The 2025 Big Top Tour

Dear Smirkus Community,

As regional media outlets and the Circus Smirkus communications teams have previously shared, a rigging accident occurred during the evening performance of the Big Top Tour, in Wrentham, MA on July 22 causing injury to one of our performers. Tour staff immediately initiated emergency protocol: the show was stopped, safety was ensured for other troupers in the ring, and guests were evacuated from the Big Top. The performer involved was transported and treated in a regional medical center. The trouper has since been released to their home. Smirkus staff and troupers are in contact with the performer and were encouraged to see them in the audience at a recent show.

Immediately following the incident, Circus Smirkus leadership engaged an outside rigging consultant to inspect all rigging systems under the big top to assess the cause of the accident. While conducting this initial evaluation, we canceled remaining shows in Wrentham on July 23 and the 11am show in Waltham, MA on July 25. The report recommended next steps for future rigging safety documentation and inspections, and we have incorporated those recommendations to our inspections and process.Out of an abundance of caution and in order to ensure trouper safety, Circus Smirkus made the decision to proceed with ground acts only for the remainder of the Big Top Tour, and to reduce the length of tour by cancelling two sites – Hanover, NH and Milton, VT – to bring performers and staff back to our headquarters for time to regroup without the added pressures of being on the road. Finale shows will be performed as previously scheduled on Aug 17 with potential for three simplified aerial acts to be included in the final shows. In the meantime, we continue working directly and internally to support the troupers, their families, our staff and our immediate partners.

In tandem with our review of tour safety protocol, we are reviewing all camp rigging, safety protocols and equipment, along with school residency ground safety protocols, in order to ensure that these Circus Smirkus activities are safely managed, rigged, supported, and delivered. We are confident that our camp and residency programs continue to ensure the highest level of safety for the youth who participate.Circus Smirkus was founded to give young people the experience of joy and challenge that circus can offer. We strive for that same sense of wonder for our audiences, for performers’ and campers’ families, and for our school and community partners. We honor and respect the trust granted to us by each youth performer, each family, each ticket buyer, and each donor, staff and partners who join us for one of our programs. With a renewed sense of grounding in a mission to engage all youth in the adventures and traditions of the traveling circus, we recommit to the work that celebrates young performers and keeps them safe, challenged, and nurtured.

We are committed to transparency as we navigate this process and we ask for your patience and grace. We welcome your concerns, questions and support. Inquiries should please be directed to board@smirkus.org.

Presenters

In many towns on our tour route, the Big Top Tour is presented by a local non-profit youth or community organization.

Volunteers

Group Discounts

Want to bring a large group to see a Big Top Tour show? Discounted rates may be available for groups of 15 or more: please email boxoffice@smirkus.org.

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