Review: Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus

Okay.  I know I wrote a post earlier today that said I probably wouldn't get to a review just yet.  But, I have the pictures and I'm up waiting for a painkiller to kick in so I can get some sleep, so I decided it would be nice to cross this off my to-do list!  I almost sent my family without me because I was feeling awful, but at the last minute I decided that I didn't want to miss the circus.  I'm glad I went!

The show was exciting and colorful and fun!  One thing that is really neat about this circus is the pre-show.  An hour before the circus is scheduled to begin, the audience can head down to the floor and interact with the performers.  There are clowns performing, dancers, animals and more -- and you can get an up-close experience!  Sometimes you can even be pulled into the act and learn a trick or a move from the performers.  In the past, the boys have gone down, but this year they stayed in their seats while Lydia and Bo headed down to the floor.

The show did not disappoint.  Both boys said their favorite part was the guy that was set on fire, then shot across the arena from a huge crossbow.  Really -- that happened!  It was pretty amazing!

My husband loved the elephants and tigers.  My favorite was the ribbon dancers (that danced in the air, since the ribbons were suspended from the ceiling -- magical!)  Lydia liked the clowns again, but was disappointed not to see her green-haired favorite.  She also liked the horses.

The show is non-stop action.  Even though the stage has to be re-set for each act, the clowns entertain the audience while the new props are set up so you don't even realize what's going on in the background. It's a nice mix of amazing human acts interspersed with some animal acts.  The skill and athleticism of the performers is fantastic! 

The show itself lasts 2.5 hours, but if you go for the pre-show (which is included with your ticket) that's 3.5 hours of solid entertainment.  Definitely a great value!  (And don't forget -- if you want to go to the show in Phoenix this week, use the promo code ELEPHANT on Ticketmaster.com to purchase 4 tickets for $44)

If you haven't been to a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show, I highly recommend going.  And even if you went last summer, be assured it's a completely new show!  This is our 3rd year going to the circus, and it's been a ton of fun each year.

More pictures after the cut . . .

*Disclosure: I received tickets for my family to attend the circus thanks to Feld Entertainment.  No additional compensation was provided.  All opinions and photographs are my own.*