Press Room

MEMBERS OF THE PRESS: Feel free to use the resources at right for backgrounder and photos.

Celebrating its 37th year, Circus Smirkus is the only traveling ‘tented’ youth circus in the United States—its shows are among the most beloved arts events of the New England summer. This year’s tour continues the tradition of Smirkus’ annual theme-based shows with The 2024 Big Top Tour: The Imaginarium.

The show will feature a vast array of circus arts — including aerials, acrobatics, juggling, clowning — a dazzling display of brilliant costumes, and many other surprises. The 2024 Big Top Tour takes to the road June 29 and travels through mid-August with a tour caravan that requires some 23-support vehicles and 80 people— including performers, coaches, cooks, tech and tent crew and a live circus band playing an original score written specifically for this show. The award-winning circus company performs across New England to approximately 40,000 patrons each summer.  

Contact tour@smirkus.org for sponsorship opportunities.

Latest News Coverage

Press Release – November 17, 2023
Circus Smirkus Announces New Executive Artistic Director

NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt – September 2023
YouTube News Video

Conway Daily Sun – August 16, 2023
Circus Smirkus bring the big top to Fryeburg

Marshfield Community Media – July 20, 2023
YouTube News Video

Monadnock Ledger – July 26, 2023
High Mowing School Hosts Circus Smirkus

Melrose Weekly News – July 20, 2023
Local Teen Wins Spot With Award Winning Traveling Circus

Castro Valley Forum – July 19, 2023
Castro Valley Brothers Join the Circus

Milton Independent – July 14, 2023
‘A Midsummer Night’s Circus’ Takes Milton by Storm, Leaving Audiences in Awe

Mountain Times – July 12, 2023
The Circus Comes to Town

Best of Burlington – June 29, 2023
Circus Smirkus Returns

Waterbury Roundabout – July 9, 2023
Circus Smirkus works its Big Top magic at Farr’s Field

Mass Live – July 6, 2023
Circus Smirkus Rolls into Three County Fairgrounds

Caledonian Record – June 22, 2023
Circus Smirkus Kick-Starts 2023 Tour

Explore Central Vermont – June 20, 2023
Circus Smirkus for the Summertime Win

Waterbury Roundabout – March 31, 2023
July 4-6: The Circus is Coming to Town

Camp Business Magazine – March 1, 2023
Born to Perform

Press Release – October 12, 2022
Circus Smirkus Names Stephanie Abrams as 2023 Big Top Tour Show Director

Lincoln Squirrel – July 24, 2022
Lincoln 12-year-old Revels in Being a Circus Performer

Local Headline News – July 21 2022
Rising MHS Senior Wins Spot with Award-winning Traveling Youth Circus

Seven Days – July 6, 2022
After a Two-Year Pandemic Hiatus, Circus Smirkus Hits the Road Again

Seven Days – March 25, 2020
Enterprising Vermonters Go Virtual with Online Classes

Boston Globe – July 29, 2019
Big Top Magic

Waltham Patch – July 23, 2019
Circus Smirkus Brings Local Talent Back to Waltham’s Gore Place

Portland Press Herald – July 17, 2019
South Portland Teen has Encore Performance with Circus Smirkus

Arlington Advocate – July 11, 2019
Arlington Resident Performing in Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour

Valley News – July 10, 2019
Highlights: Longtime Friends Go on Tour with Circus Smirkus

Mass Appeal – July 10, 2019
A Live Look at Circus Smirkus (VIDEO)

Union Leader – July 10, 2019
Granite State Teens Part of Circus Smirkus’ Summer Tour

Holyoke Sun – June 28, 2019
Holyoke Youth Performs Under the Big Top

Caledonian Record – July 2, 2019
Summer Fun Under the Big Top

My Champlain Valley/Local 22 & Local 44 – July 2, 2019
Running Off with Circus Smirkus (VIDEO) 

Caledonian Record – June 30, 2019
Circus Smirkus Features Local Rising Star

Mass Appeal – June 28, 2019
Circus Smirkus is Coming to Town (VIDEO)

Portland Press Herald – July 31, 2018
South Portland Teen Clowns Around with Circus Smirkus

News Messenger – July 31, 2018
Local Gymnast Takes Talent to Circus

Wicked Local – July 30, 2018
Local Teens Take on Big Adventure as Circus Smirkus Performers

MassLive – July 25, 2018
Circus Smirkus Returning to Northampton

The Nashua Telegraph – July 18, 2018
Circus-Bound: Merrimack Teen Joins The Circus

The Daily Gazette of Schenectady – July 9, 2018
Photo Gallery: Circus Smirkus’ 2018 Big Top Tour Vaudeville

The Bennington Banner – July 6, 2018
Circus Smirkus Returns to Manchester with Four Shows

The Saratogian News – July 6, 2018
Circus Smirkus Set to Entertain Spa City

The Rutland Herald – July 4, 2018
Circus Smirkus Coming to Region July 12-13

The Sentinel Source – June 29, 2018
Spice Up Your Summer with a Circus Celebration!

The Valley Reporter – June 28, 2018
A Circus Smirkus Sneak Peak

Newton TAB – June 19, 2018
Circus Smirkus a family affair for Newton residents

Arlington Advocate – June 7, 2018
Arlington Resident to Perform in Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour

Melrose Free Press – August 29, 2017
Melrose 12 Year Old Performs in Youth Circus

WTEN Albany (video & story) – July 11, 2017
Circus Smirkus Comes To Town For Its 30th Year

WPTZ (video)– July 5, 2017
Vermont’s Circus Smirkus Turns 30

Troy Record – July 5, 2017
Circus Smirkus Marks 30th Anniversary

Times Argus/Rutland Herald – July 1, 2017
In Uncertain Times For Circus, Smirkus Thrives

Best of Central Vermont – June 2017 Issue
Circus Smirkus Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary

Kids VT – May 30, 2017
Born Performer: A Vermont Teen Spends Her Summers in the Circus 

Valley News – March 20, 2017
Sharon Academy Middle Schoolers Stage Circus

Merrimack Journal – March 3, 2017
Merrimack Teen Touring With Southern Circus Group

The Commons Online – March 1, 2017
NECCA welcomes guest artists for annual Circus Spectacular

VillageSoup Knox – February 17, 2017
Droplet Dance drops into the Midcoast

Blank Gold Coast – February 3, 2017
Circus Smirkus: Blanc de Blanc takes a twist on tradition

River Head Local – January 29, 2017
Baiting Hollow teen trapeze artist, juggler lands summer gig with youth circus

The Patch – January 25, 2017 
Local teen sees circus dreams come true

Misadventure Magazine – January 18, 2017
Bravery, not balance, required at “Big Kid” circus camp

WAMC – December 27, 2016
Burlington Prepping for 34th First Night Celebration

Keep Me Current – August 10, 2016
Faces and places

WBUR Radio Boston – August 9, 2016
The Kids Who Clown: Circus Smirkus Summer Tour

My Champlain Valley – August 8, 2016
Circus Smirkus Performers Hit the Streets of Montpelier

The Morning Call – August 5, 2016
Musikfest: Bravo to the buskers (street performers)

Newburyport News – August 4, 2016
The Lookout: Circus comes to town this weekend

Monadnock Ledger-Transcript – August 1, 2016
Pine Hill alumn performs with circus

Burlington Free Press – July 29, 2016
Greensboro draws authors and circus artists home

WMUR – July 28, 2016
Circus Smirkus heads to Milford this weekend

Newton Media Center –  July 27, 2016
Newton News: Circus Smirkus 2016

Keep Me Current – July 27, 2016
Circus Smirkus pitching tent in town

The Forecaster – July 26, 2016
Seriously clowning around: Yarmouth student returns to Freeport with Circus Smirkus

The Lafayette Sun – July 20, 2016
Keep Smiling – this week Trenton Golden

Mass Live – July 12, 2016
Holyoke teen spends last summer with Circus Smirkus

WRSI – July 12, 2016
Local Hero Takeover of Circus Smirkus

ABC News 10 – July 8, 2016
Circus Smirkus Traveling to Saratoga Springs this weekend

Yankee Magazine – February 10, 2016
Hidden New England: Greensboro, Vermont

Bennington Banner – January 28, 2016
Circus Arts: Necca, Smirkus continue their collaboration

The Citizen – January 16, 2016
Circus Smirkus recieves national community impact award

Paul Binder Blog – January 8, 2016
The 2nd Annual Celebration of American Circus