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New Old Time Chautauqua’s Aqua Chautauqua “Eau Canada” Tour is coming to Gabriola Island July 24-26, 2025
THE BIG SHOW SATURDAY. July 26 @ 7pm
The Commons
Imagine a big, bad-ass marching band wending its way through Gabriola Village or a singer on silks belting it out at a hot show or going to a workshop and learning the fine art of folding the fitted sheet…. all at the Gabriola Commons!
Islanders are all a twitter because after 16 years the New Old Time Chautauqua is returning to Gabriola for 2025 Aqua Chautauqua “Eau Canada” Tour!!! The New Old Time Chautauqua (NOTC), an educational circus, will arrive via bus and boat to parade, perform and teach workshops and host a community potluck!!!
Friday July 25 -
10am- 2pm Community Service Project at the Commons and Namaste Farm
6-10pm Community Potluck at the Commons, join us!!
Saturday, July 26 -
12 Noon Parade through Gabriola Village
1-4pm Workshops at Commons
7pm THE BIG SHOW at the Commons.
The first time NOTC visited Gabriola Island was in 2009. After many tours to Southeast Alaska, Southern Alberta, and many other dreamy places in the great Northwest, NOTC is returning to the scene of the Creative Rendezvous Island Milieu Extravaganza! i.e. Vancouver Island, and Gabriola Island will be the third stop in a nearly month-long voyage to Lasqueti, Port Alberni, Salt Spring, Galiano, Mayne, and Saturna Islands.
All Day Circus Fun and THE BIG SHOW Saturday July 25
A knock your socks off show that'll peg your giggle gage and tickle your funny bone as you guffaw in awe at some of the world’s best vaudeville talent! Show is at 7pm! From jugglers to musicians, magicians to giant puppets, hula hoopists to acrobats, and everything in between, this extravaganza will keep you on your toes and at the edge of your seat.
Gabriolans, you are in for a BIG treat! The BIG SHOW this year features:
1. The Flying Karamazov Brothers - Stars of Broadway and the silver screen, jugglers and comedians extraordinaire, The Flying Karamazov Brothers. Dmitri Karamazov, a founding member and director of the group since 1973, will be keeping it all up in the air with fellow brothers Kuzma, Boris, and Zhukov. They challenge any and all Gabriola Islanders to a bet that they can juggle any 3 objects brought to the stage and selected by the audience. The objects have to be heavier than an ounce, lighter than 10 pounds, and no bigger than a bread box. If Dmitri wins, he gets a standing ovation. If he loses he gets a pie in the face. People of Gabriola, we are throwing down the gauntlet. Bring your special object to Saturday’s BIG SHOW at the Gabriola Commons!
2. Abracadabra Trip - Rock and Soul Band - Laura Newman and Jerome Berner form the core of this mind bending blend of rock and soul. From NY via Port Townsend this band has been on tour in Europe (including Ukraine) and now Gabriola!
3. Godfrey Daniels - He has been called a Shel Silverstein poem brought to life. This 2.5 meter clown will delight you and bring a tear to your eye in the same instant.
4. Leta Fetherolf - Devotee of aerial silks, belter of songs, graceful practitioner of defying gravity, she will amaze you, sing you into the stratosphere, and bring it on home!
5. Artis the Spoonman - Artis is the world’s best known master of playing ordinary spoons. He’s played with everyone from full orchestras to Frank Zappa! Soundgarden wrote a song and made a video about him, called…wait for it, “Spoonman”. If you want to see the original, come to the BIG SHOW!
6. Scarlett Trippsmith - Has been going on Chautauqua since she was knee high to a juggler. Besides being an awesome tenor saxophonist she’s also an amazing hula hoopista! She runs rings around the rest!
7. Harry Levine lives a triple life. At home in Olympia he is a mild mannered manager of an ancient hippy co-op. By night he’s a musician strumming guitar, picking the bass, and singing with a gutsy silken voice. And when he thinks no one is looking, he’s juggling with both the Mud Bay Jugglers and the Flying Karamazov Brothers.
8. The Great Noodlini - An entertainer who has traveled over the globe to bring his astonishing feats (and boy do they need washing) to North America. He has to be seen to be believed!
9. Local talent from Gabriola - To be Announced
10. All this, accompanied by the Northwest’s longest-running, eclectic marching band, The Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band/Orchestra (in its 50th year and thriving since 1975!!!)
You can't afford to miss this show! We can't afford for you to miss it. Get your tickets while they're hot!!! They're selling like pancakes!!! (Just kidding, this show is by donation/pass the hat!!)
NOTC WORKSHOPS Saturday July 26 1-4pm
1. Herbs, salves, and mobiles given by Donna McKay who is a member of theTlingit Nation from Wrangell, Alaska.
2. Learn to Juggle - NOTC has everything one needs to learn how to keep balls and clubs in the air.
3. Learn how to Hula Hoop - NOTC provides the hoops. Just bring your hips and get into the swing of things.
4. Learn to be an aerialist - NOTC has a portable aerial rig and anyone who wants to to see what flying is like may give it a whirl with a trained instructor.
5. Face painting
7. Learn how to tie interesting knots made for just the right application.
8. Learn the Japanese art of braiding called Kumihimo
9. Learn how to play the ukulele
10. Learn to Jam
11. Learn how to fold a fitted sheet
12. A class on the use of the Doctrine of Discovery in relation to First Nations law.
13. Clowning as communication from heart to heart.
14. Learn staff spinning with Drew (Full Moon Farm)
15. More Local Workshops to be announced
NOTC HISTORY & MISSION
The New Old Time Chautauqua (NOTC) has been touring the Greater Northwest since 1981 bringing education, entertainment, and laughter to rural communities, acting as a catalyst for community. NOTC is a not-for-profit all volunteer intergenerational organization that follows in the great footsteps of the Chautauqua movement which began in 1874. NOTC is the world’s last and only traveling Chautauqua
This year we will be traveling mostly by boat to many of the islands of southern coastal British Columbia.
COMMUNITY POTLUCK - Tuesday, July 25 between 6-10pm at the Commons - Bring a dish, a dessert, a fish, a bowl of berries, whatever you like. There will be music given by local musicians and maybe a few cogent words will be said.
Also check out other Music events in Gabriola, Entertainment events in Gabriola, Arts events in Gabriola.
