Tag: Magic
Abbotts 76th Magic Get Together 2013
We attended Magic week in Colon MI this year for the sixth time in a row. James had fun as usual and came home with many “items” from the Magic Capital in Colon MI. We saw a couple magic shows while in town, visited the magic museum, visited the magic dealers in the auditorium, and spent time at the arts and crafts show in town.
The magic show was over two hours making it the longest event James has sat through, and he enjoyed every minute of it and got a magic set as well at the show.
This was the 76th Abbott Get Together, do not be confused by cheap competitors trying to have their own magic week. Make sure that it says Abbotts and that it is in Colon MI. Next years dates are Aug 6-9 and it will be the 77th Abbott Get Together (they began in 1934 but missed a couple years due to wars and such, you can view their history at http://www.magicgettogether.com ).
Abbotts Magic Flea Market 2013
What a great time we have at the Abbott Magic Flea Market which takes place each year around Mothers Day. If you are looking for magic and need to watch your funds, this is the place for you. You can go in with about $10 and walk out with a big bag of various magic. Prices are so low they could not be considered wholesale, but well below wholesale. Most of the magic is used but it is usually in good condition and the owner simply wants to make more room for new magic by selling off the old stuff.
We have found some great deals for Halloween as well. If you were to buy a guillotine or chopper for Halloween it would cost you a fortune, but here you can find those products cheap, and if you are buying them for Halloween you don’t even care about the magic part which means you can usually get them even cheaper.
Just a great 4 or 5 hours of fun here, highly recommended for all magic (and Halloween) enthusiasts.
Christmas at the Magic Capitol 2012
Once again we attended the Colon Christmas Celebration. James got plenty of treats as pretty much everywhere you went there were cookies, juice, cocoa, and even a chilli contest. Mary got to shop at the antique stores and James got to see Santa and also pet the live reindeer that were outside the library. Inside the library James got to pick out a free book – he chose a Madlib book. Outside the library James got to pet a couple live reindeer!
The elementary school had a craft show which included some awesome tasting snacks and some homemade Amish bread. A Santa parade went down mainstreet and there were carolers on the corners. A fun time was had by all.
Below is a demonstration of the virtual Santa that we got from Abbotts, it makes it look like Santa is really in your window.
Abbotts 75th Magic Get Together 2012
James got to help set up some of the booths at the Abbotts Get Together, an event which takes place each August. James has come to this festival since he was 3 and has always enjoyed it, however this is the first time he got to actually help out in the preparations. James helped out the weekend before then got to attend and enjoy the festivities the weekend after (his camp prevented him from attending during the week).
A bonus surprise was that Jame’s pet doves were used on the Friday night show (tickets were $25 each for a Vegas quality magic show but James got in for free because of the work he did the weekend before).
James enjoyed pizza in a place that had a girl floating in the window and posters from many of the past Abbott Get Togethers.
Towards the end of the event, a huge rainbow filled the sky over the magic village of Colon which just thrilled James.
The 2013 Abbott Get Together dates are Aug 7,8,9,10, this will be their 76th year doing this. We heard that some other magic shop was copying this event and putting it on a week earlier in Colon so make sure if you do attend that it is the Abbott Magic Get Together that you attend and not “the copycat” as James likes to call it.
We would truly like to thank the staff of Abbott Magic for their hospitality and kindness during this event. We all had a great time.
Abbott’s Flea Market 2012
The family went up to Colon Michigan to participate in a Magic Flea Market and Auction. We go to this almost every year primarily to look for Halloween stuff which shows up from time to time. This year was different because Mary had a Flea Market table. Mary sold some used magic, posters, and books that were supplied to her from the magic shop hosting the event and she had a great time selling and interacting with the visitors, some who came as far away as St Louis to attend this. James and I did manage to find a couple things to buy for Halloween but mostly spent our time outside at the playgrounds. They also had a flower sale going on that day so it was a very busy day in the Magic Capital Colon Michigan.
After the Flea Market we ate a buffet in Coldwater then went to the antique shops in Allen MI (From the Magic Capital to the Antique Capital). Ironically Mary found a Phantom of the Opera poster framed which we will show you once Halloween rolls around. A fun day for everyone.
Abbotts Magic Get Together 2011
We all headed out to Colon MI for the annual Abbotts Get Together which features some of the most recognized names in magic. This year was a little different with a blind folded car drive through the city streets, a car show, and a craft show going on during the event. James enjoyed the blindfolded car drive and Mary enjoyed the car show while Dad liked the dealers room where the latest magic is for sale.
Each year since 1934 Magicians have migrated to this tiny town to see the latest magic and to perform for a midwest audience. They actually have two popular sayings to describe this event, one is “Vegas comes to Mayberry” and the other is the “Magic Capitol of the World”. The whole magic thing is due to the Abbott magic company which has been putting this event on for over seventy years. Some of the top names in magic such as Blackstone (both Sr. and Jr.), Lance Burton, Jeff McBride, Mac King, Jeff Hobson, and many more have performed here.
Abbotts Closeup Magic Convention 2011
Here’s an interesting story, a couple years ago Mary went to a Evening Magic Show and the Master of Ceremonies was Stephen Bargatze, who grew up in Tennessee. Afterwards Mary told me she had a bus driver named Bargatze who drove her to school each day and she wondered if the two were related.
Years later Stephen Bargatze (perhaps the premiere comedy magician in America) shows up at a Closeup Magic Convention so Mary made arrangements to photograph some of the show and got to meet Stephen who said the bus driver who drove her to school was actually his Great Uncle.
Below are some of the pictures from the Convention, you can see Mary in 9 of the pics (another photographer was on the other side and took some pics) and we also included 6 pics Mary took.
Abbott’s Magic Get Together 2010
What a fine time we had in Colon Michigan, the magic capitol of the world. James had a blast swimming at the small beach that they have here, and Mom enjoyed the craft fair while Dad enjoyed the props at the dealers room, many of which were Halloween oriented.
The magic get together is primarily magic shows and magic lectures that go on at various times during the 4 day festival. The highlight of each day is the evening show which features Vegas quality acts. They have had some of the best acts in magic here during their history including Lance Burton, Harry Blackstone, Mark Wilson, and many many more.
The evening shows are held at the high school, the dealers room is in the elementary school, the buskers are throughout the city, the ventriloquists are at the Abbott Magic Shop, and the Gospel magicians are at church. There are various events throughout the city such as car shows and craft shows. The whole town gets involved in this event and it really shows by how many people return here year after year.
Magic Capitol 4th of July Parade 2009
Our annual trek to Colon Michigan for the 4th of July Parade came about, and once again James had a blast. We did not take as many pics this time so we could enjoy the fun. It was not as hot as last year but still quite warm, plenty of water was distributed to the spectators lining the street before and during the Parade.
James certainly loves the parade but probably the highlight of his day (just like last year) came at the dunk tank. James just had a blast throwing balls at the guy in the dunk tank, and when he fell into the water he would laugh and laugh. I was so entertained by the event I did not even think about getting out the camera, oh well. Needless to say, a fun time was had by all including the parents.
If you ever are looking for something different to do on the 4th, give the little town of Colon Michigan a try.
Greenfield Village Magic Show 2009
James got to see a magic show at Greenfield village, he’s in Colon MI alot (the magic capital of the world) so its not unusual for James to watch a magic trick. This was the same day that Thomas was in town so needless to say it was a very big day for James.
The magician was great and floated a spectator at the end (or suspended the spectator if thats a better way of saying it). James sat through the whole thing and this was on a day when Thomas the Train was circling the park so you know it had to be good to keep any kids attention.
We will be riding Thomas later in the day, you have to schedule your time in advance.
