On October 30, the town of Appleton, Wisconsin, kicked off a year-long celebration of Houdini and the art of magic. The town is where Houdini spent part of his childhood (his family immigrated there from Budapest when he was around 4 years old), and as such he’s recognized as a hometown hero.
The first event had the mayor officially recognize producer Gay Blackstone “for her extraordinary achievements, creativity, and leadership in the performing arts, and for her lasting impact on the world of magic and entertainment.” The ceremony took place in front of a 1,500-person audience before a Masters of Illusion live performance at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.
In April 2026, the city of Appleton and Lawrence University will also host a well-known, soon-to-be announced magician, and on October 30, 2026, Lance Burton will come to the performing arts center to close out the year. Other magic-related events include at least 10 magicians performing one weekend in retail locations in downtown Appleton, and the Society of American Magicians holding their national conference there over Fourth of July weekend. Other projects are in the works as well, which means that magic will be in the air in Appleton throughout the upcoming year.
Photos courtesy of Rick Morein