Fern Street Circus Spring Neighborhood Tour With 10 Free Public Shows In April And May
Fern Street Circus (FSC) kicked off its Spring Neighborhood Tour April 9 and 10 at its new Outdoor Circus Community Center (OCCC) in City Heights.
10 amazing yet free public performances
The Spring Tour includes a total of 10 free public performances at various parks and community centers around San Diego’s mid-city neighborhoods, showcasing the talents of professional circus artists and musicians from around the world alongside students from Fern Street Circus’s free after-school program in City Heights.
FSC has partnered with the City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Department and HHSA/Live Well San Diego for the series of shows, which move to a new location each Saturday and Sunday. (See full schedule and locations below.) The City Heights Community Development Corporation and Radio Latina are also valued community partners for the Tour.
“Come Out! Come Out!”
With a theme of “Come Out! Come Out,” the multi-generational shows feature bilingual ringmaster Memo Mendez, live music and a variety of circus acts, including juggling, clowning, contortion, tumbling, tightwire, puppetry and more. The global cast includes professional circus artists from Guinea, Ethiopia, Colombia, Chile, the United Kingdom and Canada. All shows are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome, and no tickets are required.
“We are thrilled to once again take our show on the road, reaching out into San Diego’s diverse neighborhoods to engage with local families and bring smiles to people’s faces,” said Executive Director John Highkin. “There is something special about neighbors being able to step outside their doors and come together as a community or a fun, feel-good arts experience that crosses generations and cultures. It is the heart of our mission and a joyful experience that has kept us going strong for 30 years and counting.”
Principal funding for the FSC and its Neighborhood Tours comes from the San Diego Community Enhancement Program, City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, and the City of San Diego CPPS Program. FSC also receives significant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
A “social circus” movement pioneer
Fern Street Circus is a project of Fern Street Community Arts, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization. It has been serving San Diego’s mid-city neighborhoods for 30 years with its signature after-school program and annual performances at public parks, all offered free of charge.
FSC is a pioneer in the growing “social circus” movement, which uses circus as a conduit for addressing social justice and a greater social good. With a mission to serve families and transform neighborhoods, FSC uses physical performance to approach sensitive subjects – from healthcare to immigration – with humor, warmth and compassion. The professionally produced shows aim to reach families with simple but meaningful narratives that cross generations, cultures, and language and economic barriers.
Spring 2022 Neighborhood Tour Schedule:
All shows begin at 2PM
Saturday, April 9 & Outdoor Circus Community Center
Sunday, April 10 4108 University Avenue, San Diego 92105
Saturday, April 16 Dennis V. Allen Park, 850 Boundary Street, San Diego 92102
Sunday, April 17 (Easter) Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive, San Diego 92102
Saturday, April 30 Colina del Sol Park, 5319 Orange Avenue, San Diego 92115
Sunday, May 1 Azalea Park, 2596 Violet Street, San Diego 92105
Saturday, May 7 North Park Recreation Center, 4044 Idaho Street, San Diego 92104
Sunday, May 8 (Mother’s Day) Wightman Street Neighborhood Park, 5024 Wightman Street, San Diego 92105
Saturday, May 14 Memorial Pak, 2975 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego 92113
Sunday, May 15 Gompers Park, 4926 Hilltop Drive, San Diego 92102
About Fern Street Circus
Fern Street Circus is San Diego’s original social circus dedicated to creating intriguing shows, performing in under-served neighborhoods and teaching circus skills free of charge in San Diego’s mid-city neighborhoods. Additional information can be found here and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
See you there!
