Almost 1,200 people attended the Canada’s Circus Spectacular show at the Civic Centre on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
As families of all ages made their way into the venue, many went off to buy popcorn, lollipops and various snacks while others made their way into the arena for face painting and glow sticks.
With everyone settled in their seats, the performers kicked off the 90-minute show with three freestyle motocross (FMX) bike riders zipping their way through the arena floor to hype up the crowd, offering a sneak peak of the big finale to their excited guests.
As the show got underway, guests were entertained with impressive acts such as juggling, aerial numbers, clown antics, cyr wheel tricks, low wire tightrope walking and dare-devil motorcycle stunts.
Those sitting ringside were all smiles as they got up-close and personal with the performers, their eyes fixated on the acts as to not miss a single second of action.
After the show concluded, many guests stuck around for the opportunity to meet the performers one on one and take a picture with their favourite acts.
Leigh Ketchum, owner of Sarasota Box Office, said that himself and the performers have been traveling around Canada since Saturday, May 4, 2024, and that the Brantford show marked just over 100 shows since their tour began.
Ketchum said that there are many reasons that so many people love to visit the circus.
“People want to get out of the house and away from the TV or their phones. I think that for the parents, they enjoy being able to take their children to something and going to the circus is sort of a family tradition for many people,” he said. “They want to eat the food, they want to buy the toys, and they always enjoy that sort of flea market atmosphere before the show and during intermission.”
Ketchum said that the best part of his job is not only traveling the world, but getting to see the audience’s face when they experience the daring entertainment.
“When you hear the kids screaming at the clown and booing his assistant, or when they’re giving two big thumbs up for the motorcycle guys, that’s just solid gold, you know? You can’t buy that type of excitement,” he said. “I think that’s one of the reasons the parents enjoy it so much, they get to see their kids express so much emotion at a live event and you don’t get that when you’re at home watching TV. When I see their faces, it’s that fuel that keeps us all going because life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away and we hope that we’ve given everyone some of those breathless moments here tonight.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
