Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditoriums worldwide will be celebrating the 4th annual World Sword Swallowers Day on February 26. This means performances are scheduled at the Gatlinburg Ripley’s attraction. World Sword Swallowers Day was founded by the Sword Swallowers Association International and is co-sponsored by Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Last year at 10 Odditoriums across the world, 22 performers swallowed more than 138 feet of steel!
World Sword Swallowers Day was established to create awareness of the contributions sword swallowers have made and to raise funds for esophageal cancer research and the Injured Sword Swallower’s Relief Fund where Ripley’s will match the donations. It is also to correct myths by putting sword swallowing demonstrations for the public and media since most people don’t believe it is real or think the art has died out.