Kids, families and those who love to wonder – you’re all invited to the 8 ^th annual Festival of Illusions, March 24-April 4 at the Lincoln City Cultural Center. This year’s spring break fun fest will offer daytime activities including drop-in art workshops and evening performances by jugglers, mentalists, magicians and physical comedians from around the world. Advance tickets, reserved seating for the first time ever, are on sale now.

New to this year’s lineup is Angel Ocasio, a nationally-recognized physical comedian who performs in both English and Spanish. He’s a graduate of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and has performed with everyone from Pink Martini to Wayne Newton. He’s also been named the Clowns of America International “Clown of the Year.” Ocasio will be the featured act at 7 pm Wednesday, April 3.

The schedule also includes another Festival of Illusions premiere: Iman Lizarazu, on Friday, March 29. Lizarazu is originally from the Basque region of France, the child of a dancer, and she grew up backstage at the Bolshoi Ballet and other companies. She studied juggling and circus skills in Dresden before she dedicated herself to physics and math – in fact, she holds a PhD in astrophysics. Lizarazu is a member of both Clowns Without Borders and Doctors Without Borders, and has taken her special blend of mime, juggling and comedy around the world. In Lincoln City, she’ll perform her engaging 75-minute solo show, “Basquette Quese.”

The 2019 Festival of Illusions schedule also features international mime and comedian Rudi Galindo, magician Jeff Evans, plate-spinner Henrik Bothe, mentalist Brian Ledbetter, Super Perfect Awesome Man Stefano Iaboni, and of course, two shows by The Amazing Bubble Man. The Festival of Illusions is planned to coincide with two special weeks: the Oregon public schools’ spring break March 25-29, and the Washington public schools’ version April 1-5.

“We’ve got one more surprise up our sleeves in 2019: Reserved Seating,” said Niki Price of the Lincoln City Cultural Center. “In the past, all Festival of Illusions seating was first come , first served, and you had to get in line early to sit in the front row. This year we’re offering everyone the opportunity to choose their seats and reserve them in advance through our website. You can also drop by the LCCC Thursday through Monday, or call us at 541-994-9994.”

All evening shows begin at the same time: 7 pm, with doors open at 6:30 pm. Thanks to the festival’s premier sponsors, Oregon State Credit Union and Amy Graham at Taylor & Taylor Real Estate, and the Lincoln City Visitor & Convention Bureau, evening show tickets are $8 for youth ages 6-18, and $15 for adults 19 and older. Tickets are on sale now at the center’s website , by calling 541-994-9994, or in person at the Lincoln City Visitor Information Center, located inside the LCCC.

The 2019 Festival of Illusions is also sponsored by Meredith Hospitality, Explore Lincoln City and Oregon Coast TODAY. Members of the Lincoln City Cultural Center, which is a nonprofit arts and culture organization that relies upon donations from the public, will receive get $2 off every ticket they purchase. March is Membership Month, and it just takes a few minutes to join ; for details, call 541-994-9994.

Families are also encouraged to take part in the Abra Cadabra Open Art Space, led by arts educator Krista Eddy and a slew of LCCC volunteers. The workshop will take over Margaret’s Meeting Room, down the hall from the auditorium at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, and will be open for drop-in fun from 1 to 4 pm daily, March 25-March 29. Some projects will be guided (like magical wands, magician’s hats and floating butterflies) and other tables will be “free art” zones, with paper, markers, paints, fabric, notions, and the like. Children 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult, but all others can attend on their own. Entrance fee is just $5. For details, contact Krista Eddy at 541-994-9994.

Learn more about the Festival of Illusions on our website or pick up the official Festival of Illusions 2019 program. Produced in conjunction with the Oregon Coast TODAY, the program will be available in stacks all over Lincoln City (and inserted in the March 22 edition of the TODAY). For details, call 541-994-9994.