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As the lights dimmed, people began whispering and the arena lit up in a burst of neon. Then green, pink and orange costumes flashed under a black light, performers in sparkling makeup appeared, while a ringmaster’s voice boomed over the crowd. This was my first circus, which was loud and chaotic in parts. But it was impossible to ignore the excitement.
In late January the Kosair Shrine Circus kicked off Louisville’s 2026 circus season. Last week Turners Circus opened its annual circus titled “North Star,” with four final shows this weekend. Next month you can get a preview of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey at the Kentucky Derby Festival Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, just before the May performances. If you’re like me, you might not realize how many circuses Louisville has to offer, from touring shows to local acts.
Kosair Shrine Circus (produced and performed by Carden International Circus) and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey offer similar acts, though the latter is much larger. Turners Circus, started in 1941, centers around family. This family production “brings in a lot of people from the community,” said Cindy Law, Turners Circus’s artistic director. Its current production involves more than 250 people ranging in age from two to 70.
Since most of my knowledge on the circus came from “The Greatest Showman” I didn’t know what to expect when walking into the Kosair Shrine Circus, produced and performed by Carden International Circus, but the opening act immediately impressed me.
Women kicked off the show by hanging and twirling from their hair, something I definitely did not expect. Dressed in neon green, they spun gracefully in circles, while someone behind me whispered, “must be nauseating.” I wasn’t sure I agreed, but I was impressed. Watching them, I wondered how much training it takes, and how many headaches you’d have to endure to make it look that effortless.
Endurance has been a big part of this circus’s 101-year history, but it also serves a purpose.
“It’s always been a fundraiser,” said Shawn Warren, a member of Kosair Shrine Center’s leadership. The circus supports Kosair Shrine’s mission of supporting children in need. As a Louisville tradition, this circus attracts thousands of attendees each year.
The crowd of hundreds was attentive, but the energy shifted when the ringmaster introduced the highly anticipated Globe of Death. People come to see the Globe of Death. Two people on motorcycles raced inside a spherical cage resembling a hamster ball with suits that radiated like oversized glow sticks. The spinning and twisting movements create a sea of white, like stars – and then suddenly a rainbow. The act’s coolest part was the blur of light that appeared when the bikers went super-fast. As three and then four bikes joined, the feeling of danger mounted.
Everyone I spoke to and everything I read praised the Globe of Death. It’s so daring and dangerous I expected to feel the thrill everyone talked about. Yet, even after seeing it in person, I couldn’t help feel underwhelmed. I wondered why people were so fascinated by it. Is it the danger? The tradition? Or just the adrenaline rush?
Danger wasn’t always center stage. The ringmaster brought a family out from the audience: a dad and his son and daughter. The family was having fun. The kids wove through boxes, turning the circus floor into their playground. The dad started dancing and twerking with the ringmaster, which I found hilarious. The little boy was so embarrassed, and honestly, it made it even funnier. (We’ve all been there, embarrassed by our family in public.) The little boy shook his head, looking like he might spontaneously combust as his dad danced. The dad stopped when the music did. They gathered around the ringmaster and bowed before returning to their seats.
Of course, there was magic (this is a circus) and acrobatics but it felt a little on the nose being set to a remix of Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra.” Performers popped out of boxes big and small while dancers surrounded a rocket that blasted off after a ten-second countdown. The tightrope walking act then began, which in my opinion was one of the most interesting parts. It started with a man riding a bike across the tightrope followed by a girl who walked across and slid into a split midway. Another performer did a headstand while balancing on a chair atop the tightrope. The most daring moment was when she crossed blindfolded and the audience was asked to be quiet.
The circus has relied less on exotic animal acts in recent years, according to several news articles. This show blended some animal acts with acrobatics and brightly colored performances, reflecting circus tradition. I learned that animal acts are fewer. In 2022, Kentucky law adopted strict regulations for transporting native and exotic wildlife. These changes came after scrutiny from animal activists protesting the treatment of elephants and tigers and other large cats. This month, a former president of the benefiting philanthropic organization Kosair Charities, told the Courier Journal that Kosair Shrine Circus ceased using elephants due to the costs of feeding them. However, Kosair Shrine Circus still delivers acts that parade buffalo, zebras, miniature horses and camels.
Family fun began during intermission with camels, miniature horses, and bouncy houses galore. Kids ran around the arena hopped up on sugar. Parents tried to wrangle their children while joking with clowns.
Advertising had made me aware of Kosair Shiners Circus, but learning about Turners Circus was something special.
“It’s Louisville’s best kept secret,” said Law of Turners Circus.
While Kosair Shrine Circus offers more traditional performances, Turner’s Circus offers a more hands-on production. It involves people from the community and gives audiences a chance to be closer to the action, which creates a different kind of experience.
“This connection, built over time,” “Law said,” keeps families coming back year after year.
“A parent told me how much the circus meant to her growing up and how excited she is to share it with her daughter,” Law said.
I’ve come to respect all the hard work that goes into the circus. While anyone can watch “The Greatest Showman” or “Water for Elephants,” nothing compares to the real circus right in front of you.
This article appears in March 1-24, 2026.