The West Virginia University Juggling Club will kick off its annual festival Friday (June 1) at the WVU Student Recreation Center on the Evansdale Campus.

The event, which runs through Sunday (June 3), is open to the public. Open gym activities will be from 5-9 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Beginners and experts can participate in a variety of workshops throughout Saturday. These include three-ball juggling, devil stick, club and ball tricks, club passing, diabolo and more. Equipment may be limited, so early arrival is recommended.

The Show,a collection of exciting juggling routines, begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the gym. Always popular, the program often features a professional, out-of-town performer. Admission is free.

Jugglers have another opportunity to take part in open gym activities from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday followed by the Jugglympics at noon. The competition consists of four events: Simon Says Juggle, Juggling Limbo, Combat and Diabolo Speed Pass.

The festival has attracted many amateurs and also some professional jugglers over the years,said James Schulte, WVU Juggling Club president.This is our eighth year, and every year many individuals and families have attended to enjoy the personal atmosphere mixed with a ton of juggling.

For a one-time $4 fee, people can access all juggling areas during the weekend. There is also a free observation area.

The WVU Juggling Club was founded in 1998. Besides the festival, the group is involved in many other local events such as halftime shows at WVU mens basketball games, the Buckwheat Festival and WVUp All Night. The club is open to all age groups and skill levels.

For more information, go tohttp://www.geocities.com/wvujuggling/.