Acorn Productions’ annual Phyzgig festival, a celebration of physical comedy and variety entertainment, continues in downtown Portland through New Year’s Eve.

The week includes six mainstage vaudeville shows at the Portland Stage Company, including two shows on New Year’s Eve, eight Phyzkidz shows at Space Gallery, and an appearance by Phyzgig’s artistic director and Peaks Island resident Avner the Eccentric, who will be performing his full-length show for the first time in four years in Portland.

Acorn will showcase 12 performers chosen from a competitive application process that attracted interest from both national and international acts. They will create a full-blown week of zany insanity, featuring clowning, juggling, magic, slapstick humor, and other acts that are hard to categorize.

Phyzgig offers a form of entertainment with a rich and honored tradition, and also helps distinguish Maine as a state that nurtures the spirit of vaudeville.

Phyzkidz shows take place at Space Gallery, 538 Congress St., and feature three performers in a format and venue designed for younger audience members. The mainstage variety shows at Portland Stage Company, 25A Forest Ave., showcase four performers and the live Phyzgig Gypsy Swing Band.

This year’s Phyzgig festival features Jamie Adkins, Ambidextrous, Daniel Forlano, Drew the Dramatic Fool, Shane Miclon and Aaron DeWitt, Karen Montanaro, Norman Ng, Phil Smith, Michael Trautman, Yo-Yo People and the Zany Umbrella Circus.