Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square

More than 20 sword swallowers will be “dropping swords” at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide at 2:25 p.m. on February 25, in celebration of the 6th annual World Sword Swallower’s Day. In excess of 125 feet of solid steel is set to go down the hatch - hopefully without a scratch.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   
In New York City, Keith Nelson will headline a free sword swallowing show outside Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium, located at 234 West 42nd Street.  The show will start at 1:30 p.m. local time and culminate with an official “swallow” at 2:25:12 p.m. to coincide with the 2/25/12 date.  

World Sword Swallower’s Day was founded by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) and is co-sponsored by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

“We established World Sword Swallower’s Day to honor this ancient art and recognize the few people in the world who can do this,” explains Dan Meyer, a sword swallower whose amazing feats  have been chronicled by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!.  “We also raise awareness of the contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science and raise money for esophageal cancer research.”

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has a long history of highlighting the death-defying achievements of sword swallowers.

“Sword swallowers were a big part of the very first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933,” said Tim O’Brien, VP of Communications for Ripley Entertainment Inc. “There, three performers, two of whom were women, mesmerized the huge crowds. Ripley’s has been home to sword swallowers around the world ever since.” 

Mark the date 25th February 2012 & enjoy the free show from 1:30pm.