One of the top circuses in the United States has returned to Boston for the first time in six years, boasting a new and improved show featuring new digs and performers.
Big Apple Circus debuted under the Big Top Tent at Suffolk Downs in East Boston on Thursday, Oct. 9.
Kicking off its latest season, the circus’ Boston homecoming boasts a reimagined show that staff say will impress attendees like never before.
“We have a brand new tent, a brand new show, and it’s just a different concept throughout all,” Alexa Vazquez, with Big Apple Circus, told MassLive. “I always say expect the unexpected when you hit the big top of Big Apple Circus because it is a wonderful experience.”
Big Apple Circus was founded in 1977 and has dazzled audiences with its intimate, one-ring Big Top for 48 years.
The last time the circus was in Boston was in 2019. The hiatus was the result of several management changes, which ended in 2021 when EMC Presents BAC become the chief operating company. Eventually The Gold Group, a marketing and production firm headquartered in Boston, got involved and helped to bring Big Apple Circus back to the city.
“Boston has always been a special city for us,” Joe Gold, of The Gold Group, said in a press release. “The energy of the audiences here is incredible, and we can’t wait to share our most awe‑inspiring acts under the Big Top at Suffolk Downs.”
In addition to new lighting and a live orchestra, people can expect to see “performances from all over the world,” Vazquez said.
Notable performers include the Kung Fu Boys from Wuhan, China — who fuse martial arts with acrobatics for heart-stopping tricks — and The Flying Cassares — a new trapeze act known for its jaw-dropping triple somersault.
“We just wanted to make a really big, big surprise now that we hit Boston again after so many years,” Vazquez added. “It’s two hours of entertainment with artists from different parts of the world.”
Big Apple Circus will be in Boston from now until Sunday, Nov. 2. Once the Boston leg concludes, the show will head to Lincoln Center in New York for a Nov. 7 to Jan. 4 run.
Showtimes vary by date, so prospective visitors should check the circus’ ticketing page for more information. Ticket prices also vary by show, but start at $31.44.
The address for Suffolk Downs is 525 McClellan Highway, East Boston. Onsite parking must be reserved ahead of time. Big Apple Circus is also accessible by subway via the Suffolk Downs station on the MBTA Blue Line.
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