The peacock
Ten tennis racquets laced together like tail feathers. Collapse, dip in bubble juice, open and twirl: hundreds of thousands of bubbles streamed over the kids.
Photo: Mary MaharGarry Golightly · Seattle, Washington
The Bubbleman of Seattle
Giant bubbles. Thrift-store magic. Forty-two years of making Seattle’s kidlings laugh. Step into Garry Golightly’s world—and make a little joy of your own.
In his 2022 update, Garry shared that he was taking a break for his health. Read his letter.
42years as the Bubbleman, as of 2022
50 ftlongest bubbles, weather permitting
30+countries that have recognized his work
300 lbof bubblephenalia per show
A note from Garry, 2022
“Working with children has been my ‘Fountain Of Youth’! I’m still young at heart and will NEVER give up making children laugh!”
About his health: “I rather enjoyed telling people I had a loose screw rather than them telling me.”
In his 2022 letter, Garry wrote: “They love talking to me on the phone!”
Read his whole letter →Bubblefunalia
What a Bubbleman show was like
Just under an hour, outdoors on grass where the kidlings could run. A 100-foot chain marked the circle: kids on the outside, Garry and his gear on the inside. Cool, calm, cloudy days are bubble weather, which is why he calls Seattle bubble heaven.
The soda-can net
160 six-pack rings woven into one giant net. A cheap toy, safe for children, and a quiet point about what's not safe for wildlife.
Photo: Willow’s Photography
The biggest bubble
"The biggest bubble in the world is the world." Garry shows it by making the biggest bubbles he can, then slows everyone down with interactive breathing.
Photo: Melissa BussHis three rules (strictly enforced)
- Empty handsNo toys or food. Hands free for catching.
- Clean airNo smoking anywhere near the circle.
- Soft voicesKidults speak quietly. What he does is for the kids; what he says is for you.
Make bubbles at home
Garry’s bubble juice
“There are dozens and dozens of ‘bubble recipes’ all over the internet. None of them are viable or practical…except mine.”
- 1 five gallon bucket
- 1 thirty gallon bucket (trash can)
- 24 ounces of Joy or Dawn dish soap
Set the small bucket inside the big one, fill it with water to an inch from the top, then pour in 3 cups (24 oz) of soap: “no more…no less.”
The full recipe, in his wordsBubbleosophy
© 1992 Garry GolightlyI bubbelieve that we the people are
just like bubbles.We are all different shapes, colours and sizes,
just like bubbles
and some of us last longer than others,
just like bubbles…
and though our surface tensions may vary,
we all come from the same Source,
just like bubbles.All bubbles come from joy.
All people come from Love, because only Love exists.
When we don’t know we come from Love,
we fall in Love.
When we realize we come from Love,
we rise in Love…
just like bubbles.
"I am a Child Counselor and you are better for the kids than any therapy could be… thank you for the moments of Bliss this afternoon for me and my niece and nephew!"
ParentMap readers’ favorite
Voted Favorite Birthday Entertainer by ParentMap readers, and winner of many Best Children’s Performer awards.
Say a cheerful hello
Get in touch
A note from Garry, 2022. After 42 years of performing, he shared that he was taking a break to look after his health. In that letter, he welcomed calls from kids and messages from fans.
What did one bubble say to the other? "The only thing we have to sphere is sphere itself!"
✉︎Emailbubbleman.com@gmail.com
☏Text or call206.729.6692
✦Share your photos“If you have any photos or videos of previous performances I’d love a copy…”
“Ultimately, I hope to have been a loving and humorous example of what it’s like to act like a kid for children.”
See you lighter! · Garry Golightly