It’s time to book your beach house rentals and get ready for Lincoln City’s annual Festival of Illusions! The city comes alive with magic and entertainment every year around spring break ever since the first festival took place in 2012. This year is the biggest, yet with 10 action-packed days of magic, comedy, juggling, escape artists, mind-reading, bubbles, and much more taking between March 24 and April 4. There are also plenty of great options for places to stay, including some of the best beach vacation rentals Oregon has to offer, but accommodations are filling up fast considering the increasing popularity of this family-friendly festival. Keep reading to learn more and book your accommodations today!
What, When, Where, and How
All performances for the 2019 Festival of Illusions will take place at the Lincoln City Cultural Center starting on Sunday, March 24 and ending on Thursday, April 4. Performances take place during the evening with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and shows beginning at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are free for children age 4 and under, $8 for youth ages 5-18, $14 for students and seniors, and $16 for adults. Each performance is staged in two sets with an intermission and there will be sweets, nuts, sodas, beer and wine for sale. You can purchase your tickets directly through the Lincoln City Cultural Center’s website or over the phone. There will also be an ‘Abra Cadabra’ Open Art Space in the Cultural Center’s Conference Room with drop-in workshops March 25 – 29 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. featuring paints, markers, paper, fabrics and more. Admission to the workshops is $5 and children age 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Schedule & Description of Performances
- March 24: Rudi Galindo – The opening night features an improvisational magic show in the Teatro Pachuco style, which combines elements of European and Mexican-American theatrical and circus traditions, starring Rudi Galindo and special guest.
- March 25: Magician Jeff Evans – This critically acclaimed magician started performing at the age of 12 and has made it his full-time job since 1998. Jeff Evans is known for clean comedy and fantastic magic tricks including escapes from chains, locks, and ropes.
- March 26 & 27: The Amazing Bubble Man – You’ll have two opportunities to see Louis Pearl, aka the Amazing Bubble Man, perform his trademark combination of magic, comedy … and the art, science, and fun of bubbles! Eight years of sold out audiences at the International Edinburgh Fringe Festival couldn’t be wrong.
- March 28: Mentalist Brian Ledbetter – This mind-blowing mentalist can read people’s minds, move objects around the room, make accurate predictions, and entertain you with his unique brand of magic. Be warned: audience participation is a big part of this act.
- March 29: Iman Lizarazu – This magically poetic performance dubbed “Basquette Quese” tells the story of the classic clown Pierrot fighting a battle to fall sleep that includes everything from juggling and miming to dancing and physical comedy.
- April 2: Stefano Iaboni – This Roman-born actor, comedian, and trained circus performer with years of experience throughout Europe takes audiences on an entertaining adventure that includes comedy, juggling, magic, and much more.
- April 3: Angel Ocasio – This bilingual show uses both the English and Spanish languages to bring audiences on a journey of laughs that is big on physical comedy as well as juggling, magic, and music.
April 4: Henrik Bothe – This Danish-born entertainer specializes in physical comedy, juggling, comedic magic, and escape acts that include getting out of a straight jacket while riding a unicycle. He has performed in four languages in 22 countries and 50 states and been featured on television programs across the globe including the Tonight Show.
