All good magicians have to start somewhere in order to fill up their bag of tricks.
Harry Potter had Hogwarts. And now, Adams County kids have Professor Kerrigan's School of Magic.
For the second year in a row, magician Joe Kerrigan is conducting his class for children 6 through 9 starting Aug. 13, and running through Aug. 17.
The Adams County Arts Council is hosting a series of summer camps for kids as well as classes for adults at their new facility on South Washington Street in Gettysburg. Program coordinator Wendy Heiges said the new space allows them to offer a lot more to locals looking to dabble in the art scene. And Kerrigan's School of Magic is one of the latest popular selections.
"I'm really excited about it," Kerrigan said. "I've been doing magic for over 40 years, and this is a chance to give something back and teach the art."
He loves teaching magic to children. They take to it quickly, he said, watching with wide-eyed wonder, then carefully dissecting the tricks. Kerrigan will teach the basics of slight-of-hand and illusion, as well as close-up and parlor magic.
Magic can be a lifelong hobby, and if they love it enough, and work hard at it, magic can also become a full-time profession, he said. After all, that's what Kerrigan has done for a living for much of his life.
Kerrigan got a magic kit when he was a kid, and fell in love with the craft.
"My friends challenged me to get serious about doing magic full time, and I
He traveled all around the country performing magic, and for a time was even Walmart's official magician for store openings up and down the East Coast. Over the last couple of years, he decided to stay closer to home with his magic, but hasn't slowed down a bit. Kerrigan performs a Civil War-era magic show at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays at the Fairfield Inn.
And now, he gets to pass on years of knowledge and experience - and a little bit of magic - to the next generation of little Houdinis.
The cost of the weeklong class is $125 for arts council members, and $135 for non-members. An accompanying magic kit costs $25.
The arts council has several other classes coming up for adults in September.
Outdoor Drawing is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays in September. The cost is $85 for members and $95 for non-members.
Mixed Media runs 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays through September for $133 for members and $148 for non-members.
The always popular watercolor class returns for six weeks at 11 a.m. starting Oct. 9. This class costs $128 for members and $143 for non-members.
The new Gluten-Free Cooking class is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 26 for $36 for members and $39 for non-members.
Sculptural Techniques with Porcelain is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays for five weeks starting Sept. 18 for $131 for members and $144 for non-members.
And a Wheel-Throwing pottery class starts Sept. 19, and runs for six weeks on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m.
The arts council always has a lot going on, Heiges said.
"It's a chance to learn a new skill, and meet new people with a common interest," Heiges said.
IF YOU GO
LOCATION: Fairfield Inn, 15 W. Main St., Fairfield.
HOURS: 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
DETAILS: Joe Kerrigan performs a Civil War-era magic show five nights per week at the Fairfield Inn.
And, LOCATION: Adams County Arts Council, 125 S. Washington St., Gettysburg.
DETAILS: For a full list of classes and camps, including Professor Kerrigan's School of Magic, visit www.adamsarts.org, or call 334-5006.
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