COLUMN: Macon magician Mike Fuller amazes at Cherry Blossom Festival

This year’s International Cherry Blossom Festival culminates Sunday with the annual Tunes and Balloons celebration out on Middle Georgia State University’s campus.

But before that, there’s still plenty to do and the best way to keep track of events, locations and prices is to check out the calendar or download the Cherry Blossom app at www.cherryblossom.com.

Most of the activity is at Carolyn Crayton Park, formerly Central City Park, and one of the ongoing, daily attractions is Macon’s own Mike Fuller the Magician. A Macon native, Fuller has spent his life in media sales, developing then selling a medical supply business and as a TV meteorologist-weatherman.

But he said he’s been fascinated by magic since he was 7.

“There was a magician named Mark Wilson who had a Saturday morning TV show called ‘The Magic Land of Allakazam’ and I just loved it,” Fuller said. “That’s what got me started.”

If you remember the show, you’re probably old enough to remember where Fuller said he bought his first magic tricks: the Ed Wells Trick and Novelty shop downtown off Second Street.

“I’m sure the first book I ever read that a school teacher didn’t make me read was one on magic I got from the Washington Library,” Fuller said. “And I used to spend every cent I got as a kid down at that novelty shop. I still have a book I got from the shop and, if you ever went in there, you know it had its own unique smell inside. Well, that book still smells like that and brings back lots of memories every time I open it up.”

But Fuller said he quickly outgrew tricks from the shop and had to find more professional sources. These days, he gets supplies at magician conventions.

When asked what kind of magic he does or how long it takes to master it, Fuller answers that magic is easy enough for a 10-year-old – as long as they practice for 50 years.

“I’ve been doing magic so long I guess I’ve done most kinds,” he said. “What I’m doing at the Cherry Blossom Festival is what you might call old-fashioned, cabaret-style magic. Some things I do appear dangerous but they’re not, like sawing a woman in half. There’s close-up magic and making things disappear and appear. I get people from the audience to help out – kids and grownups. Magic is about fooling and amazing but it’s all just entertainment.

“I have different shows for different audiences and the one at the festival is more a family and kids show. For corporate events and other types of shows, I may do a little more serious-looking act. But I always say you have to be more careful with the shows for kids – kids are harder to fool.”

Odds are you’ve seen Fuller through the years. He’s constantly performing at schools, libraries, private parties, trade shows, the corporate events and most things in between. Though it’s only his second year at the Cherry Blossom Festival, he’s been a regular at the Georgia National Fair in Perry for 32 years.

“We’ve had fantastic, big crowds at the park for the Cherry Blossom Festival this year,” Fuller said. “Everything is laid out well at the park and there are a lot of good acts and great things to do. I’m right there between the Jurassic Kingdom Dinosaur Show and the Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean.”

According to the festival schedule, Fuller performs each day through Sunday at 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Fuller can be contacted through his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/mikefullerthemagician or emailed at mfullermagic@bellsouth.net.

As for Sunday’s Tunes & Balloons, the Macon Pops headline the family-fun evening again this year with gates opening at 5 p.m. at Middle Georgia State University, 100 University Parkway. The Pops start at 6 p.m. and the balloon glow and fireworks follow.

Admission is $5 with children 10 and under admitted free. Tethered hot-air balloon rides are $10.

This year’s Macon Pops’ Tunes & Balloons show will be unique in celebrating two significant anniversaries.

“We’re going to be performing Michael Jackson’s entire ‘Thriller’ album top to bottom this year with a couple of other things sprinkled in,” said Steve Moretti, Pops president and CEO, who founded the musical organization along with artistic director, arranger and conductor Matt Catingub.

“We chose it because, in addition to this being the festival’s 40th year, it’s also the 40th anniversary of ‘Thriller.’ We’ve interjected many Michael Jackson songs in concerts through the years but haven’t done anything fully dedicated to him. This seemed like the perfect chance.”

Moretti said there will be surprises during the show and two Macon dance groups will also be involved: the Madison Studio of Dance Education and Pilar Wilder Lowden’s Hayiya Dance Theatre.

“It’s a fun collaboration we’re doing with these wonderful organizations – but I can’t give away everything,” Moretti said.

He did say the show will open with the Pops’ festival anthem, “Cherry Blossom Party Time.”

A few other Cherry Blossom-related events to highlight during the next few days include:

-Blossoms at the Big House today from 6-9 p.m. at 2321 Vineville Ave. Entertainment is by members of End of Line: A Tribute to the Allman Brothers, catering by Perfect Pear and decor by Canaan Marshall Designs. The evening features museum tours and complimentary beverages from Piedmont Brewery. Tickets are $75 and dress is cocktail attire.

-Harpsichord Concert: La belle Francois today at 7:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church featuring harpsichordist Gregory Hamilton and soprano Krysta Therieu. It is free.

-Macon-Bibb Fire Department Pink Pancake Breakfast Saturday from 7-10:30 a.m. at Luther Williams Stadium, Carolyn Crayton Park. Partnering with the Macon Bacon, the breakfast features all the pink pancakes, sausage, bacon, orange juice, milk and coffee you can eat. It’s $5 for adults and $3 for children 3 and under. Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

-U-Create Macon’s 5th annual Bike the City Pink urban ride Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. in front of the Tubman Museum and ending at the Pink Pancake Breakfast. The ride is free and leaves promptly so be there ahead of time. A limited number of bikes are available for loan. To reserve one, email ucreatemacon@gmail.com.

More information on the above events is at www.cherryblossom.com.

Yet another significant event Saturday is the 3rd Annual Little Richard Festival at the Little Richard House Resource Center, the historic home of Little Richard at 416 Craft St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

General admission is free for live music, vendor items, games, contests for young people and more. Events will also be at Jefferson Long Park as well as tours of Little Richard’s childhood home and walking tours of the historic Pleasant Hill Community. More information on the center and event is at www.facebook.com/lrhouse416.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.