Bellingham Circus Adventures
Strips of red and white, your breath being stolen from your lungs as someone leaps into another person’s arms 40 feet in the air, sparkles, glitter, and an inescapable magic of… The Circus. If local theatre is top talent, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve explored Bellingham’s Circus Scene. In this blog, I’ll share the two biggest circus happenings I know about: our community’s circus staple, The Bellingham Circus Guild and the seasonal joy that comes through, The Shoestring Circus
The Belligham Circus Guild
Bellingham’s professional and community circus hub! A nonprofit, which first began in 2007/2008 they focus on supporting the Cirucs Arts community of Whatcom County and, “to radically proliferate delight at every opportunity.” Our community certainly gets the rewards through stunning shows and showcases of everyone’s talents.
Annual Themed Shows
I remember the first time I went to the Bellingham Circus Guild was when I was a journalism student at Western and I was assigned to attend their Valentine’s Day Performance, “My Circus Valentine”. I bused to Fairhaven and walked to their location at 1401 6th St, Unit 102, Bellingham, WA 98225 with Chef. Where are we going!? I remember thinking, but as we drew closer I remember the buzz of people and behind this completly regular door it opened into this wide space with a bustle and a hum of joy you’d hope to get from a circus.
We settled in and the lights went down and I had never been more awe struck. The fun, the silliness, the talent all wrapped up in one tight show. This has been here the whole time?! There was no shortage of skill on display.
I was gobsmacked with joy that only a circus could bring and Chef and I buzzed about it for at least a week. In addition to valentine’s day shows, they also do a Halloween themed one, and put on a Cascade Juggling Festival.
→ Check Out the Bellingham Cricus Guild’s Events
Monthly Showcase: Vaudevillingham
Takes place on the 15th of every month and every month it is a completely new show. It’s a community open stage so every show is different with a family-friendly option at 7PM and an “(Almost) Anything Goes” at 9PM. With snacks, beer, and drinks this event brings people together and continues to uplift the Circus Guild because all the proceeds go directly to the Bellingham Circus Guild. It’s a win-win!
→ Learn more about Vaudevillingham
Beyond the Stage: Private Coaching, Classes and workshops.
Not only do we get to enjoy the endless display of talent, but a collection of artist provide classes and private lessons in their circus arts specialities, a peek at their website and there are options including aerial hoop and fabric, handstand classes, aerial straps, trapeze, prop manipulation, flow arts and more! How can you not be intrigued?
The Shoestring Circus
This is the “Big Top” Circus of Washington. This is the circus you imagine as a child with the Big Tent.
The first time Chef and I saw them we were going for a walk on a spring day after enjoying Rain and Shine at the Portal Village.
We saw two adults and one little (maybe 1-2 years old at most), wandering the open gravel space across from the Granary Building — I’ll never forget this.
We watched the three walk in a big circle and then they walked to the center of the imginary circle. they set the little one on top of something… Then from the center of where the little one sat pulled a rope with spray-chalk and then made a perfect circle on the gravel centered on the little one.
Time passed and we saw a collection of people laughing, setting up poles, masts, trestles. We had no idea what they were doing but they radiated joy. Within a short matter of time there was suddenly a tent on what was an empty gravel space.
The Shoestring Circus in Bellingham sells out and even though they have many shows over the course of their weeks-long run we haven’t been able to attend.
I’m determined to make it this year and update this blog post with my expereince because I am always blown away by the dedication to the circus arts and the visuals that comes with this artform. Even just looking through the photos the Shoestring Circus shares makes my artist heart delighted.
Though, my friends who have attended informed me it’s an annual event they will not miss. It’s what starts the summer for them.
I do enjoy watching the tent light up as the sun sets and seeing all the smiling faces so perhaps this is a tradition I need to get in on.
The Shoestring Circus travels and also performs is several locations like Olympia, Puyallup, Seattle, Port Townsend, I can’t wait to see what their theme is each year and see what their cast puts together.
The Circus comes to town... And is in town!To have a circus come to town but also have a Circus in town is truly something that is just so Bellingham. It’s another showcase of the incredible talent and dedication to an artform and a community of people who want to share and grow it.
I hope you get a chance to expereince the magic of the circus arts with The Bellingham Circus Guild and The Shoestring Circus.
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