NYC Unicycle Festival August 31 - September 2, 2012

Planning is currently under way, so stay tuned for more details!

NYC Unicycle Festival 2011, in review

The second annual NYC Unicycle Festival rolled across the Big Apple on Labor Day Weekend 2011. Produced by Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, the three day festival started on September 2 with Brooklyn Unicycle Day (proclaimed by borough president Marty Markowitz). Brooklyn Unicycle Day featured a 13 mile one wheeled journey across the Brooklyn Bridget to Coney Island. 57 unicyclists took part in the ride across the Brooklyn Bridge, and most kept rolling to complete the 13-mile trek to Coney Island, which culminated in a public display at Deno's Wonder Wheel.

The main festival event took place on Governors Island on Saturday, September 3. Activities included unicycle hockey, the Hell on Wheel Trials Course, one wheeled races, a world record attempt, a learn to ride area, and an exhibition unicycle basketball game. The high energy match pitted NYC's King Charles Troupe, the world's most famous unicycle basketball team, against the Puerto Rican Nationals, ten time world champions. This historic unicycle basketball game ended with the Puerto Rican Nationals winning by one point, 37 to 36.

More than 350 people participated in the one wheel activities, ranging from professional unicycle riders to individuals and families trying one wheel for the first time. The world record attempt set a state record though not a Guinness record with a human unicycle chain featuring 155 unicyclists. Saturday's festivities ended with a public showcase featuring the King Charles Troupe, the Dangerous Comedy of Dave Cox, a unicycle demonstration by the festival's youngest rider, Ziggy Cohen (age 4), and Kyle Petersen's combo stunt featuring juggling, unicycling, and hula hooping.

On Sunday the festival moved to Grant's Tomb, the long-time home of the NYC Unicycle Club. Sunday provided a chance for experienced riders to attempt to ride some of the more unique unicycles: crabs, small wheels, stacked wheels, ultimate wheels, impossible wheels, and more. Throughout the day multiple giraffe unicycles took to the sky, with riders towering 5 to 10 feet above the pavement.