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Congress of Curious Peoples


  • Coney Island USA 1208 Surf Avenue Brooklyn United States (map)

Friday, April 25

12pm-4pm | Performer Video Filming | FREE
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Sideshows by the Seashore Theatre
Need high-quality footage for festival applications, promo materials, or a new act? Join us for this performer shoot day on the historic Coney Island Sideshow stage. Cheer on your fellow performers and capture professional videos in this iconic venue! Want to participate? Fill out this tech form to reserve your spot.

6pm-10pm | The Sideshow Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Showcase | $20
Join the esteemed panel of scholars and sideshow professionals as they welcome the 2025 Sideshow Hall of Fame inductees.
Be sure to cast your vote at this link. Categories include ‘Born Different’, ‘Self Inflicted’, ‘Working Act’, ‘Attraction’, ‘Show Folk’
Featuring performances by Nati the Patchwork Girl, The Loud Mime, Lunesol, Krystal Younglove and Faux Pas Le Fae

Saturday, April 26

12pm-8pm | The Hoot's Bizarre Bazaar | FREE
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In the Shooting Gallery - 1214 Surf Ave

1pm-2:30pm | Lecture: Dan Meyer & Marc Hartzman - History, Art & Science of Sword Swallowing
📍 In the Museum

1pm-2pm | Workshop: Cheat Nothing! Beginner Dragon Staff workshop with Marisol la Muerte
📍 In the Theatre

Are you feeling repetitive in your dragon staff journey? Are you constantly finding yourself returning to the safe trick, commonly known as the "Cheating Death"?

Well, we are no longer cheating anything!

"Cheat Nothing!" is the beginner-to-intermediate workshop taught by award-winning, Atlanta-based dragon staff performer, Marisol La Muerte. 

With over six years experience, Marisol (part of the duo act LŪNESOL), will be showing you several new methods to exiting/transitioning out of Cheating Death, so you may too, Cheat Nothing.

3pm-5pm | Mini Banner painting Drink & Draw | FREE
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In the Shooting Gallery - 1214 Surf Ave

3pm-4:30pm | Panel: Lady Aye
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In the Museum

2pm-4pm | Workshop: Beginner Fire Eating with Joseph Kerr
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In the Theatre

5pm-6:30pm | Lecture: James Taylor
📍 In the Museum

8pm-10pm | The Sideshow Hootenanny Performer Showcase | $30
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In the Theatre
It’s a night of fire eating, sword swallowing, flesh piercing and so much more! With performances by Joseph Kerr, Alaska Lostboy, Anna Monoxide, 3 Legged Dog Sideshow and Dr. Finnegan’s Circus, plus a Guinness World Record Sword Swallowing attempt led by Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman

Sunday, April 27

12pm-8pm | The Hoot's Bizarre Bazaar | FREE
📍
In the Shooting Gallery - 1214 Surf Ave

3pm-4pm | Mental Flossing: The Ins (Through Your Nose) and Outs (Of Your Mouth) | 

 📍 In the Museum

Join The Amazing Face Dan Block of Three Legged Dog Sideshow for a hands-on workshop diving into the bizarre and fascinating world of mental flossing—the act of threading objects through the nasal cavity and pulling them out through the mouth. Dan, who holds a Guinness World Record for making a balloon animal through his sinus cavity and was featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, will guide you through the proper techniques, safety considerations, and common mistakes to avoid. But it’s not just about the stunt—it’s about how you present it. This workshop will cover different performance styles, from comedic takes to high-impact shock value, helping you craft a routine that fits your own stage persona. Whether you're a performer looking to add a wild new skill or just curious about the mechanics behind it, this session will give you everything you need to know.

3pm-5pm | Workshop: Advanced Fire Eating with Joseph Kerr
📍 In the Theatre


Earlier Event: April 24
House of Fire
Later Event: April 27
Hot Fix Sideshow