In the midst of a busy summer touring circuit, Dr. John will take a charitable detour this weekend and team with Wavy Gravy, the Grateful Dead’s celebrated “official clown,” political activist, and founder of the Camp Winnarainbow circus and performing arts camp outside Laytonville, CA.

The camp celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and, to honor the occasion, Dr. John will give a benefit concert in California this Saturday to support its scholarship fund.

With classes in everything from juggling to stilt-walking to mask-making and much more, Camp Winnarainbow’s mission is to provide a safe, accepting environment where kids (and adults!) can nurture their creativity and self-confidence, develop bizarre and wonderful skills, and learn how to face life with laughter.

The camp’s philosophy emphasizes sustainable and socially conscious living, peaceful co-existence, and practicing kindness in day to day life. Former campers regularly look back on it as an indispensable experience that helped shape them as people.

The Grace and Joy Scholarship program is a huge component of the camp that allows children interested in the circus arts and other creative pursuits to attend regardless of financial background. (A performance by the Nite Tripper himself is sure to be a big help.)

In addition to Dr. John, the concert will also feature blues trio HowellDevine and special guest Annie Sampson (the former Stoneground vocalist who currently fronts her own band), not to mention everybody’s favorite off-the-wall MC, Wavy Gravy himself.

Tickets include pre-concert food catered by Cesar, entry to the Silent Auction, as well as free beer and wine. They cost $200 for general seating and $500 for the VIP circle of FUNds, which entails priority seating, a limited-edition event poster, and a post-concert dinner reception.

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit Camp Winnarainbow’s website.