Circuses
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Circuses
April 2009
We are considering taking our almost 4yo daughter to the circus
(She has been requesting to go). Any recommendations for
child-friendly circus experiences in the Bay Area?
devoted dad
You have to wait until they come back through town but Circus Vargas
is awesome. They are locally based (Livermore-ish), have only horses
and dogs for animals, are in a real big top tent and are a classic
circus. They have a website, www.circusvargas.org Love Circus Vargas
Dec 2005
Anyone taken their 6 year old to cirque du soleil? We haven't
been and don't know if it's appropriate for that age kid. She
loved the traditional(Ringling Brothers) circus at age 5, but
we are not sure if she'd appreciate this. I'd love to hear
experiences or opinions.
Thanks
Diane
We've taken our daughter a couple of times. I believe she was 7 when she first went, and she loved it. My sister-in-law took her 4 year old, who was delighted.
anonymous
I have been to see Cirque Du Soleil 5 times, once with a 5 year old, once with a 4 and a 9 year old. It was great. The kids are highly entertained by the clowns, there are booster seats at the entrance for the children so seeing the show is not an issue. The act are amazing. I will put one caviate here: we went to see the latest show in San Francisco (Corteo) and it was a horrible disappointment. I wouldn't waist all that money on this particular show. The kids will have more fun seeing the Peking Acrobats at Zellerbach. If you can go to the permanent show at Disney World or in Las Vegas - it will be worth every penny.
Keley
take her, she'll love it, I'm taking my kids when my daughter is 3. cirque fan
Cirque du Soleil is wonderful, but it is very expensive, and I don't think a 6 year old would appreciate it any more than a less expensive circus. Try the Pickle Family Circus, which is more reasonable. Take your 6 yr old to Cirque du Soleil in a couple of years.
We took our 3 1/2 year old daughter to Cirque du Soleil last weekend. She loved it and is still talking about it! Her comments throughout were hysterical, as well, so that made it even more entertaining for us. During the intermission and after the show, she was spinning around outside the tents like she was an acrobat. We found it to be very kid friendly.
Mom of 3 1/2 year old
We went to Cirque's Corteo this year and we went to an evening show and we still saw some kids there in th 6-10 range. Not a lot though and I've always assumed that has something to do with the ticket price. Corteo is just gorgeous visually so your 6-yo might appreciate that and of course some of the acts are just awe-inspiring (lots of people flying thru the air), but in general I've thought Cirque is not really aimed at kids. I think it's how much you want to expose your kids to the various forms of the arts-- this is pretty high end. Have fun.
anon
I took my son when he had just turned 7, and despite the fact that he took a 20 minute nap he loved it. The music is great (maybe scary for some kids) and he loved the acts. keans
We went to Cirque du Soleil with 7 year old and 4 year old boys
at grandparent behest. It had amazing gymnastic feats, good
costumes, live music, and a few kid-oriented slapstick sequences
-- quite the wild spectacle, also quite long at 2 and 1/2 hours
total. Our four-year-old sat mesmerized the whole time; the
seven-year-old wanted to leave at intermission, but enjoyed the
second half, so it also depends on your child. We didn't find
the ''cortege'' theme disturbing or even very noticeable.
Edith
We brought our daughter to Cirque for the first time when she'd just turned 7, and she had a wonderful time. The color and excitement of the acrobatics are incomparable. The productions have plots, but these are so subtle as to be only moderately discernable to adults who are paying attention to them and irrelevant to kids enjoying the spectacle.
Some weeks ago a mom wrote in asking for advice on circus alternatives - she was concerned about taking her 12 year old son to Corteo because she thought the plot (involving a clown on his deathbed) sounded ''depressing.''
I urged her (in a PM) not to rule it out because of this. The ''plot'' will play out in terms of a suspended bed, angels flying overhead etc, and is essentially a device to tie together acrobatic acts that the clown is ''remembering.'' Cirque performances are the highlight of holiday season for our family. The main disadvantage of Cirque is the cost of the tickets. But if that doesn't faze you, then go for it. I can't imagine you regretting it.
Cirque fan
Oct 2005
For his 12th birthday, my son would like to go to a circus that
does NOT include animals. My original thought was Cirque du
Soleil, but their upcoming show sounds a little depressing for my
sensitive kid (it's about a clown at his own funeral...). Does
anyone know of a similar circus, or very well-done
magic/acrobatic/variety show in the area (seeking a little more
of an ''event'' than Buddy Club)?
rk
try circus vargas coming to Richmond in Nov. I also sent an
email directly to you. Just in case you thought it was spam...
It is around the 2 week of Nov at the Civic Center.
b3rkl33m0m
You may consider attending the 2nd Annual Circus for Arts in the
Schools in Alameda on Sunday, November 6th.
Jeff Raz, who was the star of Pickle Family Circus for most of
the 90s has gathered some world class circus talent - jugglers,
acrobats, aerialists, including former stars of Cirque du Soleil
- to do a benefit show to raise money for arts education in
Alameda public schools. The tickets are $12.50 for adults and
$10 for kids.
For more info, check out the website at www.friendsofpaden.org.
This is a great show for a great cause.
pam
The Pickle Family Circus would probably be a good fit. Cirque
de Soleil-like with no animals, but a bit more slapstick and
with less of a story to tell. They often perform at Fort Mason
over the holidays, but that may not be soon enough for you.
anon
This came across in a Ticketmaster mass email I get. It sounds
like just what you are looking for, the UniverSoul Circus,
coming in late October.
http://www.universoulcircus.com/
Sharon
Oct 1998
Circus Chimera came to El Cerrito plaza over the last week of August. I
took my very demanding 7 yr old son and my "Been there, done that" in-laws
and we were all very impressed with the quality of the performances. It
was a good value for the money (especially if you get the two for one
coupons they give to merchants in the vicinity of the actual performance),
and there were no animals, thus avoiding any ethical/animal rights issues
that seem to come up with circuses, especially budget affairs. It had a
very nice family feel, the size was not overwhelming, it wasn't too
commercialized, and the ringmaster greeted everyone outside the tent after
the performance. Several people I know liked it so much, they went twice
while it was there. Enjoy!
Beth
I took my 3-yr-old & 8-yr-old daughters to see Circus Chimera when they
were in El Cerrito & we all loved it. The circus is
acrobatics/trapeze/etc. only, no animal acts & only one occasional clown
(my kids are scared of clowns). If I had it to do over I would definitely
pay the higher price to get a real seat (not a space on a bench) in the
part of the tent that faces the action. The cheap seats are all on the
sides and *very* uncomfortable -- the "bench" is about 6 inches wide! Also
when we came back from intermission our relatively good bench spaces had
been taken by other people & we watched the 2nd 1/2 up in the rafters.
Melinda
I've heard from two friends that this is wonderful for families. Lots of
gymnasts and acrobats -- sort of like Cirque du Soleil without the drama
and the mystery.
I know public schools are giving out coupons so a child gets in free with
each adult ticket. (I think adults are $15.) Pick a coupon up at the front
desk in the Columbus School office (Addison/7th Street).
Ann
We saw them when they were at the El Cerrito Plaza with our almost 4 yr old
son. We all enjoyed the show. It's mostly acrobatics and the members of the
circus seem to really enjoy themselves. The big top is pretty small, the
acts are close to the audience, and there's a little kid in one act. We
found discount coupons at a store in the Plaza. You might be able to find
something like that at Jack London Square shops.
Laurie
Truly fun. My 4 yr. old son & I saw it in El Cerrito on the advice of
people in this newsletter. He mostly liked the bouncer things outside
before & after, and he REALLY liked the very good cotton candy & real sno
cones. You gotta figure it's mega-treat day. (Also, I folded & bought the
$5.00 light-up sword. My husband loved it so much when he saw it later, he
said we should have bought more for gifts. It is really cool.) However,
the circus kept him occupied for almost 2 hours. The less expensive seats
are hard tiny bleachers, so if that's a problem buy the real seats. It's
not a super-professional circus, very homey & friendly, but very good acts,
& very new. We were told that the performers developed it themselves.
It's a lot like Cirque de Soleil - one ring, running theme (sort of),
various acrobats, no animals. Oh yes, there are plenty of chances to buy
treats inside, people come around constantly. Don't bother trying to
juggle food, child(ren), etc. before finding your seats.
Leah
Circus Chimera is great. We went to Ringling Brothers in August and "ran
into" Chimera in El Cerrito's shopping mall 2 weeks later. Ringling Bros
was awful and Chimera was great fun. We got 2 for 1 coupons at Long's
Drugs, and I think they are available at other places for the the Jack
London stop. General Admission seats are about the same at reserved, since
the one tent is so small. They are benches and Reserve have seats with backs.
It feels like a home town 1950's circus in some ways. It is lots of
gymnastics, clowns, trapeze stuff. No animals!! The music is taped and it
is somewhat amazing that they stay on schedule with the music. The
performers have lots of interactions with the audience. I think a 3 year
old may be bored since they won't know how hard the stuff these folks are
doing really is to do. My 5 year old loved it, and we know several other
families who did too.
They even took our picture with a clown and during the second act came back
with a little slide in a light box/telescope for $5.00. They also have an
astrojump outside, a tiny train ride, a few souvenirs and drinks, snow
Tavie
I took my 2 1/2 year old to the Chimera circus, and found that she was more
interested in the playthings outside and the food than in the circus
itself. She kept waiting for the animals --- I had no idea that there
wouldn't be any. She did watch the first half of the show, but lost
interest during the second half. She had fun, but was a little young for
this.
Mary
We took 2 girls aged 4 1/2 and 5 to this circus and we all loved it. In fact
the girls (and we) liked it better than the much higher priced Barnum and
Bailey Circus. There are no animals--it's lively upbeat, multi ethnic and just
terrfic. Well worth the highest priced tickets and well worth every one's
support. They're a new unpolished troupe but just great. Go enjoy!!!!
Steph
My family and I went to see the show in El Cerrito. I strongly recommend
it. My four year old son was tired and didn't enjoy it too much, except
for the little train ride and a novelty flashlight we got him. I was taken
by the magic of the show, which has a feel that might not be as polished as
other larger circuses, but for that very reason made it more charming.
Having said that,though, some of the acts are truly amazing. The circus
also forgoes the use of animals, which is a plus for those concerned about
their treatment in the circus world.
I would recommend considering the open seating area, since in our case, the
bleachers were only filled to about half capacity, which left seats fairly
close the the ring available at a lesser price.
You can also pay for tickets by Visa/MC/check.
Eric
I want to put in a plug for going to see Circus Chimera at Jack London
Square while they are still here. Based on all the recommendations I read
on this listserve, my family went to see the show on Sunday, and it was
outstanding. It was not as slick and professional as some circuses I've
seen, but what it lacked in polish it more than made up for in providing a
warm, intimate, and thoroughly entertaining show. This company is brand
new, having just been formed in April, and they really deserve an audience.
At the conclusion of the show we attended, the whole company received
thunderous applause. My young children were enthralled for the first half
of the show, then spirits flagged as they got tired, but overall they loved
it.
Circus Chimera will be at Jack London Square through November 15. From now
through Halloween, any kid who comes wearing a costume gets in free, and on
Halloween anyone wearing a costume gets in free. I have two "Two-for-One"
coupons which I would be willing to drop in the mail to anyone who wants
them and truly intends to go. Just e-mail your name and address to me.
With the two-for-one coupon and your kids wearing costumes, a family could
get in for as little as $15 for section C seats. I would definitely
recommend springing the extra $ to get the section A seats. Show times are
Tuesday, Wednesday at 7:30, Thursday and Friday at 4:30 and 7:30, Sat-Sun
at 1:30, 4:30, and 7:30.
Kimberly
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