Last week, Funny Mom Blog contributor Donna from Dangerous Cupcakes went to the Circus Vargas grand opening in Ontario, California. It looks like an ahhhmazing show and I cannot wait to go! Read Donna’s review and don’t forget to get your tickets!
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Growing Up Amazed!
I grew up attending various circuses and the circus has always been one of those events that, as a mom, I’ve dreamed of doing with my children so they can have their own similar memories. I have fond childhood memories of cotton candy, death-defying tricks, cycle stunts and scary clowns. Circus Vargas is all of that…minus the scary clowns. In place of those scary clowns, Circus Vargas offers more acrobats, more trapeze artists and a very thought-provoking foundational story that starts as soon as the lights dim.
We sat about five rows back, in bucket seats on raised platforms under a big blue air-conditioned tent. Our view was good, but if you want a more exceptional up close view, a VIP experience is available so you can sit ringside. Our seats allowed for open seating, so you can pick from amongst quite a few sections depending on your preference. We sat amongst quite a few families with small children, and it was delightful to hear them laugh and see their eyes get big.
No Animals?
Circus Vargas is the first circus in existence to not feature animals. In their place is a lot of high energy human interaction and entertainment, in a way that continues to build energy and momentum as the night goes on, entitled iLuminous. With an amazing saxophone player and a goofy young man named Stevie to distract and make us laugh during scene changes, there’s never a dull moment. (But if you need one, there is a 15-minute intermission between acts, which are each about 60 minutes long, so you’ll have time to get food or take your kids to the restroom. Lines weren’t long due to the fact the tent isn’t overwhelmingly huge.)
Scenes are varied — they range from dancing to classic music, laser shows set to a Star Wars theme and other thumping beats, motorcycle stunts in a huge round cage and a lot of aerialist and acrobat sessions. I don’t know what my favorite is, but I’m leaning towards the scene where a very buff young man, dressed in a glowing, illuminated costume reminiscent of a Transformer, jumped repeatedly off a high ledge onto a trampoline and was propelled back onto the top. I have a video of a lot of that for you!
Isn’t that amazing? He also makes another appearance later in a quieter, slower-paced segment where he shows off his sculpted muscles while hanging from ropes and ribbons, all set to music. It’s astounding what he and others were able to do while suspended in the air, and my muscles hurt for them. They are brave beyond words, much like the young woman who stood in the middle of the motorcycle cage while they whizzed by her at full-speed, or the young woman who was whirled in circles from a strap around her neck to a man on rollerskates. Such creativity with their daring tricks!
Like any circus, Vargas offers a lot of fun souvenirs for purchase, and during darker scenes of the show, we were surrounded by flashing lights swung around by wide-eyed excited children. We just ate nachos and cotton candy and enjoyed not having to chase our own children around as we brought our daughter and her boyfriend. We all had a blast and felt like the night went by too quickly.
Get Your Tickets Today!
You can learn more about Circus Vargas at their website, where you’ll also see their schedule for upcoming shows as they travel around. Tickets start at $15, depending on your seating area of choice and there are seats accessible for those with disabilities. Children under 2 are free. Come early, as there is a pre-show beginning around 45 minutes prior to show time; the pre-show was designed for children to enter the performance ring and do tricks with an MC, which was a lot of fun to watch. I wanted to try to balance the peacock feather, too, but I will have to try that another time.
Thank you, Circus Vargas, for a fun, family night out!
