Hundreds of people flocked Downtown Hutchinson for April’s Third Thursday event, watching fire spinning, gaming tournaments and more throughout Avenue A Park.
Rion Piña and Austin Souidaray have been performing fire-spinning tricks since they were 16 years old, and perform in Wichita and Hutchinson.
“It’s the fun of having the fire and being able to show people how much it inspires us and maybe how it inspires them,” Souidaray said. “It’s cool to give something and show people something new and fun.”
Sol Fire, the name of the group, was founded so Piña and others could begin performing as a whole. Piña said the name derives from the Spanish “Sol” for Sun.
Piña said he first got into fire-spinning by getting into Electronic Dance Music (EDM) in high school.
“Everybody was using streamers and glowsticks back then, and we just started it,” Piña said. “We mixed it with martial arts as well and then we moved onto fire eventually.”
Piña said both his and Souidaray’s astrological signs fell under the sign Leo and the Sun.
“I love trying to put people in awe and seeing their faces light up,” Piña said. “I try to show them something they don’t see every day.”
Another attraction at Third Thursday was a Final Orbit booth.
Owner Brock Boyd hosted a “Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020” open game table and a booth with dice, crystals, potions and gaming figures. Boyd said the organization is based in Maize but is expanding into Hutchinson.
“XP League is a league for kids. Final Orbit is going to be retail,” Boyd said. “We’re excited about getting to meet all these people. That’s really what this is about.”
The gaming community is growing and tight-knit in Hutchinson, according to Boyd.
“Everybody we talk to says they want something like this, and I think there’s a want for it,” Boyd said.