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[BaileyTheCraw]

Well, I have been thinking about this.  Our event is the 24th of August.  Even if we were to move it (which we haven’t for 25 years) would anyone want to come this way and hang out for a week after the world yoyo contest?  Of course, you are willing to hang out at my house until the 24th but can you get that much time off?  It is a hard call and the yoyo contest in Cleveland is a super great event…..but our much smaller gathering has some intense top spinners and unique top spinning action!!!

im very excited for the top fest on the 24th, i will be attending that for sure! as for yoyo contest, im planning on going as well if my schedule allows. I have a bunch of friends going.

[the Earl of Whirl]

It seems like it is time to start an official thread for this event.  We have been adding things on the 2023 thread long enough.  So…….mark your calendars for the 24th of August.  As the heading says, it will be our 25th edition.  Videos from our event have shown up on the Hollywood Journal.  Special guests have been talking about being here like ta0 and the top lady!!!  If you want to come on Friday night we can meet at the church for some fun.  Hopefully a number of people will want to come be a part of a unique top themed worship service on Sunday.  Jim Neff has provided hysterical children sermons in the past.

[Mark Leithead]

Hello my dear friend Mike 

I must say that I have moved to China to teach English. Yes this is true and is all so sudden, but as of now I will unfortunately not be able to attend the 25th Miamisburg Top Spinning Festival. I will miss seeing my friends, meeting new talented top spinners (that would hopefully become my friends), miss Sunday Service and the sermon, top tricks and music that will be performed, the new waterfront, the children's top spinning battles, and so much more.

I wanted to wait to tell you this news until I've determined that I will be staying here in China until August 2024 and beyond, and things are currently going smoothly here for me.

I don't want to derail the thread too much, but if you want to see some recent videos about where I am (including the city name) I uploaded a few walkthrough videos on my YouTube channel youtube.com/@markleithead . I unfortunately will be missing the 2024 yoyo contest in Cleveland too 😟 and I may make a thread on yoyoexpert.com or comment in the World's 2024 thread (not one up yet on YYE?) as I made many friends in 2019 and it truly felt like the world coming to us, which is incredibly lucky and fortunate.

It's been a wild 2.5 years of unemployment and this job offer is the first for me after thousands of applications. A Bachelor degree from a University is required to have this job and to be a native English speaker, and I found the job on teachaway.com and I got my 120 hour TEFL certificate completed entirely online for $50-100 USD at TEFLhero.com. I recommend it to others.

Thanks Mike for hosting the event again. I brought my guitar to China and I have already played some English children's songs for the kids. They're a bit shy at first but I think they're opening up slowly 🙂.

I will continue to be active on these forums of course, I've been silent as I was thinking of letting the surprise out in my online contest video, but this is the best way to give the news.

Thanks Mike, John Marcus, Jay, and all the Miamisburg and South Ohio team that make this wonderful event possible.

I plan to see you again in person sometime soon 🙂🙏🙏

Mark

[ta0]

Wow, what a surprise Mark!  The last thing I expected was that our Canadian ambassador would be living in China now! I hope life treats you well at your new home and I look forward to your videos about life over there.

I see that Guangrao is on the coast, halfway between Beijing and Shanghai. If you see any tuolo activity, please keep us informed. From what I saw in Shanghai, if you go to a park early in the morning you should be able to meet some kongzhu players.

You will be missed in Miamisburg. This year I plan to go to the fest and I was going to finally return you the pliers I borrow about 5 years ago 

EDIT: I just found a $228 flight from San Antonio to Dayton, so I now have a ticket!  Arriving Thursday at noon and leaving Sunday evening.

[Dick Stohr]

I really can not believe that you are going to celebrate Top Feat 25th anniversary on our 61st Wedding anniversary and that we will probably not to be able to combine the cakes on the 24th. Hope it is a terrific event. Dick & Bev

[Mark Leithead]

  thanks Jorge for the supportive and kind words. I am envious you will be in Miamisburg this year, and I wish I could have been there to see you and spin tops again.

Yes Guangrao is the city I am in, thanks for taking interest in the location, and I have not yet seen any tops or top spinners here (yet, hopefully). Tuolo and Kongzhu, these are both new words to me, with kongzhu seeming like a chonkakegoma with Diablo sticks. There are some parks nearby that people visit often, so I will look out for them.

And the pliers! Haha I had forgotten about them. I appreciate the thought and I will have to receive them from you the next time we meet in person (but don't stress about them of course  ).

Dick and Bev sorry to hear you will also be missing the event. I bet with Jorge there and others it will still be as wonderful as always.

Thanks for the support, and I look forward to staying in communication and seeing updates from around the world 

[Kirk]

24th in the burg! I'm in

[the Earl of Whirl]

I have been doing work on this event but not posting much yet because of other great things going on…..like the World Online Contest!!!  So many good routines and videos.  Our 25th will not be the same without Dick and Mark but we sure have a lot of good memories.  I have very vivid thoughts of the one year Dick was with us as we finished our top battles in the rain and even some lightning (were we stupid or just loco como trompo).  How can we ever forget Mark getting a selfie with all of us in the middle of his freestyle?  So clever and so fun.  Yes, we will miss you and will try to have fun in your honor.

[jmadrigal]

I am going to try and make it out this year.

[the Earl of Whirl]

What?  That would be amazing!!!  Yippeee!!!  Also, today is the 75th birthday of the top lady, Judith Schulz.  She says she also wants to come all the way from Burlington, Wisconsin.

[ta0]

Jose and  . . . Judith? Fantastic! I will finally meet the Top Lady in person! I'm so looking forward to it!

[jmadrigal]

Airline tickets secured. Looking forward to seeing everyone. Plan to bring my son and daughter that came with me to 2019 worlds. A lot bigger now

Jose

[the Earl of Whirl]

Yippee!!!  Renee was asking me who was coming.  Now I can add your name to the list…..and your children too!!!  So exciting.  Thanks for the update.

[jmadrigal]

At some point can we get a rough schedule for the day. I have a vauge memory, but I am getting old. Thanks!

[Texture]

Hotel secured, I’ll be arriving Friday!