American Circus Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

American Circus Day is annually observed on April 3. This holiday commemorates the first circus performance in the United States, which occurred on April 3, 1793. The open-air arena, which was organised by the British equestrian John Bill Ricketts, was filled with hundreds of spectators, including President George Washington. Since its inception in the 18th century, the circus has grown exponentially, with numerous showmen introducing new innovations and performances. By the nineteenth century, American circuses were touring Europe, and Queen Victoria was subjected to a variety of spectacular performances.

The background of American Circus Day

In 1793, Philip Astley, who established a riding school in England, gave birth to the modern circus. He taught equestrian lessons during the day, but in the afternoon he performed tricks and other circus elements. One of Astley’s pupils trained John Bill Ricketts, a young Scotsman who later travelled to the United States. On April 3 in Philadelphia, Ricketts debuted his circus performance. The circus, which featured a trick rider, an acrobat, a rope-walker, a clown, a boy equestrian, and Ricketts himself, was conducted in a roofless arena with 800 seats.

In 1825, Joshuah Purdy Brown revolutionised the circus by introducing canvas tents in place of wooden arenas, which made it possible for circuses to travel rather than remain stationary. He also introduced the elephant and other exotic animals to circus performances for the first time. In the middle of the nineteenth century, acrobats such as tightrope walkers replaced equestrians as the centre of attention.

In 1871, Phineas Taylor Barnum, also known as P.T. Barnum, entered the circus scene. Together with William Cameron Coup, he established P.T. Barnum’s Museum, Menagerie & Circus, which travelled from city to city in the United States and featured various animal and human anomalies. Later, after forming the Barnum and Bailey Circus with James Bailey, Barnum amalgamated with the popular Ringling Brothers of the late nineteenth century. This spectacle grew to the point where it began to attract approximately 10,000 spectators. The circus represented the industrialization and capitalism of the Gilded Age in America. People flocked from far and wide to feast their senses on the extravagant entertainment, and it quickly became the most popular family entertainment in the country. Unfortunately, the “Greatest Show on Earth,” Barnum & Bailey’s Circus, ceased in 2017.

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AMERICAN CIRCUS DAY ACTIVITIES

Visit a carnival

There are numerous entertaining circuses to see. Then why are you still waiting? Join the party!

Discover P.T. Barnum

You can celebrate by studying ‘The Greatest Showman.’ Read P.T. Barnum’s biography to see how one man influenced the American circus’s history.

Employ the hashtag

Inform everyone of the date! Include the hashtag #americancircusday when posting a link to our article online.

5 MOST DARING ACTS OF ALL TIME

Annie Oakley, an exceptional sharpshooter, once fired a lit cigarette out of her husband’s mouth and the edge of a playing card from 30 yards away!

Lilian Leitzel was an acrobat who performed acrobatic feats while hanging 50 feet above the earth from Roman rings without a safety net.

Charles Blondin was a tightrope walker who, on multiple occasions, walked across the American and Canadian shores of Niagara Falls on a 1300 foot hemp rope!

May Wirth was an equestrian who could perform a forward turn on horseback and a somersault between two moving horses.

Isaac Van Amburgh donned Roman garb and performed daring acts with lions, tigers, and leopards, allowing them to even ascend his back and shoulders!

AMERICAN CIRCUS DAY DATES