Can’t miss
Alberti Flea Circus (1 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m., Center City Park)
They’re not actually fleas — third-generation proprietor Jim Alberti of Winston-Salem uses ingenious devices and tiny contraptions to bring the invisible performers to life. The form of entertainment harkens back to vaudeville and even earlier, when watchmakers began to use their skills for fun.
Other acts
Bahamas Junkanoo Revue (12:15 p.m., Center City Park;5:45 p.m., CityStage)
The deep pounding of percussions, an explosion of color and imaginative costumes. You’re not in a dream, you’re in the middle of a Junkanoo parade. Get your life together honey with a rarely seen tradition reserved for Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Bahamian Independence Day.
Magnum & Company (CenterCity Park, 2:30 p.m.; Wrangler Stage, 6:15 p.m.)
A supergroup of Charlotte’s United House of Prayer members brings the brass to the gospel genre. Heavy on the trombone, soaked in spirituality, this is where church meets the second line.
Wild card
Bouncing Bulldogs (McDonald’s Family Stage, 1 p.m.; CenterCity Park, 4 p.m.)
No, these are not jumproping dogs — the Bulldogs are an award-winning, internationally touring team of 140 athletes who combine agility, dance and acrobatics with the double-Dutch tradition.
Suggested itinerary
Start with Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba at the NC Traditions Stage at noon. Griot and kora master Dialia Cissokho leads this highly sought-after musical collage of storytelling tradition taken up a notch. Chill with the fleas over at Center City Park a little after they start at 1 p.m. Then catch the breakdance crew, Dancing on Air, at the same location at 1:45 p.m. If you hang out until about 2:30 at Center City, you can catch Mangum & Company gospel brass “shout band”. If you’re lucky maybe the gospel crew will jam with the breaking crew. Synergy! At 3 p.m. CityStage starts rocking with the Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga, the smooth, Irish tones of the Alt at 4 p.m., and the spiffy looking group Le Vent du Nord at 5 p.m. And yes I said spiffy.
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