VIDEO: The circus opens its run tonight in Kelowna

| July 7, 2022 in Kelowna

Local Community Advertising

It's hard to miss it in the corner of the Orchard Park Mall parking lot. 

The bright red and yellow big top tent means it's circus time, and it opens tonight (Thursday).

Many people have been missing the joy of seeing live shows for the past few years, but no one has missed it more than the performers.

"For me to not be able to perform and work in the environment that I know, it was very hard," said trapeze artist Claudia Bauer.

She said everyone involved had to find different jobs and some left the business for good. 

"We are so happy to be back. I have never enjoyed my job as much as I do now."

So for the stars of the Royal Canadian International Circus, the current tour is a post-pandemic comeback.

For some of the youngest in the crowd, it will be the first chance to see a circus in their lives.

"I'm the ninth generation in my family to perform in the circus," said Ringmaster, daredevil and star of the 'Wheel of Death' Joseph Dominik Bauer.

"This is the oldest form of family entertainment. We've never been censored. It's older than baseball."

There are acrobats, aerialists, comedy and talents you might not expect.

"It's real, live, old-fashioned entertainment with a modern flair," he said.

And there are surprises.

Bauer mentioned one performer in particular.

"He does hand balancing and while he's doing the hand balancing he's singing Italian opera almost like Andrea Bocelli."

And there's also a human cannonball.

"We shoot in that big top, a gentleman from the front entrance, all the way to the curtain and it's amazing. He reaches a height of 58 ft."

Tickets start at $40 each with kids under three free if they don't take up a seat.

The show runs Thursday through Sunday.

Local Community Advertising

Trending Stories

Here’s everything coming to Netflix Canada in May 2024

Buildings damaged after Kelowna hedge fire spreads

Here’s everything coming to Disney Plus in May 2024

‘A call for help’: Kelowna’s cat cafe struggling as vet bills pile up

Residents of BC Interior city told to drive up to 100 km to 'access care' due to nursing shortage

VIDEO: Kelowna RCMP criticized over handling of violent incident

UPDATE: BC man arrested after fatal stabbing now charged for separate stabbing 2 days earlier

It looks like the fired conductor and Okanagan Symphony have kissed and made up