• 10 a.m. Poetry People, Winning Eagle
• 10:15 Cinderella, local dance troupe
• 11:00 Hobey Ford, puppetry
• 12 p.m. Healing Force
• 1:00 Silent Partners, illusion of mime
• 2:00 Timmy Abell, musical instruments



Saturday mornings for me growing up meant one thing: cartoons.

About four or five hours of them starting at 8 a.m. until Mom yelled loud enough to turn my attention to chores around the house. I guess now I realize how much it annoyed the mess out of her, knowing I was caught in that catatonic state, ignoring the world around me as I kept up with the latest installments of Smurfy mayhem or Wile E. Coyote or Spiderman and his amazing friends. But I was hooked. I loved to visit that huge tree where the Gummy Bears lived. I loved the Hall of Justice and the way the Wonder Twins could turn into useful household tools with a little help from their monkey Gleek.

Somewhere along the way, I gave up my Saturday morning TV. I don’t know whether I changed or the shows changed. I’m still a sucker for cartoons, and I still love being a kid on Saturdays.

Well, this Saturday, May 11, you can be a kid again at the Performing Arts Center in Waynesville. Razzle Dazzle Saturday, the annual spring celebration organized by the Haywood County Arts Council under the direction of chairperson Barbara Key, features a day of fun activities for children of all ages.

The festivities, which begin at 10 a.m. and run until 3 p.m., will include dance, theatre, music, poetry performance, puppetry, arts and crafts, food and a whole lot of fun. Advance tickets are $3 per person, $4 on the day of the festival, $10 maximum for families. Reserve tickets are now available in Haywood County Elementary Schools and at the Haywood County Arts Council Office on 114 Church Street (across from the Smoky Mountain News office).

The festival returns to its usual spring spot after the Haywood County Arts Council had a budget shortfall last year and had to cancel Razzle Dazzle. But under new board leadership (Waynesville architect Joe Sam Queen took over the role of the board’s president), the Arts Council has cut out some of its administrative costs to make room for ongoing arts programs such as Razzle Dazzle and the Atlanta Ballet’s Homecoming in September. After three months of planning, the Arts Council unveiled what it hopes to be a new-and-improved Razzle Dazzle.

And from the list of participants this year, it looks to be as exciting as ever.

Out on the lawn outside the Performing Arts Center beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, members of Spotlights Youth Theatre of Haywood County will present brief drama pieces, chalk drawings, face-painting and a painting space called “Picasso Place.” The Poetry People will offer roving performance poetry and demonstrations in juggling and devil’s sticks. Mark Mounce will share an enlightening and educational Native American drumming and dancing presentation.

Also outside will be fire trucks and police cars on display, bubble blowing, paper bowl making, craft activities and plenty of food — hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and Greek dishes — along with soft drinks.

Inside the Performing Arts Center, a series of performers will take to the main stage each hour. At 10:15 a.m., the Western Carolina Center for the Arts, formerly known as Dancer’s Pointe, will present a dance adaptation of “Cinderella.” At 11 a.m., Hobey Ford will offer a puppet show. At noon, the Healing Force will share African songs, stories, and drumming. The Silent Partner Mimes will gesture “Fables” at 1 p.m. and talented musician and folk singer Timmy Abell will perform at 2 p.m.

In case of rain, the events, displays, and arts and crafts will be moved inside the theatre’s studio space, the lobby and under the eaves around the theatre.

So whether you’re an older kid who misses a little childhood fun or a younger kid who’s managed to keep that playful soul, Razzle Dazzle promises to give you a Saturday devoted to what childhood should be all about.

For more information about Razzle Dazzle Saturday, call 828.452.0593.