The world’s most famous high-wire family is preparing for another death-defying feat as Nik Wallenda and his sister Lijana Wallenda will attempt the first-ever ‘Criss Cross Skywalk’ this Saturday, November 8, during the University Town Center’s (UTC) Santa’s Grand Arrival Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting.
The stunt is a bold, complicated maneuver that will feature two steel cables suspended approximately 80 feet above the ground in the shape of a massive “X.” The ultimate challenge—and the likely world record—lies in the unprecedented coordination required as the siblings walk toward each other, meet in the middle, cross paths, and continue to the opposite side.
For Lijana Wallenda, the Criss Cross Skywalk marks her first performance in her hometown of Sarasota since her horrific, near-fatal accident in 2017, where she and seven other performers fell 40 feet during a rehearsal.
“It certainly will be emotional after that first performance,” said Nik Wallenda, the ‘King of the High Wire’ and 7th-generation member of The Flying Wallendas family. “The fact that she’s still alive is amazing, but also that she’s able to continue to do this, especially in our hometown, is more meaningful than anything.”
The siblings plan to converse with the audience the entire time, adding a layer of personal connection to the high-stakes spectacle.
Nik Wallenda, who holds multiple Guinness World Records for walks over sites like Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon, credits their ability to face such immense danger to mental fortitude.
“I often think that our minds can become our worst enemy, they are what creates fear,” Wallenda explained. “The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from walking the wire my entire life is that we’re in control of our thoughts and our thoughts are not in control of us.”
The Criss Cross Skywalk is expected to draw massive crowds to the UTC event, eager to witness the Wallendas push the boundaries of high-wire artistry and conquer personal fears in spectacular fashion.
