Stanwood-Camano fair features sword swallower

Published 12:27 pm Thursday, August 2, 2007

Tarantulas do not like to be blown on.

So what does Brad Byers do? He puts them in his mouth and blows bubbles.

Byers does other unorthodox things. Like he swallows 10 swords at once. Then he twists them in place.

He also lies down on a bed of nails. Well, lots of people can do that. But Byers does it with 18 people sitting on top of him.

He also juggles 16-pound bowling balls and knows about 100 yo-yo tricks.

Byers also does something with his nose, a very long nail and a hammer that is just too creepy to even write about here.

So it goes without saying: Readers, please don’t try these things at home.

But you can go watch Byers do them.

Byers is one of the performers at this year’s 76th annual Stanwood-Camano Community Fair, which runs for three days starting at 9 a.m. today.

The fair boasts an old-fashioned feel along with hundreds of animals, exhibits, a carnival and parade starting at 11 a.m. Saturday through downtown Stanwood.

There are lots of games kids can enjoy and, of course, there are all sorts of fair treats.

Along with Byers, The Noise Guy, Jennifer Harris the Hypnotist, J.P. Patches and the rock group Survivor are part of the fair’s continuous entertainment being performed on two stages.

Byers is known worldwide as a sword swallower and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for holding the record of swallowing 10 swords at one time. Don’t forget, he does twist them in place. He doesn’t stop at swords, though, and also takes in coat hangers, keyhole saws, and bayonets.

Brad Byers will perform at the Stanwood-Camano fair.