Local man to drive blindfolded around Woodstock Square
Joe Diamond, 27, is already a world record holder for solving the world's largest corn maze blindfolded! He will now be taking his sightless skills to behind the wheel of a car!
On Friday, Sept. 11, as part of the Woodstock Artwalk, he will be driving a car around the Woodstock Square while he is completely blindfolded. Local police will be shutting down traffic on the square for 5 minutes while the stunt takes place, and pedestrians will be held to the sidewalks for safety.
The event is being done as a fundraiser for next year's Artwalk. The producer of the event, John Heng, is hoping to raise $5,000.
"This will go toward more advertising for the monthly events, as well as hiring more artists and performers," Heng recently explained.
To make the event slightly more enticing, Mayor of Woodstock Brian Sager has agreed to get in the passenger seat of the donated car as Joe Diamond makes the blind drive! This will only happen if the full $5,000 is raised. "I figured it's still safer then me driving fully sighted!" joked the mayor recently. "Plus the Artwalk has had such a great buzz about it, so it's for a good cause."
The event will be filmed and documented by local production company TurnKey Digital, a car is being donated by a local auto dealership, even a local insurance company will be insuring the car, the mayor, and Joe Diamond.
"This has become a huge event involving several great businesses right here in Woodstock," Diamond commented.
Anyone can donate any amount from $10 all the way up to $1,000 by visiting www.ArtwalkDonations.com.
The money goes to the Old Courthouse Arts Center, a part of the Northwest Area Arts Council, a regional all-volunteer, 501(c)3 nonprofit. All donations will be used to provide the performing arts programming for this and future Artwalks, and are tax deductible!
The Artwalk happens 6 to 9 p.m. the second Friday of every month from May until October, and features musicians, painters, magicians, an escape artist, a sword swallower, a fire eater, and local mind reader, Joe Diamond.
The blindfold drive will be happening at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11. He will begin at the Old Courthouse Arts Center on the Woodstock Square, and drive all the way around the square until he returns where he began!
Joe Diamond will be doing this stunt to promote his new show, "Joe Diamond: Mind Reader" at The Listening Room at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. Tickets, $15, are available at www.LakesideLegacy.org. For more on Diamond, visit www.paranormalmagician.com.