Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will once again pay tribute to the ancient art of sword swallowing by holding free sword swallowing performances as part of World Sword Swallower's Day on Saturday, February 28. Yes, there really is such a day - believe it!
Ripley’s will showcase sword swallowers from all over the world at its Odditoriums in New York City, Hollywood, San Francisco, Baltimore, Gatlinburg, Myrtle Beach, Branson, Atlantic City, Orlando, St. Augustine, Panama City Beach, Key West and Grand Prairie.
In Grand Prairie, several performers will show off their death-defying sword swallowing skills, including Crispy Knight, Shel Higgens and Rachael Williams – who will attempt to sword swallow while nine months pregnant! The show will start at 1:30 pm with an official swallow at 2:28:15 to coincide with the 2/28/15 date.
This will be the 8th annual World Sword Swallower’s Day celebration, founded by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) and
co-sponsored by Ripley's Believe It or Not!.
“We established World Sword Swallower’s Day to recognize the handful of people in the world who can do this and honor this art that is more than 4,000 years old," said Dan Meyer, president of the SSAI.
The event also raises awareness of the contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science and raises money for esophageal cancer research.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has long chronicled the death-defying achievements of sword swallowers. Sword swallowers were prominently featured at the very first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933.
People who want to try their hand at sword swallowing – and not risk their lives - can use the Ripley iSword app to swallow a virtual sword and freak out their friends. All it takes is nerves of steel and lightning-fast reflexes. The app is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad or iPod touch iOS 5
or later.
Click here for images from previous World Sword Swallower’s Day events and here for video highlights.
Ripley’s Grand Prairie Odditorium is located at 601 East Palace Parkway. The sword swallowing performances will be FREE, but admission is required to tour the Odditorium.
Hope to see you there!