 pm — An everybody’s welcome pararade at Folklife Village. Wear a costume and join a colorful promenade dancing down the street with performers and a marching band. The parade will lead the merrymakers to the Commons.

12:30 to 1:00 pm — A free teaser show at the Commons.

1:00 pm — The Educational Circus at the Commons. For no charge, children and adults can learn a wide variety of skills, including juggling, acrobatics, quilting, mask making and clowning. There will also be a workshop about solar water heating and discussions about Peak Oil and The Other (how we, as individuals and nations treat people who are different than we are). Make sure to bring musical instruments for an old-fashion song swap.

7 pm — The big show of the day: Musical vaudeville circus. The performance will be on the lawns of the Gabriola Commons. Bring your own chairs or blankets to sit on the lawn. Acts include:

• The Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band/Orchestra will march down the aisles to kick off the show.
• Bellingham’s Islando and Shannon will fly on the trapeze.
• North Carolina’s Runaway Circus will perform juggling acrobalance.
• Lasqueti Island’s Dr P and Clever Trevor’s tomfoolery and clowning is sure to bring a smile.
• World traveler, Vanessa Vortex will bust out the hula-hoop with fun results.
• Basque master clown, Iman Lizarazu clown will inspire laughter and wonder.
• The Super Noodlini Family will bring juggling and humor from the old country
• Nobody’s Fools represent more modern day pin tossing and humor.
• The Haute Trash Fashion Show will showcase garments sewn from would-be garbage and highlight the value in things we throw away.

This may be the most eclectic and exciting group of performers yet gathered under the Chautauqua banner. Kids will be amazed, teenagers will be inspired and adults will wish they had practiced more magic and juggling and not frittered away their time at work.

The New Old Time Chautauqua is a non profit organization, whose mission is to nurture and build community through laughter, entertainment and education. They present family-oriented events in diverse communities, especially to rural and under-served populations. The traveling troupe partners with local organizations and service groups, with the intention of inspiring creativity and supporting community.

This summer Aqua Chautauqua will travel by boat and bus to maritime communities in Canada and Washington State. The merry band of performers and educators will create community events with colorful parades. creative and informative workshops and vaudeville shows with all the bells and whistles.

This show will benefit the fund raising efforts of the Commons to reduce carrying charges for the mortgage and enable renovation projects to get underway sooner. Thus the motto The Commons… a Place For Everyone can be truly implemented!