The Circus Returns to Town: Ringling Bros. Circus Back in Charleston, SC
The much-anticipated return of “The Greatest Show on Earth” comes to life as the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus makes its return to Charleston, South Carolina. The big top will set up at the North Charleston Coliseum, 5001 Coliseum Drive, kicking off its six-show spectacle starting at 7 p.m. on February 28, leading up to its final show at 5 p.m. on March 2, 2025.
A Reimagined Circus Experience
Under the aegis of Feld Entertainment, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus has embarked on a recent “reimagined” tour since September last year. The revived tour comes in following the last performance in the city in May 2016 for a 10-show stint.
The action-packed two-hour performances offer more than 50 demonstrations including a high-wire and trapeze act never seen before, a thrilling BMX bike stunt show, awe-inspiring feats in the Daring Wheel of Destiny, and breath-taking maneuvers by Wesley, the One Wheel Wonder, on his unicycle suspended 30 feet in the air. Each performance exudes a unique blend of breathtaking stunts, energetic performances, and moments of laughter keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.
Live Music and Animal-Free Performances
Joining the daring circus acts, the audience will be treated to live musical performances from rock duo Stix (Alex Stickels) and Riff (Lauren Irving), who will guide the show’s journey through mesmerizing percussive beats and vocals.
Taking into account the controversy in the past involving animal cruelty, the new Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s tour has notably elected to keep animal performers away from the stage, save for a robotic dog named Bailey.
Production Evolution Following Controversies
Feld Entertainment faced public outcry around issues of animal welfare, following which it proclaimed to be cruelty-free by 2018. However, with declining interest and high operating costs, the circus was deemed unsustainable and was shut down.
In a massive leap to address previous concerns, Feld Entertainment decided to reimagine the circus without any animal performers. This led to the rolling out of an all-new guilt-free routine last year. A diverse cast of 75 individuals from 18 countries use their skills to create captivating performances on the redesigned Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus stage.
Access, Pricing, and Further Information
Tickets, which are required for all guests ages two and older, range from $89 to $369, depending on seating. These will be available for purchase online from August 27 onwards. For more information about the shows, visit www.Ringling.com.
Through this much-anticipated return of The Greatest Show on Earth, audiences in Charleston will once again get to experience the thrill of the circus in an all-new format that values ethical treatment while still delivering world-class entertainment.
