ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for some high-flying fun will soon have just that opportunity.

Circus Classic will be performing in Liberal, with shows taking place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, and 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 24. All performances will be at the Seward County Activity Center at 810 Stadium Ave. Pre-circus activities will include pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, bouncy houses, concessions and souvenirs and will start a couple hours before showtime. The show will include aerialists, acrobats, clowns, daredevils and other acts you would associate with a circus.

Owner Mariska Liebling said the circus has a long history.

“Circus Classic is actually a 16th-generation family circus that traces its roots back to Hungary, and one of our goals is to carry forward the artistry and discipline of the classic European circus but reimagined for today's audiences,” Liebling said. “We tour across the U.S. and Canada, and we want to be a continuation of authentic circus heritage on a grand scale. This circus is driven by vision, resilience and a deep commitment to excellence, and we show the deepest respect for every performer – both human and animal – because we care about having trust, care and connection with each other and our audiences. I love being part of a piece of family entertainment and seeing the joy it brings to people in the audiences, whether they're reacting to one of the daredevil stunts or one of the clowns.”

Liebling added she and the crew are excited for the upcoming shows.

“We're really excited about getting to the area. We had a few shows in Kansas last year, but we've never been to Liberal, so we're really excited to bring this to the community,” Liebling said. “We've been hearing a lot of excitement from people about us coming because not very many circuses/shows make their way to that area, so we're looking forward to bringing our act to Liberal. When we were planning out the tour, Liberal really seemed like a perfect stop for us – there's a big population, the venue looks good, and it just seems like it would be a good fit for us.”

Liebling added it will be a great opportunity for entertainment for the whole family, and she hopes to see a full house both evenings.

“Circus Classic really prides itself on being good family entertainment. There's going to be a lot of fun for the children and younger audience members to enjoy, but there will also be a lot for adults in the audience to enjoy, so there'll be something for everyone,” Liebling said. “There'll be humor, action and fun for the whole community, and both shows should be a great time. We have a lot of human performances with the acrobatics and contortionists and clowns and jugglers and aerial acts and other similar fun exploits, and again, it's all family-friendly. We also have some animal acts people should really enjoy. We do recommend everyone get to the circus a couple hours beforehand so they can experience and enjoy the pre-show fun with everything that will be going on, and it's also a good chance to find the best seats. I also recommend people buy their tickets online at circus-classic.com, because the price does go up if you buy them at the door. There have been multiple times after a performance when people have come up to us and told us we were their first circus and how they absolutely loved what we did. So don't miss out, because you'll get some amazing acts and have a lot of fun watching everything unfold. And our company is just so much fun, we all absolutely love what we do and we want everyone to feel like they're part of the show.”

Overall, Liebling said, the circus should be a fun and high-flying time for audiences.

“We're excited to go to a different community we haven't seen before, it's always exciting to go somewhere new and meet a whole new crowd of people,” Liebling said. “If you're looking for a fun evening in that area, the circus will be the place to be!”