Circus Smirkus seeks host families for its July 2-3 Waterbury visit
April 24, 2025 | By Waterbury Roundabout
Circus Smirkus Poster
For the third year, Circus Smirkus will visit Waterbury on its summer tour and it's putting out a call now for local families to host its young performers.
The youth circus will travel around New England, stopping in Waterbury for performances on July 2-3 at Farr’s Field on U.S. Route 2.
This year’s Big Top Tour theme is “Game On!” The tour begins June 28 at the Circus Smirkus home base in Greensboro and ends there as well on Aug. 17. In between, it will travel to four Vermont towns – Waterbury, Middlebury, Manchester and Milton – and 10 other stops in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. Tickets go on sale May 1.
Circus Smirkus performs in Waterbury. File photo by Gordon Miller
The organization relies on families in the communities it visits to host its 30 circus performers, ages 12-18. It also seeks volunteers in each of the communities to assist at the shows.
The requirements for hosting Circus Smirkus performers:
Homestay families are asked to host 2-6 troupers, providing a safe and welcoming space, basic meals, and laundry facilieis.
Families help with transportation to and from the circus site and receive complimentary tickets to see the show as well as reserved parking at the venue.
The arrangement offers community members a chance to learn about Circus Smirkus and make connections with the young people who take part in the summer tradition, organizers say. “Many of our homestay families build lifelong friendships with the performers they host, and year after year, they tell us how rewarding the experience is!” according to their announcement.
For the Waterbury circus dates, the homestay period would run from Monday afternoon, June 30, until Friday morning, July 4. The Smirkus Big Top tent will be at Farr’s Field with performances on Wednesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3.
Interested families should fill out an online application here. The organization has a Homestay Handbook online with more detailed information. Email questions to homestays@smirkus.org.
Information about volunteering to assist at the circus performances is also online here. More details about the 2025 Big Top Tour are online here.