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I used to go to the Big Apple Circus every year and then have not been in a few years. They used to have animals but not anymore which I honestly like better. It is in a tent with seating that is in a circle and the stage is in the middle. There are snacks and a bar here too. Also definitely check out the little gift shop stand some fun things here. There are many acts in this show that are all wonderful. And the theme for this show is NYC playground so they take that theme through out the whole show and all the acts have something to do with an area of the city. And there is no ringmaster or used to be grandma the leads of the show that take you through the show are the NYC mice. People dressed up as The mice/ rats here. It is very well thought out theme show in my opinion. One of my fav acts was the three men spewing water from their mouths. It was truly very funny. And I love all the acrobats and the three people doing the trapeze. Flying through out the tent is just a site to see. I also really enjoyed the contortionist. WOW is all I can say about that one! This is truly a family friendly show for all ages young and old. And some people from the audience can actually be in the show too as they pick out people to help with some acts. I highly recommend coming to see the Big Apple Circus when it is in town.
5.0 / 5.0 I was told that the circus would be held for a limited time at DAMROSCH PARK on the left side of the MET Opera, so I went there immediately! After purchasing tickets at the Box Office, I went through the security check and entered the venue. Strollers are kept at the PARKING right after entering the venue. I thought it would be cold since it was a temporary venue, but the room temperature was fine even without outerwear. There is a concession stand where you can buy popcorn, drinks, and goods! The spacing between the seats was a little narrow, but my butt didn't get sore after sitting for a long time, probably because the seats were thick. The legroom is small, so it is best to keep luggage to a minimum! The performance lasted about 2 hours, with a 20-minute intermission. I won't describe the program here because I want you to enjoy it after you see it, but I felt like I was traveling through the streets of New York City. I can't stop being thrilled and excited. Since there are many people with children, adults and children alike can enjoy the show! Thank you for the excitement!
This experience transferred me back in time to being a kid and experience the excitement of visiting the circus. The event was well organized though the show started slightly later than originally planned, expected for the opening night. The show was captivating. The acrobatic performances were particularly enchanting and a joy to watch. The performers and crew were very well coordinated and it makes you think of all the work that goes into producing such shows. Definitely a great one to attend with kids as well. Evening well spent!
I had a wonderful time at the circus! It was just me and my boyfriend and I was worried that it might be too childish, but it was great!! There were so many acts and there was almost never a dull moment. The circus is kid-friendly and some scenes are more geared towards kids, but there were still many attendees without kids as well. Getting in with smooth and we were ushered directly to our seats. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an entertaining night filled with acrobatics, dancing, comical relief, and more. When buying tickets, any seat is good for viewing so don't hesitate to save some money by seating in the lower tier back area.
It was an amazing night full of people wanting to see all that the Big Apple Circus had to offer! I took my 13 year old who wasn't too thrilled about the circus at first but once we were there and the performances were happening she didn't want to leave. It was a such an amazing show. I was happy to see there were only a few dogs apart of the show as opposed to so many other animals in previous years. Very very enjoyable show 100% recommend for all ages!
We went for opening night. The acts were great! Overall has cute New York themes and references, the acrobatics were insane, and crowd had good energy. The show was about 2 hours long with a intermission. The venue had a bar, a small concessions stand, and hot dogs, and pretzels, and a merch stand. The venue is pretty small, and crowd control was a little questionable tonight, lines were long and slow moving everywhere with staff not guiding flow. Ushers took us to the wrong seats twice! And in general staff seemed a little confused, but it was the the first night so they should get the hang of it soon.
Pretty good. Not good as circus soooo leeeeeeeleeee but good. The Chinese head bouncing inside down dudes were fun.... The trapeze dudes were that good but the funny clown was ok and laughable
I haven't been to the circus in a long long time and I was super excited to go. Thank you Katey and the Yelp Elite NYC team for planning this event as it brought out the child in me and allowed me to experience something I wouldn't have normally. When we got inside, we were immediately greeted with popcorn and cotton candy which already set the mood. Here are some of my favorite things about the experience: - My favorite act was The Human Fountains. I know they got famous of America's Got Talent but I didn't know who they were until they performed here. Their act was so incredibly funny and amazing as they spewed water out of their mouths like a fountain. They really captured the essence of so many fountain displays, for example when there was one person spewing water into another person's mouth. You really do see those sculptures of one thing spewing water into another thing. And then the fact they had audience participation was so fun as well. - The Russian Swing act was also so fun as these people were flying 5 foot into the air onto a sheet that really wasn't that wide. It felt so dangerous. - I also loved that this whole experience was in a makeshift tent. I have never been to a circus that was propped up in that way and it made me wonder why we don't have more experiences that are also in a tent. - The seating in a half dome pattern was so fun as well as it really felt like we were all part of this experience which helped hype the audience up. Honestly loved this Yelp Elite experience and in the future if I ever had a kid, I will definitely be taking them to the circus. Regardless, would highly recommend going whether you are old or young.
We took our grandchildren to this circus which was expensive for both performance time and variety. The high wire acts were excellent, as was the contortionist who was amazing. I felt it was a Circ D' Solei ( forgive my French) compressed down to a circus for children experience. I could not understand why they were totally devoid of traditional clowns and their antics while trying to have people running around dressed up as rats acting more weird than funny . My 4 and 7 year old grandkids enjoyed the poodle act but were not overwhelmed by anything else. Perhaps not allowing traditional animal acts anymore takes some of the glitter and fun away from the circus atmosphere. Maybe would give it four stars if price was less and had more bang.
The show was wonderful! They had an assortment of acts that were very diversified. The small stage was used wisely. The performers were excited, and the crowed was thrilled. Big Apple Circus had premium seating for Yelp Elite customers. The lighting and digital effects were impressive!
Came during the premiere where it was very packed with people getting in. It was a mix of some very skilled performances as well as some that wasn't skilled but much of a comedy performance. Otherall it was a very entertaining show to watch.
The Big Apple Circus brought back fond memories of childhood circus days. This event was held near Lincoln Center. The tent setup was impressive. weather. The performance were awesome. The acrobats and trapeze artists were particularly impressive, with their daring feats and dramatic flair. The comedic acts and juggling performances were also entertaining. Overall, it was a fun and nostalgic experience, perfect for a family outing or a night out with friends.
A limited time event right outside of Lincoln Square's Metropolitan opera theater. It's been a while since I've been to the circus in NYC. We're talking about the Barnum & Bailey's old school circus days when I went to one in elementary school with animals in the performance. This was such a good event for families and to bring the kiddies to. The setup was through various tents and I was very impressed at the temperature maintenance for the event as this was in the middle of winter. The check-in process was very seamless and quick. Spacious area and lobby to view the circus' history. Seating was a bit tight and you have to suck in your gut to squeeze through the condensed rows. Only portable bathrooms were available here. It was a bathroom stall, not your stall types you'd see at concerts for those who are squeamish. Once seated, then the experience began with the multiple performances. They had the acrobats, the comical sound effects mime shows, knives jugglers, and figurine dancers. The acrobatic shows were the best and I enjoyed immensely the dramatics placed in the show for shock effect. Poised, graceful, and a good show of strength were all the acrobatics' performances. Music and lighting with the shows were great and none of this was off. A nice activity for a Friday night and to end the week with a group of friends who's looking for fun performances outside the NYC usuals.
9 months ago
After living in New York for a long time, I finally made it to the Big Apple Circus this year. Each act had its own unique theme and atmosphere, and I was surprised by the diversity of the performers. Between the main acts, the ringmaster performs smaller tricks and brings audience members on stage; while these segments felt a little long, they were cute overall. A few tips for your visit: - There is only one general entrance (plus VIP), so expect to wait outside. This can be tough if the weather is freezing. - There is a bar & plenty of snacks, but lines get long right before showtime. Be warned that the seating is very tight. I actually regretted buying nachos with cheese because I was terrified of spilling cheese on my neighbors! - The tent was very warm (sometimes too warm). Again, the seats are super tight so I had a hard time juggling my layers, bag, food, and drinks. - Most people say every seat has a good view, but for the best perspective, I'd recommend aiming for the center middle or upper rows. - Our 6:15 PM show ended at exactly 8:25 PM (2 hours and 10 minutes), which is helpful to know for dinner reservations. My only real disappointment was the audience. The performers do incredible, dangerous stunts, yet the applause was so weak! I felt bad for them- they deserve more than a polite "clap clap" for the level of talent they show. Overall, cute and great for all ages. Highly recommend! read more
THE GOOD ---------------- + JAW-DROPPING, THRILLING, FUNNY, AMAZING and any other positive superlative you can think of! ++++ Every feat of strength, balance, twisting and coordination leaves you on the edge of your seat. ++++ For the 2025 edition, there were many variations of death-defying acrobats from multiple entertainers, acts of agility involving fluffy dogs, contortionists, juggling and extreme hula hooping mixed with short acts of hilarious comedy from the lead clown/entertainer of the show, Johnny Rico. ++++ There were acts in the show, specifically with the lead clown, that engaged the crowd and involved them in his acts. ++++ Show time was manageable at about 2 hours with a 20 minute intermission in the middle. + Concessions were right outside of the circus ring and sold your typical entertainment foods (e.g., pretzels, nachos, pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, sweet treats and drinks) and light up toys. + Almost every seat provided a fantastic view of the action. We sat in the 3rd to last row and we were able to see every act perfectly fine. THE NOT SO GOOD ---------------------------- - The light up toys that were sold in the Concessions area were $20 each! Talk about price mark up. Not only were they extremely expensive, but we noticed that they stopped lighting up for some people halfway through the show. - Supposedly, food and drinks are not allowed in, however, it's possible to get it in depending on how thorough security is with checking your bag. MIXED THOUGHTS --------------------------- = Nada. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = Make sure to enter the big top through the gate assigned to your ticket as they will not let you in if you're trying to get in through the wrong gate. = Have your camera ready at ALLLLL times to record the action and take pictures! read more
9 months ago
2 years ago
I used to go to the Big Apple Circus every year and then have not been in a few years. They used to have animals but not anymore which I honestly like better. It is in a tent with seating that is in a circle and the stage is in the middle. There are snacks and a bar here too. Also definitely check out the little gift shop stand some fun things here. There are many acts in this show that are all wonderful. And the theme for this show is NYC playground so they take that theme through out the whole show and all the acts have something to do with an area of the city. And there is no ringmaster or used to be grandma the leads of the show that take you through the show are the NYC mice. People dressed up as The mice/ rats here. It is very well thought out theme show in my opinion. One of my fav acts was the three men spewing water from their mouths. It was truly very funny. And I love all the acrobats and the three people doing the trapeze. Flying through out the tent is just a site to see. I also really enjoyed the contortionist. WOW is all I can say about that one! This is truly a family friendly show for all ages young and old. And some people from the audience can actually be in the show too as they pick out people to help with some acts. I highly recommend coming to see the Big Apple Circus when it is in town. read more
5.0 / 5.0 I was told that the circus would be held for a limited time at DAMROSCH PARK on the left side of the MET Opera, so I went there immediately! After purchasing tickets at the Box Office, I went through the security check and entered the venue. Strollers are kept at the PARKING right after entering the venue. I thought it would be cold since it was a temporary venue, but the room temperature was fine even without outerwear. There is a concession stand where you can buy popcorn, drinks, and goods! The spacing between the seats was a little narrow, but my butt didn't get sore after sitting for a long time, probably because the seats were thick. The legroom is small, so it is best to keep luggage to a minimum! The performance lasted about 2 hours, with a 20-minute intermission. I won't describe the program here because I want you to enjoy it after you see it, but I felt like I was traveling through the streets of New York City. I can't stop being thrilled and excited. Since there are many people with children, adults and children alike can enjoy the show! Thank you for the excitement! read more
This experience transferred me back in time to being a kid and experience the excitement of visiting the circus. The event was well organized though the show started slightly later than originally planned, expected for the opening night. The show was captivating. The acrobatic performances were particularly enchanting and a joy to watch. The performers and crew were very well coordinated and it makes you think of all the work that goes into producing such shows. Definitely a great one to attend with kids as well. Evening well spent! read more
I had a wonderful time at the circus! It was just me and my boyfriend and I was worried that it might be too childish, but it was great!! There were so many acts and there was almost never a dull moment. The circus is kid-friendly and some scenes are more geared towards kids, but there were still many attendees without kids as well. Getting in with smooth and we were ushered directly to our seats. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an entertaining night filled with acrobatics, dancing, comical relief, and more. When buying tickets, any seat is good for viewing so don't hesitate to save some money by seating in the lower tier back area. read more
It was an amazing night full of people wanting to see all that the Big Apple Circus had to offer! I took my 13 year old who wasn't too thrilled about the circus at first but once we were there and the performances were happening she didn't want to leave. It was a such an amazing show. I was happy to see there were only a few dogs apart of the show as opposed to so many other animals in previous years. Very very enjoyable show 100% recommend for all ages! read more
We went for opening night. The acts were great! Overall has cute New York themes and references, the acrobatics were insane, and crowd had good energy. The show was about 2 hours long with a intermission. The venue had a bar, a small concessions stand, and hot dogs, and pretzels, and a merch stand. The venue is pretty small, and crowd control was a little questionable tonight, lines were long and slow moving everywhere with staff not guiding flow. Ushers took us to the wrong seats twice! And in general staff seemed a little confused, but it was the the first night so they should get the hang of it soon. read more
10 months ago
Pretty good. Not good as circus soooo leeeeeeeleeee but good. The Chinese head bouncing inside down dudes were fun.... The trapeze dudes were that good but the funny clown was ok and laughable read more
2 years ago
I haven't been to the circus in a long long time and I was super excited to go. Thank you Katey and the Yelp Elite NYC team for planning this event as it brought out the child in me and allowed me to experience something I wouldn't have normally. When we got inside, we were immediately greeted with popcorn and cotton candy which already set the mood. Here are some of my favorite things about the experience: - My favorite act was The Human Fountains. I know they got famous of America's Got Talent but I didn't know who they were until they performed here. Their act was so incredibly funny and amazing as they spewed water out of their mouths like a fountain. They really captured the essence of so many fountain displays, for example when there was one person spewing water into another person's mouth. You really do see those sculptures of one thing spewing water into another thing. And then the fact they had audience participation was so fun as well. - The Russian Swing act was also so fun as these people were flying 5 foot into the air onto a sheet that really wasn't that wide. It felt so dangerous. - I also loved that this whole experience was in a makeshift tent. I have never been to a circus that was propped up in that way and it made me wonder why we don't have more experiences that are also in a tent. - The seating in a half dome pattern was so fun as well as it really felt like we were all part of this experience which helped hype the audience up. Honestly loved this Yelp Elite experience and in the future if I ever had a kid, I will definitely be taking them to the circus. Regardless, would highly recommend going whether you are old or young. read more
We took our grandchildren to this circus which was expensive for both performance time and variety. The high wire acts were excellent, as was the contortionist who was amazing. I felt it was a Circ D' Solei ( forgive my French) compressed down to a circus for children experience. I could not understand why they were totally devoid of traditional clowns and their antics while trying to have people running around dressed up as rats acting more weird than funny . My 4 and 7 year old grandkids enjoyed the poodle act but were not overwhelmed by anything else. Perhaps not allowing traditional animal acts anymore takes some of the glitter and fun away from the circus atmosphere. Maybe would give it four stars if price was less and had more bang. read more
The show was wonderful! They had an assortment of acts that were very diversified. The small stage was used wisely. The performers were excited, and the crowed was thrilled. Big Apple Circus had premium seating for Yelp Elite customers. The lighting and digital effects were impressive! read more
2 years ago
Came during the premiere where it was very packed with people getting in. It was a mix of some very skilled performances as well as some that wasn't skilled but much of a comedy performance. Otherall it was a very entertaining show to watch. read more
The Big Apple Circus brought back fond memories of childhood circus days. This event was held near Lincoln Center. The tent setup was impressive. weather. The performance were awesome. The acrobats and trapeze artists were particularly impressive, with their daring feats and dramatic flair. The comedic acts and juggling performances were also entertaining. Overall, it was a fun and nostalgic experience, perfect for a family outing or a night out with friends. read more
8 months ago
3 years ago
A limited time event right outside of Lincoln Square's Metropolitan opera theater. It's been a while since I've been to the circus in NYC. We're talking about the Barnum & Bailey's old school circus days when I went to one in elementary school with animals in the performance. This was such a good event for families and to bring the kiddies to. The setup was through various tents and I was very impressed at the temperature maintenance for the event as this was in the middle of winter. The check-in process was very seamless and quick. Spacious area and lobby to view the circus' history. Seating was a bit tight and you have to suck in your gut to squeeze through the condensed rows. Only portable bathrooms were available here. It was a bathroom stall, not your stall types you'd see at concerts for those who are squeamish. Once seated, then the experience began with the multiple performances. They had the acrobats, the comical sound effects mime shows, knives jugglers, and figurine dancers. The acrobatic shows were the best and I enjoyed immensely the dramatics placed in the show for shock effect. Poised, graceful, and a good show of strength were all the acrobatics' performances. Music and lighting with the shows were great and none of this was off. A nice activity for a Friday night and to end the week with a group of friends who's looking for fun performances outside the NYC usuals. read more
Having not been to the circus for many years, it was a wonderful experience. Upon entering the Big Apple Cirvus tent, you will be captivated. You are transported back in time to your first circus experience in a magical dream world. We found the staff and crew to be extremely friendly and professional. We found the check-in process to be fast and pleasant. It was a comfortable and cosy venue with comfortable seating. The circus performers were all outstanding. Every aspect of the show was breath-taking and exciting. I highly recommend seeing the Big Apple Circus while it is in the area. The show is suitable for all ages and is a family friendly event. read more
9 months ago
2 years ago
One of the BEST circuses I've been to! Lots of acts I haven't seen before at a circus including tightrope, trapeze, other flying tricks, dog tricks, a hilarious "water" show, and other fun gimmicks. They know how to keep a crowd engaged! Very kid friendly. Would highly recommend :) read more
11 months ago
11 months ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
What a great show! Entertaining to all ages! We brought our 5 1/2 year old daughter and she had a great time! The show goes for a solid 2 hours and 20 minutes (including intermission) and it's highly recommended. No animals (thanks God), but plenty of acrobatic pieces to marvel. You won't be disappointed. read more
2 years ago
I attended the Big Apple Circus performance with my daughter in the December of 2024 and we had an absolutely wonderful time. Amazing stunts and hilarious tactics great for kids (except the last act where the performers drink water from a glass then spit it out continuously and even swap ..saliva eeewwww). Overall it was pretty good. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
Excellent performance. Came in with very low expectations, and was blown away by the caliber of talent and the storyline of the overall show. The music was exceptional with singing, instruments, and unique sounds. The acrobatics was extremely dangerous, at the same level of Cirque, if not more dangerous. The skill of the performers was very high, which required more than just strength, but also dexterity and speed. Well run performance that blew away expectations. Well worth the money for half the price of a normal Cirque. read more
I saw an ad for this circus and when I looked and saw how great the price was with a BOGO deal they were running I knew I had to come see what the Big Apple Circus was all about. I'd recommend getting there at least 15 minutes before so that you can make sure you are seated before it starts as we got there about 10 minutes before it started and missed the first 3 minutes or so before getting to our seats. The acts were very impressive, ranging from contortionists to jugglers, to acrobats, to dancers. I feel like the humor could be a bit weird at times, but I think that's pretty typical for a circus, but it did at least provide something to keep the audience occupied while they were setting up equipment for the new acts. Although they don't have any live animals, they managed to somehow have very interesting "polar bears" show up which had me cracking up when I saw them. Overall, glad I came and would recommend people come at least once! read more
2 years ago
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There was two but it was a great act and the the cat act was cool
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