Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will 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 27. Two things to remember – that’s solid steel and yes, it’s all real.
Ripley’s will showcase the greatest group of sword swallowers ever assembled and offer free performances for the public at several of its Odditoriums around the world.
In Panama City Beach, there will be several performers, including Dan Meyer, an America’s Got Talent finalist, and Franz Huber, who is coming all the way from Germany to participate. Dan will swallow multiple swords, hedge clippers and even a car axle! Expect some female sword swallowers to join the show too. The performance will start at 1:45 pm with an official swallow at 2:27 pm to coincide with the 2/27 date. Ripley’s Panama City Beach Odditorium is located at 9907 Front Beach Road. The sword swallowing performances will be FREE, but admission is required to tour the Odditorium.
This will be the 9th annual World Sword Swallower’s Day celebration, founded by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) in partnership with Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
The event was created to recognize the handful of people in the world who can swallow swords, an ancient art that dates back some 4,000 years. The day 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 incredible feat of sword swallowing. Sword swallowers were prominently featured at the very first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933.
