Slim Chance


Douglas McNeely, aka Slim Chance, is a founder, producer, writer, performer—and professional instigator of joyful chaos. Armed with a double major in Arts for Social Change and Anti-Psychiatry, he has spent decades gleefully blurring the line between performance, protest, and play.

Slim has created over a dozen original shows and toured the country in a veggie-oil-powered bus with scrappy, subversive circus troupes including The Nomadic Festival, The End of the World Circus, The Cyclown Circus, and ClownSnotBombs.

Since 2001, he’s been building circus community from the ground up—hosting a free weekly skill-share and teaching youth circus arts to anyone willing to drop things repeatedly in public. His work has popped up on screens too, including appearances in films and on TruTVs Fake Off.

These days, Slim hangs his hat in Richmond, California, where he performs his solo show for libraries, schools, and camps—and continues his lifelong mission of making weird, wonderful circus magic accessible to all.


David Pham


At the age of fifteen, David Pham began juggling in high school under the guidance of Juggling Sensei Matt Hall. In 2009, David attended Humboldt State University as an undergraduate and became a member of the Humboldt Circus. Shortly after, he went on to earn 3rd place at the 2010 International Juggler's Association festival for 3 Cigar Box Juggling. He has traveled and performed with the FreeLove Circus and the Circus Emporium Roadshow in years past. In 2012, he took a break from juggling to learn the art of magic. This Annual Humboldt Juggling Festival marks his second performance at HJF (the first being in 2017).


Lucy Juggles

Lucy Juggles will be perorming at Down the Rabbit Hole Wild Hare Tavern ...8pm Wednesday, May 1st. Lucy is a full-time circus artist based in the Bay Area. Her one-woman comedy juggling show is a unique blend of southern charm, extraordinary stunts and emotional vulnerability. She currently performs at Pier 39 in San Francisco, where she does tricks on the street for money. As a passionate advocate for trans visibility and queer joy, Lucy performs at a variety of LGBTQ and queer events in the Bay and across the country.


Spoon Circus

Spoon Circus spreads the joy of circus arts to all, creating playful, inclusive spaces where creativity thrives, confidence grows, and communities connect. Spoon Circus, a non-profit social circus, was founded with the vision of providing accessible education and fostering creative expression. Together, we developed the concept and began programming, reaching over 5,400 participants by early 2024. Our programming has run in South East Asia, Western North America, and Western Europe. 


Sean Lang


When he's not juggling numbers at the accountant's office, he's juggling numbers at the circus! Sean Lang is a professional Circus and Balloon Art entertainer, having worked at major amusement parks and at private and public events across California. Highly improvisational, multi-disciplinary, and focused on the art of wonder, laughter and audience connection. Sean is an alumni of Dell' Arte International, Northern Arizona University, and of Circus Bacchus of Flagstaff, AZ.


Spanko and Dewbie Buttwhistle

Spanko and Dewbie Buttwhistle have been clowning together for an astonishing 1,469 days (but who's counting?). As longtime members of the Humboldt Circus, they have brought laughter and chaos to seven productions, always sharing the stage with their unique brand of physical comedy and absurdity. Before the red noses, both were involved in community theater, honing their skills in character work, improvisation, and making audiences giggle (sometimes on purpose). Spanko, a professional balloon twister and seasoned performer, has also showcased their talents with 406Cirque in Montana, proving that the art of clowning knows no bounds. If you hear a honk, a crash, and uncontrollable laughter—it’s probably Spanko and Dewbie Buttwhistle, doing what they do best. 


Farah Whoopsy & Trish “The Dish”


“Farah Whoopsy” (the Flat Coated Retriever puppy of Trish “The Dish”) makes her festival debut as the youngest performer to ever charm the “Humboldt Juggling Festival” stage… (and arguably, the most naturally gifted). At just 4.5 months old, this “spring chicken” brings a mix of tricks, antics, & unexpected “brilliance.” Like many of us, she is motivated by treats, praise, & thunderous applause.



Tricia Riel ...aka... Trish "The Dish" has been involved in creative pursuits of all kinds since her first big role as a snowflake at age 5. She has a Bachelor's degree from the Visual & Performing Arts School at Syracuse University in NY, a Master’s Degree in Acting and Theatre Arts from Humboldt State University in CA, training in Dell Arte’, modern dance, contact improv, & more. For over 15 years, she worked as an on-camera Acting Coach at "Kids on Camera.” Trish spent years in the performance art scene in San Francisco (working with “Contraband” & “The Wise Fool Puppet Intervention”). She is a SAG/AFTRA Actor and has worked on numerous films (Acting, as a Voice-Over Talent, Dialect Coaching, and as an Assistant Director on features). Trish trained in Trapeze & Trampoline at “The San Francisco Circus Center,” has taught Partner Acrobatics, & is an incognito Mermaid (regular swimmer). Trish is quite the “organizational talent.” She works at Dell’Arte International & has been one of the core organizers for “The Humboldt Juggling Festival” for a # of years. She has been a physical coach at "Circus Smirkus" in Vermont, directed the Circus Camp at “Island Gymnastics” on Martha’s Vineyard, and has taught Physical Comedy, Hat Tricks, & Acrobatics at Wavy Gravy’s “Camp WinnaRainbow.” She has also headed numerous theatrically based after school programs in Northern California, Rhode Island, & in the SF Bay Area. Trish “The Dish” loves speaking Spanish, some German, & “advanced gibberish” (of course). She is the author of the wildly successful “Zephrum Gates” series (young adult fiction stories inspired by the Harry Potter books). Her newest book is “Cosmic Cycles & Revolution: Astrology with a Humorous Twist.” She has 2 adorable cats, a performing puppy, and she can write while she sleeps. She also has a trapeze in her living room. Wooga Wooga!


Damla

Damla is a movement-based performance artist, writer, teacher, and fool at heart. Her work transforms animals, plants, and objects into grotesque characters—usually through aerial tomfoolery—exploring theatre as a force for initiation and a language of the subconscious. In her world, even the toothbrushes have opinions.


Chuck

Chuck has been practicing diabolo for 8 years and has done several performances with The Humboldt Circus and The Humboldt Juggling Society. While they dabble in many props diabolo has always been the one that they prefer. Developing their skills in diabolo has unlocked a love of circus arts and flow arts that will last a lifetime.


A’okay & Nani Nature

Bede & Denise aka...A’Okay & Nani Nature... combine their experience in leading educational programs for schools, science centers, and summer camps with their talent for teaching creative play. This is how they create the magic of “Circus Nature.” Circus Nature’s mission is to promote healing and teaching with cooperative play. Their blend of storytelling with role-play, their enlightening performances, and their ability to inspire new games from free play has delighted participants and audiences of all ages. They offer entertaining performances for birthday parties and at schools, camps, community events, weddings, and festivals. They are available and can be found at CircusNature.com. These two fantastically whimsical artists bring the circus and toys from their home in the mountains above Willow Creek, California. They perform everywhere people play together & they inspire all to be “A O’kay.”