Kid's stuff: Water skiing squirrel, trained rescued dogs, inflatables big draws
By Iva Butlerof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: October 16. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: October 15. 2009 11:58PM
Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel, a dog show featuring trained, older rescued animals and a huge number of inflatables will entertain in the Adventure Land portion of the city of Maryville's Foothills Fall Festival.
All of this family-oriented area is free except for concessions and festival merchandise.
The area extends from the Greenbelt Park beside the Greenbelt Lake between The Daily Times and Blount County Public Library all the way to the Alcoa city limits off McCammon Avenue.
Adventure Land Chairman Patti Clevenger outlined some of the entertainment planned for children.
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel, is back this year. Lou Ann Best of Deltona, Fla., Twiggy's trainer, said the entertaining squirrel will teach children about water safety.
Best has been training animals for 30 years. The show's current star is Twiggy No. 7 -- a 1-pound dynamo that travels in her own recreational vehicle with a logo featuring her picture on the side.
Another animal act is the Muttallica Dog Sport and Comedy Show, which features older rescue animals that perform.
"They show that you can teach old dogs new tricks," Clevenger said.
Among the entertainers will be Mario Manzini, the champion "escapeologist" listed as No. 1 in the "Guinness Book of World Records." Manzini lives in Columbus, Mo., but retains his native Bronx, N.Y., accent -- which Clevenger has trouble understanding.
Jim Bryson, the top ventriloquist and magician in the Southeast, will perform. He is from Cleveland.
One of Clevenger's favorite entertainment inflatables this year is the huge Dalmatian Fire Dog, where children can bounce, shoot hoops, go through a tunnel and down a slide.
The Pirate Play Ship is a large wooden structure that will be near the flagpoles in Adventure Land.
Other inflatables include outdoor Lazer Tag and Monkey Motion, which is like air-inflated trampolines.
Again the Army will be on hand with a climbing wall, and smaller children can enjoy their own Tiny Tot Adventure Land.
Adventure Land will be open from noon to 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Those are the same hours as for the other free section of the festival, ArtWay, where area artists and crafts people will be located along Broadway Avenue downtown.
Food will be available in all festival areas.
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