A weekend stroll in the park will be transformed into something much more whimsical this month. Park-goers around the city will be treated to jugglers, contortionists, acrobats and musicians, bringing the circus outdoors and to the community.
“It’s very reminiscent of a European traveling circus,” Margaret O’Conor, chair of the event says.
Circus in the Parks began four years ago, in a very grassroots way, with just one park. O’Conor says that the district was slowly trying to renovate the parks by asking the community to contribute.
Eventually they bought a URL (circusintheparks.com), and with help from the Park District and volunteers, the circus expanded to include both Welles and Chase Parks, but this year is the greatest undertaking, with five parks involved.
Circus in the Parks is a unique fundraising model to help renovate Chicago’s parks, and with the expansion, the funds will be divided evenly amongst the parks. In the past four years, the event has raised $80,000 for the two original parks.
The show includes two acts, with an appearance by the Chicago Boyz and even a retrained pit bull from the Humane Society. The Midnight Circus is responsible for the talent, and its founders put together a set designed to touch the hearts and minds of all age groups.
“Anyone who sees it is brought to tears in the beginning. They capture what we once had in our youth,” O’Conor says. “It”s a jump back to your past.” (Lindsey Kratochwill)
Gompers Park – 4222 W. Foster Saturday, September 11th, 2pm & 5pm Sunday, September 12th, 1pm & 4pm
Welles Park – 2333 W. Sunnyside Saturday, September 18th, 2pm & 5pm Sunday, September 19th, 1pm & 4pm
Holstein Park – 2200 N. Oakley Saturday, September 25th, 2pm & 5pm Sunday, September 26th, 1pm & 4pm
Portage Park – 4100 N. Long Saturday, October 9th, 2pm & 5pm Sunday, October 10th, 1pm & 4pm
Chase Park – 4701 N. Ashland Saturday, October 16th, 2pm & 5pm Sunday, October 17th, 1pm & 4pm
$15 per ticket / groups of 20 or more $12 per ticket / under 2 yrs free
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A weekend stroll in the park will be transformed into something much more whimsical this month. Park-goers around the city will be treated to jugglers, contortionists, acrobats and musicians, bringing the circus outdoors and to the community.
